Climate Buffer? Large wildlife refuges like the Sheldon can help animals cope with climate change.

Wildlife refuges offer important benefits to plants and animals.  Large, landscape-scale habitat can mitigate  the effects of climate change by providing more and better habitat for animals to migrate into.  We’ve written in other places about the need for our new energy economy to be “smart from the start.” This includes renewable energy development that takes into account wildlife corridors and habitats while being as efficient as possible with existing transmission so we don’t unnecessarily spoil what limited habitat remains in the world.

One critical wildlife refuge is the Desert Refuge, an hour north of Vegas, where bighorn corridors link this 1.6 million acre wildlife refuge (the largest in the lower 48) with wilderness areas in a place we call the Delamar Wildlands Complex.  We’re working with developers and energy companies in the area to pursue “smart from the start” by identifying these corridors and planning to ensure what biologists call “permeability”: the opportunity to move through powerlines, highways, etc.  There’s a way to do it; we just have to acknowledge that it is the right and necessary thing to do, and go find the partnerships and resources to execute.

Another incredible example of a large landscape harboring sensitive species is in northwestern Nevada, where the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge links up with the Hart National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon for a massive unfragmented habitat of more than a million acres (including wilderness study areas and other lands in the region).  The Sheldon is one of a number of corridor regions we’ve identified in Nevada because of the antelope and sage grouse habitat, and its importance to combatting the ills of climate change.  We’re part of an informal working group called the Sheldon Network, a gaggle of groups ranging from the Sierra Club to Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, who have worked hard in recent months to highlight the Sheldon and its importance.  The Sheldon Network is being spearheaded by our coalition partners over at Friends of Nevada Wilderness and they recently led 60 folks from a number of great groups to the Sheldon to remove old cattle fencing (that can impede movement of prohorn and other species).  Check out how they’re making the Sheldon wilder by clicking on their name and read about a very successful trip to rewild the refuge.

Roadrunner, photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Have a look at this article titled “America’s Forgotten Lands,” by Jim Robbins in a recent issue of Conde Nast Traveler. Nevada’s own Gold Butte makes an appearance, along with our friend and colleague Nancy Hall, who is doing everything in her powers (and those ain’t small potatoes)  to see this great place permanently protected by Congress as wilderness and national conservation area. Read more about Gold Butte on the Nevada Wilderness Project webpage, www.wildnevada.org

Go Nancy! Go Gold Butte!

Friday, May 15, 2009 is Endangered Species Day – a day to reflect on all the living beings that are threatened with extinction.  A day to honor the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and all programs that conserve America’s threatened and endangered species.  And most of all, it’s an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions they can take to help protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining open space.

In 1973, when Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) into law, it recognized that our rich natural heritage is of “esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our Nation and its people.”  We can’t think of a better way to say it—nor any more compelling reasons to work to protect our natural, biological environment here in Nevada and beyond.

In the United States, there are 611 animals in the U.S listed as threatened or endangered, and 746 plant species. Nevada has 37 listings, among them the desert tortoise (pictured) and many fish species that are found nowhere else in the world.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our government agency charged with upholding the Endangered Species Act, has a wealth of information on their website about U.S. species and habitats, as well as many around the world.  You can see it by clicking here.

The Endangered Species Act is the most comprehensive wildlife conservation law in this country, and many species have been saved from extinction as a result of  this landmark legislation. Bald eagles are at the top of this list, and they prove that when we humans get serious about habitat and species conservation, we can do a world of good. Quite literally.

So let’s honor and seize the day.  The Endangered Species Coalition website has a useful—and resource rich—list of 10 easy things people can do at home to help protect endangered species.  It’s definitely worth a visit. See it here.

John Wallin, NWP’s founder, director and ring leader,  is going to be on a Reno radio station this week… talking about Nevada’s wildlands and the Nevada Wilderness Project (of course), but probably a few other things, too (Aces baseball? bluegrass? bighorn sheep?)  He’ll get to fill listeners in on NWP’s new mission, conservation opportunities around the state and ways for people to get involved.  So we hope you’ll tune in – should be a lively discussion because the show is hosted by one of KTHX’s original “X” men, Dondo, who promises his show is “a mistake-riddled collage of music, random interviews, subliminal messages and other errata.”  We love that! So we hope you tune in:

where: tune in to KTHX 101.1 FM

when: Thursday morning, May 7, 2009 at 8:30 am

what: John and the Nevada Wilderness project on the air waves

why: Because this cat is rockin’ out and says “meeeooooowwwwwww! I feel good!”

Hi – Here’s some info about a public event taking place this weekend… Saturday, April 25th is Walker Lake Education Day. It will be held at the Walker Lake (Nevada State Parks) recreation area, near Hawthorne, NV, from 10 -4.  It sounds like a great outing for people of all ages.

Here’s what they have on tap:

• Free boats rides to watch for wildlife
• Native American Dancing
• Natural History and Wildlife activities
• Booths featuring organizations and agencies working to restore and preserve the lake.

Find out more by visiting www.walkerlake.org.  The event is sponsored by the Walker Lake Working Group; call 775-573-2581 for more information.

Festive, Earth Day revelers will be gathering in parks around the country this month, and we’re no different. The Nevada Wilderness Project will be in Reno Nevada’s Idlewild Park, April 19, for the biggest little city’s Earth Day celebrations.

Only we’re leaving the drum circles and hula hoops to those who have more rhythm and flexibility than we do… and instead, we’ll be cheering them on from the comfort of bicycles.  Blender bikes, that is.

We’re going to put together a couple of old bikes equipped with blenders—powered by pedaling—so we can mix and serve up thirst-quenching (and free) smoothies.  So come on out for a slurp and a turn in the saddle. Chances are we’re going to need all the help we can get.

And if anyone out there has advice or experience to offer up in the blender bike contruction realm, we’d love to hear from you. We can probably pedal all day, but not unless we can actually put one of these things together. So drop us a note with your suggestions.

Thanks, and see you in Reno’s Idlewild Park, April 19, 10-4.

Last week, the House of Representatives failed to pass the Omnibus Public Lands Act (S. 22) by the required 2/3 majority.  The bill passed 282-144, but fell 2 votes short!  Nevada Congresswomen and conservation champions Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus both voted for the bill, but unfortunately, Representative Dean Heller voted against it. For more background, read the March 12th article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal here.

In January, under the forceful leadership of our own Senator Harry Reid, the Senate passed the legislation 73-21.  If the House does not pass this legislation, it is possible the legislation will have to start from scratch–a monumental and unlikely effort with the packed Congressional agenda ahead. The legislation will be taken up again by the House, and we need you to take the following actions to ensure its success:

1) Send a letter to the editor thanking Berkley and Titus for their leadership.  Call on Dean Heller to join them in support of the legislation.  You can write letters@reviewjournal.com in response to the linked article above, or send one to letters@lasvegassun.com.

2) Call Dean Heller’s Southern Nevada office (it’s ok if you are not in his district–call him as a concerned Nevadan) 702-255-1651.

Here’s a reminder of what is at stake. The Omnibus Public Lands bill will provide:

• Authorization of the National Landscape Conservation System in the Bureau of Land Management, a critical authorization that will allow the BLM to better fulfill its conservation obligations.
• Designate nearly 2 million acres of public lands as wilderness in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia.
• A provision to expand the Nevada Cancer Institute
• A provision for land to the City of Henderson for green space and a business part.

Our grandchildren will have the same opportunities for memorable visits to this place that we have — if Congress acts decisively.  Thank you for taking action today on this important matter.

Red Rock snowstorm by Nick Dobric

For those of you who already know Gold Butte, or are getting ready to go, or just love our wild state… This video slide show speaks for itself. Produced by a wonderful Nevada Wilderness Project volunteer who runs 990 Productions.

After you watch it,  you’ll no doubt be inspired to  take action here.

Enjoy!

Join Tribal Massive–one of the nation’s premier belly dancing groups–for a unique and fun evening at the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas March 4th at 7:00 p.m.  The event will showcase belly dancing and  a variety of performance art to dazzle the eyes!  And a portion of the proceeds benefit the Nevada Wilderness Project.

The MASSIVE Spectacular features the flair of Rachel Brice, Mardi Love and Sacha along with many other talented dancers. The show is a fantastic chance to watch and enjoy the performances and help out the Nevada Wilderness Project. Tickets are available for $35 online at The MASSIVE Spectacular and at the door Wednesday night for $40. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. at Railhead inside the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino 4111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas.

Yes, despite rumors that the Nevada Wilderness Project is based out of a cave deep in the Big Rocks Wilderness Area, we actually do have offices with internet connections.  So we’re breaking into the online social networking realm with a Facebook page.  If you, too, are on facebook, we hope you’ll join the hippest new group, “Fans of the Nevada Wilderness Project.”  We will keep it updated with current news, cool photos, and, of course, you will be able to see all the other troublemakers who have joined our page.