Advocacy
"If working apart we're a force powerful enough to destablise our planet, surely, working together, we are powerful enough to save it." Sir David Attenborough, COP26
The mission of the Evansville Audubon Society (EAS) is to promote the awareness, appreciation, and preservation of birds and other wildlife and their habitats through education and conservation. One of the ways we achieve our education and conservation goals is through advocacy.
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EAS advocates for birds in a number of ways, including writing letters to local newspapers, meeting with legislators, communication outreach, and Audubon Action Alerts. Legislators do care about our views and opinions on policy issues that impact birds and their habitats and as informed constituents we have the ability to convey our concerns (see Congressional Contact page).
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To advance our advocacy efforts we rely on the power of Audubon, and especially the Audubon Great Lakes regional office, for necessary support to address issues such as bird conservation, ecosystem restoration and protection, clean air and water, and climate change.
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Audubon Action Alerts:
(Click here to see all current Audubon Action Alerts)
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Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule
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Audubon Great Lakes has written a letter on behalf of 194 local chapters in support of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Lands Rule. The Evansville Audubon Society was one of the many local chapters that signed a National Audubon public comment letter regarding BLM's Public Land Rule. In the new Land Rule, the BLM stated their intent to put conservation on equal footing with other land uses, such as, energy development, livestock grazing, timber harvesting, and recreation.
Click Here to read Audubon's letter to get an understanding of how the BLM Public Land Rule can better conserve our natural resources.
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Local Advocacy:
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Save Wesselman Park
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Supporters of Wesselman Park are being asked to send comments to the mayor, members of the city council and the parks director to consider an alternative to the planned pickle ball courts at Wesselman Park. For example, Roberts Park (site of the old Roberts Stadium) is a better option because infrastructure already is in place to support the proposed pickle ball courts. (Click here to get more information).
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Some examples of recent advocacy efforts by EAS members:
Growing Climate Solution Act
The U.S. Senate recently passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021 by a wide margin; 92-8. This bipartisan legislation will provide farmers, ranchers, and foresters resources and know-how to support conservation measures on their land, protect bird habitat, and fight climate change. It is now up to the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the bill. You can read more about this bill here and take action by contacting our representative to Congress, Larry Bucshon.
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EAS members wrote letters to Senators Braun and Young, filled out Action Alerts and/or worked with policy personnel at Audubon Great Lakes in support of this legislation.
Senate Enrolled Act 389
This act is designed to deregulate isolated wetlands in Indiana. These are wetlands that do not come under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Authors of this bill submitted legislation to remove or limit regulations on Class I and Class II wetlands and eliminate 'red tape' for builders and farmers. The bill passed the Senate and, with some modifications, also passed the House. All this despite efforts by EAS and other local Audubon chapters voicing opposition to the bill.
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Governor Holcomb signed the bill into law recently, even though he received a letter signed by representatives of numerous groups asking that he veto the bill. City leaders, hunting clubs, environmental organizations, wildlife advocates were among the diverse array of groups hoping the governor would veto a bill that will reduce the amount of wetlands in Indiana.
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The bill allows for the complete removal of protections for Class I wetlands, which make up 53% of Indiana wetlands. It also removes protection for a certain number of Class II wetlands, which make up 31% of Indiana wetlands.