Take Action - Help Us Celebrate and say “Thank You!”

The largest conservation bill in the history of Nevada has just been introduced in Congress by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Representative Dina Titus! Most importantly, the bill would designate more than 1.3 million acres of Wilderness in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, keeping the Refuge safe from military expansion! Protecting the refuge has been the #1 priority at Friends and something we’ve been working on for many years.

It would also expand the Red Rock NCA by over 50,000 acres. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this major milestone and thanking Senator Cortez Masto, Representative Titus, and the entire bipartisan Nevada delegation who support it! We will be working even harder in the coming months to make sure this bill gets passed – and makes history! Hooray!!!

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.

National Wildlife Refuge Week is October 11-17. Observed the second full week of October, the celebration highlights the great network of lands and waters that conserves and protects Americans’ precious wildlife heritage. Nevada has 9 National Wildlife Refuges. Currently, we are seeking to add Wilderness protection to the roadless mountain ranges of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge which house a large population of bighorn sheep, Nevada's state animal. Join us in standing for permanent protection for the Desert Refuge by visiting https://www.dontbombthebighorn.org.

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge dodged a proverbial bullet in July but permanent protection is the only way to save it from the Air Force. In a sneaky move in early July, the Air Force went around the Nevada delegation to Rep Rob Bishop (UT) to get an amendment approved as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would give the military control of the western portion (840,000 acres) of the wildlife refuge.

On June 11th, the Senate Armed Services Committee said no to military expansion in Nevada for both the Nellis Test and Training Range and the Fallon Naval Air Station. Both bases would have their current military withdrawal extended for 20 years - but no new expansions. What does this mean to supporters of Nevada's Wildlife Refuges? A small first win on the road to permanent protections. There can (and most likely will) be markups that will go against everything we campaigned for. But there is more you can do to sway Congress.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness returns to Artown this year featuring the “Refuge” gallery. Boasting stellar nature photography, as well as paintings, pastels, prints, and found object sculpture all celebrating Nevada’s nine scenic wildlife refuges and public lands. The gallery will run from July 10th to the 17th and will be experienced fully online for the first time ever! Art in the gallery will be available for purchase on our online store and helps support local artists as well as Friends of Nevada Wilderness’ work protecting and caring for wild Nevada. Get inspired and help protect and preserve these special places and unique wildlife.