Big Woods Habitat Protected Through Land Deal Between The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
More than 1,400 acres added to Cache River National Wildlife Refuge with Help of The Nature Conservancy
Brinkley, Ark.—Sept. 29, 2005—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will acquire 1,440 acres of land from The Nature Conservancy to add to the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas – home to the recently rediscovered Ivory-bill Woodpecker and a host of other wildlife species.
The Service and the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved $1,944,000 from this year’s Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (commonly known as the Federal Duck Stamp program) to acquire 1,440 acres of the former Ray Coleman Howell Farm at Cache River NWR presently owned by The Nature Conservancy. An additional $486,000 MBCF funding has been made available that will acquire an additional 360 acres and is pending execution of the purchase agreement by the Service.
“The successful history of conservation in the Big Woods of Arkansas is a result of great partnerships – federal and state agencies working with other organizations, local communities, hunters and landowners,” said Scott Simon, director of The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas. “And this addition to the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is the latest success story – one that will add habitat for waterfowl as well as the ivory-bill and other species that live in these magnificent woods.”
“The Federal Duck Stamp program has made it possible for the Service and its partners to conserve vitally important wetland habitats for the benefit of waterfowl,” said Sam Hamilton, the Service's southeast regional director. “This acquisition at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is no different. But one of the reason's this program is so important to the Service's national wildlife refuge system is because the land conservation it makes possible benefits so many other wildlife species, not the least of which is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.”
“The restoration of the entire corridor of the Cache River is extremely important to the habitat of many wildlife species, not only the Ivory-billed Woodpecker,” Arkansas Game and Fish Commission director Scott Henderson said. “This purchase gives outdoorsmen more opportunity to enjoy the natural resources of Arkansas,” he added.
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