Pheasants Forever Announces First Veterans Wildlife Area Project
Pheasants Forever 11.07.12
In honor of Minnesota’s servicemen and women, area will be open for public recreation
As part of its 30th anniversary and in recognition of Veterans Day, 2012, Pheasants Forever (PF) and its partners are working to develop support for the Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Area project. The purpose of this project is to honor Minnesota’s veterans and military, and permanently secure a public wildlife area in honor of their service. This project is patterned after Pheasants Forever’s “Build a Wildlife Area” campaign, which has completed 21 projects in three states, providing more than 5,000 acres for public use and outdoor recreation.
“On behalf of Minnesota’s Veterans, we are proud to support the Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Area Project, 2012. This initiative by Pheasants Forever is an excellent example of our community and state’s support and commitment to the men and women who have fought and served our state and nation,” says Larry Shellito, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. “Many of our Veterans in Minnesota enjoy hunting and fishing for recreation as well as therapy. This program honors Minnesota’s heroes while preserving our state’s natural wildlife resources for generations to come.”
This effort is supported by Minnesota’s Commander’s Task Force (CTF), comprised of nine congressionally chartered Veteran Service Organizations. Like PF’s Build a Wildlife Area projects, the Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Area project will put 100 percent of the funds raised directly toward the project. In addition, it’s been Pheasants Forever’s pledge from the beginning to see that every dollar donated to the Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Area project is leveraged through federal and state grants which Pheasants Forever has secured.
“For protecting the liberties that define our American way of life, Pheasants Forever wants to honor our state and country’s Veterans. Securing lands and wildlife that the public can enjoy forever is the most effective and efficient way Pheasants Forever can use its resources and 30 years of experience to accomplish this goal,” says Howard K. Vincent, president and CEO for Pheasants Forever. “The Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Area will serve as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, and we hope all those who use the area remember the Veterans who protect our everyday privileges and in doing so also protect our outdoor heritage.”
Since its inception in 2003, the Build a Wildlife Area campaign has been recognized as a proven model for raising funds, protecting wildlife habitat and providing the public outdoor areas to enjoy. Once land is acquired, it is then restored and enhanced for wildlife and to provide a permanent place for the public to enjoy hunting, fishing and the outdoors both for today’s outdoorspeople and future generations. Historically, each project has become a public Wildlife Management Area (WMA) or Waterfowl Production Area (WPA).
For more information regarding Pheasants Forever’s Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Area project, please contact Joe Duggan at (651) 331-9734 or email Joe. For all other inquiries, please contact Rehan Nana, Pheasants Forever public relations specialist, at (651) 209-4973 or email Rehan.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
