LiveGreenNOW

On October 19th, 2009, the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force wicolleen@bayourebirth.org will meet in New Orleans to get YOUR INPUT on an Interim Report recommending a national policy that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes. The report can be found at Whitehouse website.

PLEASE ATTEND AND MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD
CALLING FOR THE RESTORATION OF COASTAL LOUISIANA’S WETLANDS!

National Wildlife Federation, along with our partners Environmental Defense Fund and National Audubon Society, urges you to join us at this public hearing to ensure that the Ocean Policy Task Force understands the critical importance of halting the collapse of the wetlands of the Mississippi River Delta and the corresponding repercussions on the health of the Gulf of Mexico.

Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Public Hearing
Monday, October 19, 2009
3:30 to 6:30 pm (CDT)
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas & Entergy IMAX Theatre
1 Canal Street, New Orleans Louisiana, 70130

As it considers issues affecting our waters, the Ocean Policy Task Force cannot ignore coastal Louisiana restoration and all its implications:

1. If you’re working on fishery and other water issues in the Gulf and not working on coastal restoration, you’re missing the point. The wetlands surrounding the Mississippi River delta are rapidly collapsing, and their loss directly affects the health of the Gulf.
2. A healthy Mississippi River delta is a crucial step toward a healthy national landscape—culturally, economically, geographically, and ecologically. Because of this, environmental agencies and advocates should readily embrace coastal restoration efforts.
3. More than 50% of fisheries in the U. S. depend on estuaries. Trying to safeguard those fisheries without safeguarding coastal systems will not be successful.

Success in restoration depends upon a carefully coordinated federal effort that accounts for all of the federal interests in the region.

• CEQ’s interagency work group must consist of Assistant Secretary-level individuals and must begin work immediately.
  
• Everyone must be involved in the collaboration—from navigation interests; to fish and wildlife organizations; to agencies tasked with restoration, environmental protection, and disaster recovery.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, you can also submit a comment by going to http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans/interimreport/

Thank you for your support,

Kelly Wagner, National Wildlife Federation

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 5:28 pm and is filed under Wetlands. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.