New Bill Would Protect Martens, Wildlife and Public Lands‏

New Bill Would Protect Martens, Wildlife and Public Lands‏

I pledge to...

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1483&amp;autologin=true&amp;JServSessionIdr011=l4z96p7u04.app24a">https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1483&amp;autologin=true&amp;JServSessionIdr011=l4z96p7u04.app24a</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>The American marten isn&rsquo;t just another fuzzy forest critter. </strong>These feisty animals are also a powerful example of the need to balance public land use to safeguard our wildlife and wild places.&nbsp; <br /><br />The marten&rsquo;s numbers are declining as America&rsquo;s forests&nbsp;-- the habitat these animals need to survive -- become more fragmented. Martens require dense forests to thrive, so open areas caused by indiscriminate timber harvests and other irresponsible development have become barriers to marten migration&hellip; and ultimately their continued survival.<br />
<p><strong>Fortunately, you can do something to help safeguard the public lands that martens and other wildlife need to thrive.<br /></strong>&nbsp;<br />Last week, Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI) and Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced the America&rsquo;s Wildlife Heritage Act (H.R. 2807), federal legislation to provide a common sense, science-based solution to restore balance on our public lands and preserve habitat for martens and other wildlife.</p>
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<p><strong>Defenders of Wildlife is already hard at work to get this important bill passed, but we need your help to succeed.</strong> <br /><br /><a href="http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=5UJ2TsbVPRR6bdNqXA5Aww.."><strong>Please take a moment right now to encourage your Representative to cosponsor the America&rsquo;s Wildlife Heritage Act and help us protect vital habitat for martens and other American wildlife.</strong></a><br /><br />The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administer 449 million acres of magnificent landscapes and diverse ecosystems, which support an incredible array of fish, wildlife and plants&hellip; including key habitat for martens and iconic animals such as antelope, bison, bighorn sheep and elk.<br /><br /><a href="http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=5otw2oUe0yg4qzlZbs_WTQ.."><strong>Help protect vital habitat for martens and other wildlife. Take action now.</strong></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, our growing population (and the development associated with it), poorly planned energy exploration and production on public lands, as well as a changing climate have all combined to threaten fish and wildlife populations on public lands and risk the clean water, recreational opportunities and other important benefits provided by these public lands.</p>
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<p><strong>Clearly, there is an urgent need to provide the Forest Service and BLM with a 21st century wildlife policy.</strong> The BLM has had almost no wildlife standards. And Forest Service provisions for protecting healthy wildlife populations on our National Forests have fluctuated widely through changing administrations.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><a href="http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=Y5C1YVpB-bVlaCBDatO0Hg.."><strong>Our wildlife managers&nbsp;-- and the wildlife and places they are charged with protecting&nbsp;-- deserve better. Please take action today to support the America&rsquo;s Wildlife Heritage Act and a better way of managing some of America&rsquo;s most important public lands.</strong></a><br /><br />Specifically, the America&rsquo;s Wildlife Heritage Act would&hellip;</p>
<br />Establish wildlife management and planning standards for both the Forest Service and BLM, Establish monitoring programs for fish and wildlife populations to ensure efforts succeed in protecting wildlife and maintaining healthy lands, and Require coordination of wildlife management with other federal and state agencies.<br />
<p>Each of these are essential steps to protect the wild places that struggling wildlife like the marten rely on for habitat, safeguard watersheds that provide drinkable water to 60 million people across the country and access to camping, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, hunting, angling, and wildlife viewing (which, according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation, contribute $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy).<br /><br /><a href="http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=MxbFX6HvFhHe7zZ3LrOR8w.."><strong>The future of our public lands is simply too important to be left to chance. Please send your message today.</strong></a><br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><br />Rodger Schlickeisen<br />President<br />Defenders of Wildlife<br /><br /><a href="https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1483&amp;autologin=true&amp;JServSessionIdr011=l4z96p7u04.app24a">https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=1483&amp;autologin=true&amp;JServSessionIdr011=l4z96p7u04.app24a</a></p>

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