Advocating For The Refuge System

A key responsibility of the Friends is supporting the Rachel Carson Refuge - and the entire National Wildlife Refuge System - through ongoing advocacy programs. This can take many forms: engaging local and state governmental departments; building partnerships with other conservation organizations and NGOs such as land trusts; supporting environmental and scientific education initiatives; and, often, by giving testimony to relevant officials, committees, and agencies of the federal government.

Above is Friends President Bill Durkin with US Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Kathy DeCoster from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition. Bill recently submitted powerful testimony in support of fiscal year 2027 funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System to the US House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Read Bill’s testimony here.