Bama Environmental News

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1. Sen. Richard Shelby Secures Environmental Funding - Alabama Republican Senator Richard Shelby plays a vital leadership role in securing federal funding for a myriad of local and state environmental projects and programs. Here are some of the projects that were listed on the Senator's press releases and website http://shelby.senate.gov/ this past week.

Isabel and Wiley Hill Conservation Education Center - $450,000 - A joint environmental education program through the Alabama Department of Conservation and the Alabama Wildlife Federation. The monies support AWF's new conservation education center.

Alabama National Forest - $1.9 Million - Funding to purchase land from willing sellers within the National Forest boundaries, to protect and preserve wildlife and natural resources.

Ruffner Mountain - $500,000 - Establish a nature center facility and expand educational opportunities.

Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge - $500,000 - Funding to help expand one of Alabama's newest and ecologically important wildlife refuges.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge - $250,000 - Funding to develop a "Wildlife Drive" so visitors can enjoy the 34,000 acre refuge.

Mobile Tensaw Delta - $1.2 Million - Funding will support the acquisition of 10,000 acres of pristine forest lands in the Mobile Tensaw Delta. This will compliment the already 54,000 acres that have already been secured.

Center for Estuarine Research at the University of South Alabama - $1 Million - Funding to support the ongoing research activities related to the ecology of coastal lands and landscapes.

Auburn University Mobile Delta Initiative - Funding to establish the Mobile Delta Initiative, which will allow for the development of plans for sustainable use of the Delta for such economically important activities such as eco-tourism and sport fishing.

Cumberland Mountains - $1.2 Million - These funds will be used to help protect land in the Southern Cumberland Plateau in Jackson and Madison counties.

Along with these projects, Senator Shelby has also helped secure funding for transportation programs, including a number of research projects that will enhance mass transit improving energy efficiency.

2. Alabama's "Earth Team" One of the Best Nationally - Did you know? Alabama has a nationally recognized Earth Team volunteer program that supports the Natural Resource Conservation Service and districts that carry out their conservation mission. The numbers are quite impressive:

Last year in Alabama 4,271 volunteers contributed 68,572 hours of their time to promote conservation on private lands.
Alabama ranks number one in the number of volunteers nationally, nearly doubling the number two state Iowa's 2,150 volunteers.
Alabama ranks number two for hours contributed behind Minnesota's 87,317 hours.

Nationwide more than 38,000 Earth Team volunteers help farmers, ranchers and other private landowners with conservation practices and projects that reduce wind and water erosion, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce flooding. They also help people of all ages learn about conservation through hands-on educational activities. For more information about joining Earth Team in Alabama, contact Rod Goode, Alabama State Volunteer Coordinator at rodney.goode@al.usda.gov or phone 205-823-6400.

3. Alabama 4-H Announce $8 Million Enviro Education Campaign - Alabama 4-H, the largest youth development organization in the state, has launched an $8 million campaign to expand programs and activities.

The campaign's goal is to raise $6 million to construct an Environmental Education Center at the 4-H Center in Columbiana. The facility is located on 267 acres on Lay Lake in Shelby County. The remaining $2 million is being sought to endow educational programs taught to children statewide.

Early corporate donors to the campaign include Alabama Electric Cooperative, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Alabama Power and the Alabama Power Foundation, Alfa and the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Forests Foundation, Drummond Coal, EBSCO, Energen, Progressive Farmer, Southern Progress, SouthTrust, Xerox and Vulcan. To learn more about this campaign, contact Janet McCoy at the Alabama 4-H Club Foundation at 334-844-2247 or Sandra Spencer, 4-H Center at 205-669-4241.

4. Public Needed: Report Bald Eagle Nesting - The Department of Conservation is asking Alabamians to be on the lookout for bald eagle nesting activity in Alabama. Annually, wildlife biologists from the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division monitor every known nest for nesting success by conducting aerial surveys in the winter and early spring.

During the spring of 2004, 53 nests were monitored in Alabama. This was an increase of 6 nests from 2003, when 47 nests were monitored. Reports should be made only if a bald eagle is seen in association with a nesting structure or is seen carrying large sticks or other nesting material. If you identify a bald eagle nest or an eagle carrying nesting material, contact the Alabama's Nongame Wildlife Coordinator, Mark Sasser, at 334-242-3469 or by email at msasser@dcnr.state.al.us

5. BEN Notes: Regional Training Coordinator Position for Constitution Reform, Alabama Wildlife Volumes 1-4, Rep. Davis' Sustainable Development Conference, Alabama Birding Trails, Nature Images of Alabama

Regional Training Coordinator Position for Constitution Reform - Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) is hiring three part-time regional training coordinators who will serve north, central and south Alabama regions. These coordinators will train volunteer leaders in their respective areas how to use GBM's constitutional reform curriculum called "Alabamians Bringing Democracy Home". GBM is seeking an applicant with a college degree, research skills, ability to communicate verbally and in written form, knowledge and understanding of the reform issues concerning the 1901 Constitution, and ability to work collaboratively with diverse individuals and have sensitivity regarding interfaith and multicultural issues. Each coordinator will be paid $25.00 an hour based on an average of 20 hours a week.

How to apply: Send a comprehensive cover letter, the contact information for three references and your resume to Mark Berte, GBM Project Director, 2304 12th Avenue North, Birmingham, Al. 35234 or email mark@gbm.org. Indicate which region for which you are applying. Your materials should be in the office or post-marked by January 4, 2005. You can contact Mark Berte at 205-326-6821 ext. 106.

Alabama Wildlife Volumes 1-4 - Now online for the holiday season from The University of Alabama Press, Alabama Wildlife Volumes 1-4. Learn about Alabama's many aquatic and terrestrial habitats, freshwater mussels and snails. Go to http://www.uapress.ua.edu/index.htm.

Rep. Davis' Sustainable Development Conference - Congressman Arthur Davis will be hosting the "Why We Can't Wait" Sustainable Development Summit on January 21 and 22nd at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. For additional information about this important summit go to: http://www.ei.ua.edu/SummitInfo/Summit.htm.

Alabama Birding Trails - Want to explore Alabama's Birding Trails this winter? Outdoor Alabama, the website for the Department of Conservation has a great "birding trails" website. Just go to http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/watchable-wildlife/birding-trails/.