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Flathead Audubon gets involved in carefully selected
conservation issues to help fulfill several elements of our
mission statement including:
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1) |
Conservation of birds, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem
diversity |
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2) |
Promotion of awareness and appreciation of the natural
world through advocacy |
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3) |
Working with diverse groups and agencies to achieve
sound decisions on natural resource issues. |
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When such issues arise, the Flathead Audubon Conservation
Committee gathers information and brings this to the Board of
Directors for formulation of Flathead Audubon’s position on the
issue. Conservation Committee members then act to promote that
position by working cooperatively with other groups or managing
agencies, attending relevant planning or comment meetings,
conversing with appropriate agencies and officials, or
submitting written comments when opportunity is provided.
Three examples of past involvement in issues include:
1)
Snag
management in
post-fire timber harvests after the large wildfires of 2003 in
the Flathead River drainages. Flathead Audubon encouraged the
Flathead National Forest to apply the best available science to
adequately conserve high quality snag habitat created by the
wildfires. We participated in public meetings then reviewed and
commented on the management proposed by the Forest Service.
2)
Participating in the cooperative effort
by the Flathead Land Trust, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks,
Montana Audubon, and other non-profit and government agencies to
enable in the purchase of conservation easements on 2 parcels of
land with high wetland and wildlife values in Weaver Slough and
along the mainstem of the Flathead River.
3)
Participation in the planning and rule making
for the new Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge, located between
Kalispell and Libby, and organization of bird surveys in the new
Refuge.
Members are encouraged to contact us
about emerging conservation issues and issues of interest to
them.
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