Friends Receives National Recognition for Advocacy & Stewardship Programs
September 27, 2021 - On behalf of our small army of dedicated volunteers, Friends has accepted three awards so far in 2021 for our work advocating for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge and our stewardship of wild lands in Nevada.
Friends Celebrates National Public Lands Day
Sept. 22, 2021 – While every day is a public lands day at Friends of Nevada Wilderness, the organization has planned three special projects to celebrate National and Nevada Public Lands Days this weekend.
“Stewardship is an everyday job at Friends,” said Executive Director Shaaron Netherton. “But National Public Lands Day is still a special time for us, knowing that thousands of volunteers across the country are out on their public lands caring for it and gaining new appreciation for it. We so appreciate all of our Nevada volunteers who have signed up to help us celebrate this weekend.”
Public Invited to Celebrate the Stars at Dark Sky Festival
Reno, NV. – The uniquely dark skies of Surprise Valley and the surrounding area will be celebrated August 6 & 7 in Cedarville, CA with a series of free events for the whole family to enjoy.
Biggest Conservation Bill in Nevada History Subject of Senate Hearing
June 24, 2021 - — Two important conservation bills championed by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto were considered in the United States Senate on June 16. The Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining heard testimony on the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act and the Ruby Mountains Protection Act.
Dark Skies Bill & 30x30 Initiative APPROVED!
Senate Bill 52, a bill to help promote and preserve Nevada's uniquely dark skies, moved through the Nevada Legislature with bipartisan support and has been signed by the Governor! It was championed by Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall and the new Nevada Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Thanks to all of you who logged on to the Legislature's website to voice your support for the bill - your action made a difference!
The Pew Charitable Trusts Explains Support for Southern NV Conservation Bill
May 10, 2021 - The Desert National Wildlife Refuge, north of Las Vegas, is the largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states, with a classic Mojave Desert landscape featuring an abundance of Joshua trees, which grow only in the Mojave. Now the refuge, which was established in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt as the Desert Game Range to protect the native desert bighorn sheep and their habitat, could gain permanent protection under the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act—the largest conservation bill introduced in the state’s history.
Friends of Nevada Wilderness Receives National Advocacy Award for Protecting Desert Refuge
April 15, 2021 – Friends of Nevada Wilderness Executive Director Shaaron Netherton and former Southern Nevada Director Jose Witt have received coveted national recognition for their advocacy of permanent protection for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Nevada.
Historic Conservation Bill Introduced in Congress Would Save Desert Refuge from Military Expansion!
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Congresswoman Dina Titus have just introduced the single largest conservation bill in Nevada history, The Southern Nevada Economic Development & Conservation Act (SNEDCA). The bill would designate more than 1.6 million acres of new Wilderness, including 1.3 acres in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, which has been the top priority at Friends for many years.
Save Our Dark Skies: Public Opinion Needed Today
Help us! Senate Bill 52 (SB52), a bill to help promote and preserve Nevada's uniquely dark skies, is moving quickly through the Nevada Legislature and we need you to act now to help make sure it passes!
Tell our Nevada State Legislators how much dark sky conservation means to you. Supporters can submit their opinion here - and provide all the requested information. (Make sure to select SB52)
Legislators look at these results! You are also encouraged to make one-on-one contact with your own representatives by email. Find out who your state Senator and Assemblymember are, then shoot them a quick email thanking them for supporting SB52 and preserving Nevada’s amazing dark skies! And thank YOU for taking action today!
Conservation Watch: Nevada State Legislature 2021
While the vast majority of publicly-owned lands in Nevada are managed by the federal government (the primary focus of Friends of Nevada Wilderness), the State government can also play very important roles in helping to conserve all public lands, state and federal. The Governor and legislators have a strong voice in reinforcing their constituents’ desire to conserve public lands, as they did with these resolutions and this letter opposing military expansions. The State can partner with federal agencies to help stretch public investments in conservation. And the State manages critical wildlife habitat and a number of wonderful public parks that provide accessible and diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation.
