A diverse coalition of over 210 organizations – spanning 43 states and led by the National Audubon Society and American Bird Conservancy – is urging Congress to act soon to pass the bipartisan Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 (H. R. 4389). A joint letter, addressed to legislation’s sponsors Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), and Mary Peltola (D-AK), emphasizes the “immense value” of migratory birds to millions of Americans, our ecosystems, and our economic growth.
Over 350 species of migratory birds, including iconic songbirds like the Golden-winged Warbler and Bobolink, are in perilous decline, with some facing a projected 50% loss within the next fifty years without immediate intervention. The legislation recognizes that only solutions that cross international borders and support birds along their migration routes can turn around the disastrous decline in bird populations in the United States.
The letter states, “Since 2002, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) has helped benefit migratory bird habitat, fund research, and catalyze partnerships and international cooperation across the Western Hemisphere…NMBCA has funded 717 projects in 43 countries. Critically, it is also a cost-effective program; it is estimated that for every $1 invested, $5 has been spent on conservation action via leveraged partner support.”
The economic impact of the NMBCA is enormous. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation revealed that over 96 million people observed birds last year, contributing a staggering $250.2 billion to wildlife-related activities. Birds also provide critical ecosystem services including pest control, pollination and seed dispersal.
Key provisions of H.R. 4389 include increasing the authorization level from $6.5 million annually to $10 million by 2028 and lowering the cost-sharing requirement from 3:1 to 2:1 in order to recruit more outside funding support. These upgrades are expected to meet a large and growing demand for grants, enhance accessibility to recruit more partners, and diversify funded projects – ultimately contributing to the conservation of more bird species.
The more than 210 organizations signing the letter underscored the broad-based support for this bipartisan legislation. The signatories commended the leadership of Representatives Salazar, Larsen, Joyce, and Peltola in introducing legislation that enhances the NMBCA program. As the bill progresses through Congress, the coalition remains committed to actively supporting and promoting its passage.
Read the letter and see the full list of signatories here.
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About Audubon
The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters. North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
About American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation. Find us on abcbirds.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ABCbirds).
Media Contacts:
Audubon: Robin Seiler-Garman, robin@wardcirclestrategies.com
American Bird Conservancy: Agatha Szczepaniak, media@abcbirds.org
