From the San Diego Union Tribune:
Private efforts to preserve state parks are ramping up across San Diego County for sites facing closure and others where services have been trimmed by shrinking budgets. Two new donation programs were announced this week and more are in the works.

Friends of the San Diego Wildlife Refuges announced Monday that it is trying to raise up to $10,000 to keep the visitors center open three weekdays at estuary.
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The San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) (San Diego County, CA) will receive a $6,000,000 grant from the US Fish and Wildlfie Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.

This project will result in the acquisition of 250-600 acres of land that will greatly enhance the existing San Diego MSCP by securing key regional wildlife linkages and preserving core habitat in four targeted areas. (more…)

The 2011 State of the Birds Report, the nation’s first assessment of birds on lands and waters owned by the American people, indicate tremendous potential for bird conservation.  Publicly-owned habitats support at least half of the entire U.S. distributions of more than 300 bird species.

The report concludes that America’s public lands and waters, ranging from national wildlife refuges to national parks to national forests, offer significant opportunities to halt or reverse the decline of many species. More than 1,000 bird species inhabit theU.S., 251 of which are federally threatened, endangered, or of conservation concern. The report provides a scientific tool to help public agencies identify the most significant conservation opportunities in each habitat.

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Wednesday, September 21st, 9am-3pm

Are you a habitat hero or backyard warrior?

Do you need tips and tools to engage motivated volunteers to make a dent in a restoration project?

How about a refresher on ecological restoration theory?

Digging In will feature development of coastal restoration projects and community engagement strategies. This free training, provided by California Coastal Commission’s Community Based Restoration and Education Program, in partnership with TRNERR’s Coastal Training and Community Outreach Programs, will present information and a field experience that can be incorporated into your own restoration work throughout the year, in addition to the upcoming National Public Lands Day. (more…)

AMERICA’S WILDLIFE REFUGE: DISCOVERING THE ARCTIC NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE, a one-hour documentary celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is available to your local public television station this fall. This film offers sweeping views of the Arctic Refuge, its wildlife, and provides an ecological and historical portrait of this iconic refuge. We hope that you’ll contact your public television station to encourage them to schedule AMERICA’S WILDEST REFUGE. (more…)