SALUTE TO THE PARKS
NPCA will present Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) and media mogul Ted Turner with two of the organization's most distinguished awards at its annual dinner on April 21. This year's event, Salute to the Parks: Celebrating the American Dream, recognizes the role of national parks as the heritage of America.
Regula, who led the fight to increase park funding as chair of the Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, will receive the prestigious William Penn Mott, Jr., Park Leadership Award for his commitment to protecting the country's national parks.
Turner will accept the Robin W. Winks Award for Enhancing Public Understanding of National Parks for supporting conservation projects, leading efforts to reintroduce animals such as the swift fox to parts of the upper Midwest, and producing films such as Gods and Generals. Turner has helped to tell the story of historical events that occurred at sites now designated as national parks.
More than 500 guests are expected at the dinner, which is being underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton, including members of Congress and the National Park Service. Jim Lehrer of PBS's "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" will be master of ceremonies.
NPCA OPENS NEW OFFICE
NPCA opened a new office in California's Central Valley to work on issues, such as air pollution and funding shortfalls, plaguing the area's national parks. As the fastest-growing section of the state, Central Valley shoulders Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon national parks. NPCA and Central Valley business, political, and local leaders, will facilitate the involvement of the community in protecting and preserving our national parks. "We're excited to work together to meet the challenges our parks face," says Laura Whitehouse, the office's field representative.
FLORIDA FISHERIES
NPCA plans to conduct a new campaign to protect fish habitats and other sensitive areas in Everglades and Biscayne national parks. The campaign to improve fisheries management in the two south Florida parks is funded through a generous grant from an anonymous foundation. The parks' fish populations are declining, their habitats are deteriorating, and their fisheries rules are not being adequately enforced. Both parks are on NPCA's 2004 list of America's Ten Most Endangered National Parks. The fisheries project will create a unique partnership among park rangers, conservationists, and fishermen, who will work together to improve the marine resources while enhancing the wilderness experience. NPCA hopes its campaign will increase ranger presence and attract more park funding.
EVERGLADES COALITION
In January, more than 500 elected officials, scientists, conservationists, and representatives from federal and state agencies met at the 19th annual Everglades Coalition Conference to discuss critical issues affecting the Everglades. Attendees discussed new advances and ongoing challenges in the Everglades, including ways to expedite restoration projects at the four-day event hosted by NPCA. The coalition, an umbrella group of local, state, and national organizations dedicated to restoring the Everglades, chaired by NPCA Sun Coast Regional Director Mary Munson, made plans to authorize two major restoration projects, improve the regulations that govern all individual restoration plans, and clean up pollution caused by the sugar industry-at the expense of the polluters. Congress was called on to fund the work.
-Jenell Talley
