Spreading the word for the American Bird Conservancy.
A bill has been introduced in the Senate and a companion bill in the House, to reauthorize the existing Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act at significantly higher levels. By sending a message to your Senators and Representative, you can ensure that both bills pass for the benefit of birds.
Each spring, some five billion birds of 500 different species make their spectacular migration from their winter habitats in Latin America to breed in North America. These birds face many threats, in particular the continuing loss of habitat across the hemisphere. Many of these birds are experiencing significant population declines.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act is the only source of federal funding dedicated specifically to bird conservation throughout the Americas. It is an extremely effective matching grants program that coordinates and funds the conservation of neotropical migratory birds and their habitats in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It has a proven track record of reversing habitat loss and degradation, and of advancing innovative management and habitat restoration strategies.
Thanks to these bipartisan bills in the Senate and House, funding could be dramatically increased from the current authorized level of $6 million to $20 million. All grants made by this Act must be matched by other funds at a ratio of 3:1, meaning every one tax-payer dollar from the Act leverages three from private sources. Overall, the program could result in some $60 million in additional funding for bird conservation!
You can make a difference! Join me by using the American Bird Conservancy's automated action center to quickly and easily send a message first to your Senators, then to your Representative, asking them to support these bills.
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