TALULLAH, La. – On Thursday, March 10, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will travel to Tensas National Wildlife Refuge to celebrate a successful conservation partnership to protect and recover the Louisiana Black bear from the brink of extinction. Jewell will highlight meaningful recovery efforts among federal, state, and local landowners for more than 20 years that have led to significant success for the bear – the inspiration for the iconic teddy bear.
Jewell will be joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, Interior’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Michael Bean and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ann Mills. U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham, Louisiana Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Charlie Melancon and USFWS Southeast Regional Director Cindy Dohner will also attend.
The ESA is an essential tool for conserving the nation’s most at-risk wildlife, as well as the land and water on which they depend for habitat. The ESA has saved more than 99 percent of the species listed from the brink of extinction and has served as the critical safety net for wildlife that Congress intended when it passed the law more than 40 years ago.
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Michael Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
Ann Mills, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
Dan Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ralph Abraham, U.S. Representative, Louisiana
Cindy Dohner, Southeast Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Charlie Melancon, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Drew Keeth, Land Manager, MJ Farms
What:
Important conservation announcement related to the Louisiana black bear
When:
Thursday, March 10, 2016
9:45 a.m. CST – Media check-in
10:00 a.m. CST – Announcement followed by a brief media availability
Where:
Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
2312 Quebec Rd
Tallulah, Louisiana 71282
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here. Please refer to the refuge’s driving directions to reach the Visitor Center.
Members of the media unavailable to attend the event may participate in a listen-only conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central Time by dialing 1-888-790-3345 and entering the passcode 6937602.
Source: Department of Interior
