Recovering America's Wildlife Act reintroduced in Senate

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act is back. Only time will tell if the fifth time is the charm.

The proposed legislation, which would provide $1.4 billion annually to states and tribes to help non-game and at risk wildlife, was reintroduced last week in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) with Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina).

The concept for RAWA emerged from a 2016 Blue Ribbon Panel and has been introduced in four previous sessions of Congress. Last year it was passed by the House but failed to get approval in the Senate.

As with the previous version, the bill introduced last week would dedicate $1.3 billion annually to state fish and wildlife agencies to implement their science-based wildlife action plans and an additional $97.5 million for tribal fish and wildlife managers.

This edition is also claiming bipartisan support. And once again it is strongly endorsed by conservation organizations. RAWA is supported by more than 60 tribes and 1,500 organizations representing state fish and wildlife agencies, sportsmen and women, conservation groups, industry associations and businesses, according to data provided by co-sponsor Heinrich.

Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy, said more than one-third of America's fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction, part of a global biodiversity decline threatening humans and nature alike.

"This crisis demands immediate and substantial investment in strategies proven to slow, stop, and reverse this decline," Morris said in a statement.

The Recovering America's Wildlfie Act would be the "shot in the arm" state and tribal wildlife agencies need to restore America's biodiversity, according to Morris.

The bill would divide the funding among states according to a formula that includes human population, geographical size and number of wildlife species at risk.

Wisconsin would receive about $18 million annually according to a recent RAWA projection.

Mark LaBarbera, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, is hopeful the 2023 version of the bill will get passed.

“This is the most important wildlife conservation legislation in half a century," LaBarbera said. “Leading conservation groups in the Wisconsin Coaltion for Recovering America's Wildlife Act applaud this commonsense, cost-effective approach that not only helps at risk wildlife but also benefits habitat used by game species. This historic bill will create local jobs, help wildlife and local communities, and improve the quality of life in Wisconsin.”

The House is expected to introduce its version of the bill in the near future.

One large hurdle remains, however: funding. The Senate bill, as with the four previous failed versions, does not include a "pay-for" or other funding mechanism.

The financial aspects of the proposal will no doubt receive additional attention in the coming months. It's possible a solution will emerge through bipartisan cooperation.

Morris of The Nature Conservancy said the support for the bill in the last Congress was "overwhelming."

"Reintroducing (it) so soon is not only a sign that momentum has not let up but also how important it is to save America’s biodiversity," Morris said. "In this period of divided government, this is an opportunity for lawmakers to find common ground and build on the remarkable, bipartisan progress Congress has made in recent years on conservation. We urge lawmakers to quickly pass this bill to accelerate the work we need to save America’s wildlife.”

International Crane Foundation looking for help with this year's Midwest Crane Count

The International Crane Foundation is seeking volunteers to help with the 2023 Midwest Crane Count. The event will be held April 15 in Wisconsin and six other states.

Crane counters will travel to birding locations from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. to look for and record sandhill and whooping cranes.

The 2023 survey is expected to take place in more than 150 counties in Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio. The event had 1,840 volunteer counters in 2022, including 1,181 in Wisconsin, and tallied 15,332 sandhill and 64 whooping cranes across the region.

Data collected are posted on the foundation’s website and help its scientists monitor crane population trends and areas where cranes are colonizing, said Jodi Legge, ICF director of external affairs. In addition, she said it's a powerful tool for creating awareness about cranes and their wetland habitats.

Each crane count site will have a county coordinator who will assign a site and provide instructions on how to participate and report the data. To participate, visit cranecount.org to find contact information for local coordinators as well as links to download data sheets and other information.

If your county is not currently involved in the program and you are interested in becoming a county coordinator, contact the ICF at (608) 356-9462.

For more information on ICF visit savingcranes.org.

Boundary Waters recognized for its quietude

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota has been named a Wilderness Quiet Park due to its lack of human noise.

The distinction was announced last week by the Los Angeles-based group Quiet Parks International. The BWCAW is only the second park - Glacier National Park was the first - with the designation.

“The award recognizes the BWCAW's pristine soundscape and lack of man-made noise intrusions, a rare feat even in the United States' most remote Wilderness Areas,’’ the group said in a statement.

Over the last two years volunteers collected and analyzed soundscape and noise pollution data in and around the BWCAW. The findings met the group's criteria for a Wilderness Quiet Park award.

Other than air traffic, the wilderness designation of the northern Minnesota public property - where no motors or mechanized equipment is allowed - preserves its noise-free soundscapes crucial for healthy ecosystems and human enjoyment, the group said.

"The BWCAW has a dependable noise-free interval of 15 minutes or more, which is a remarkable achievement,’’ Matt Mikkelsen, executive director of Wilderness Quiet Parks, said in a statement. “We hope this award encourages other wilderness areas to prioritize natural quiet and inspires people to experience the beauty of the BWCAW soundscape."

About 165,000 people visit the 1 million-acre BWCAW annually, mostly via canoes or other paddle craft in summer or on skis and snowshoes in winter, according to U.S. Forest Service data.

Visit quietparks.org for more information on Quiet Parks International and fs.usda.gov for details on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Recovering America's Wildlife Act reintroduced in Senate