National Parks Conservation Association thanks Feinstein for efforts to protect national parks from destructive marijuana plantations
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | July 22, 2009 |
| Contact: | Ron Sundergill, NPCA: 510.368.0115 Laine Hendricks, NPCA: 559.285.3039 Lindsay Bartsh, NPCA: 650.269.2911 |
National Parks Conservation Association thanks Feinstein for efforts to protect national parks from destructive marijuana plantations
Press statement by Ron Sundergill, National Parks Conservation Association Pacific Regional Director
"Yesterday, 3,509 marijuana plants were removed from Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. As the Park Service works to repair the damage from this marijuana plantation on sensitive park lands, we are reminded that illegal marijuana cultivation continues to be a challenge for our national parks. Marijuana plantations threaten the delicate ecosystem of our national parks, and clean-up efforts, such as restoring native plants, removing toxic pesticides and ensuring that healthy habitat remains for endangered species, are costly.
"Senator Feinstein deserves thanks for her longstanding commitment to providing the National Park Service with the funding, resources and additional park rangers needed to begin eradicating and cleaning up illegal marijuana plantations on our public lands. The recent appropriation of $3 million for the Park Service’s 2009 budget is already helping Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area address this critical threat.
"Our parks shouldn't have to spend their limited resources fighting drug cartels when those resources could instead be used to educate and inspire our children - the future stewards of our national parks."
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