Arkansas Wildlife Federation

P.O. Box 56380

Little Rock, AR 72215

501-888-4770

Volunteer Day Video Highlights – 2011 

President’s Letter:
December 2012
It is the end of another year. Gee, how fast time goes by as I get older. It is also time to reflect on this past year for AWF and our partners and say thanks. I can’t say enough about the support AWF has gotten over this past year from so many of our partners and supporters. AGFC has been very supportive and helpful; we want to say thank you for all of your help and support.

U S Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation have been our supporters for the Bearcat Hollow Project. Dwayne Rambo and Jim Dixon from USFS, and Adam Liljeblad of NFF were extremely helpful and beneficial to our work. Volunteer workers on Bearcat Hollow Project include our affiliate youth clubs: Arkansas Tech University Fisheries & Wildlife Society, and University of the Ozarks “Outbackers” Club. We could not have done it without your help. Also, Sam Sneed and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Yell County Wildlife Federation; Dr. Kellner and Dr. Nupp with ATU; Dennis Daniels and Elliott Glass with the National Wild Turkey Foundation; along with many other volunteers for their support on Bearcat Hollow Project. This project has, and will have, a very big impact on wildlife today and in the future.

Thanks to all of AWF’s affiliates for all of the work you do in your communities and your support to AWF. Your leadership and your efforts reflect your commitment to the environment and wildlife for future generations. AWF is very proud of your work and support.

Thanks to Creative Ideas and our partnership to put on the “Wildlife of Arkansas” Student Art Competition. We appreciate the work of Creative Ideas, their volunteers and judges, as well as all of the schools and students across Arkansas that participates. Of course a big thank you also goes out to the team at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center for allowing us to hold the awards ceremony at their facility and to let the students’ art be put on display and seen by thousands of visitors.

We have also enjoyed working with the Traildogs. Our work on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail has been fun as well as educational. The trail is beautiful to behold and we look forward to helping finish the project.
Thanks to U S Army Corp of Engineers for allowing AWF and our new affiliates to keep four of our parks along the Arkansas River open to the public. These affiliates and their volunteers work very hard to maintain these parks and keep them open for public use and enjoyment.

Thanks to Arkansas Forest Commission for your support and donation of trees that we give away each year. In 2012 we gave away over 13,000 hardwoods and 3,000 pine seedlings to the public for free. We planted trees on school grounds at three schools while hundreds of young students watched and learned about the importance of trees and what they are used for and how they help our environment. We also had a training station for all of the 5th graders in Garland County to teach them about the importance of native trees for forage and habitation. Over 500 students got to take trees home.

A special thanks to all of our sponsors for our annual Conservation Achievement Awards Program. This awards program has been, and continues to be, a big part of AWF. The ceremony helps reflect the special people, organizations, businesses, and programs in Arkansas that care about nature and our environment. Thanks to Heartland Bank, The Center of Bryant, and the city of Bryant for your support and use of your facility for the awards banquet. Thank you to all of the other sponsors for your support. We couldn’t have done it without you.

I would also like to thank all of the AWF Board members and affiliates for your help and support to this organization, programs, events, and to making AWF a success in Arkansas. A big thanks goes to Geralyn Hoey and National Wildlife Federation for allowing AWF to be a part of your programs and for your support.

Wayne Shewmake

Currently the U.S doesn’t regulate carbon emissions on the basis that it is not classified as a pollutant. Despite the number of developed nations who have signed on to the Kyoto protocol, the current administration is sticking to the argument that it will destroy the economy.  However, global warming potentially poses the greatest risk human health the world has ever seen. Right now there is legislation being drafted known as the Climate Stewardship Act. This act seeks to regulate carbon emissions through a system of cap and trade, where C02 emitters can buy carbon credits to meet regulations on carbon.  For more information about the climate stewardship act go here (link to PDF “summary and facts”). To view the top ten reasons to support the act go here (link to PDF “top 10”).

Arkansas Groups Involved in Global Warming

The following conservation organizations in Arkansas have been very active in our mutual commitment to reduce global warming. They are:

Ken Smith kensmith@audubon.org.
Executive Director
Audubon Arkansas
1423B South Main St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
501) 244-2229

Glenn Hooks glen.hooks@sierraclub.org
Associate Regional Representative
Sierra Club of Arkansas
1308 West 2nd Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501-301-8280)

Don Richardson  dsrenviro@gmail.com
Director
Arkansas Climate Awareness Project 501-592-1391

Robert McClarty robert@themarkhamgroup.net
Pew Environmental Group
The Markham Group
823 W Markham St # 202
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-324-6000

Rob Fisher fisher@ecoconservation.org
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Ecological Conservation Organization (ECO)
120 S. Cross St.
Little Rock, AR  72201

Bill Kopsky  bill@arpanel.org
Executive Director
Arkansas Public Policy Panel
1308 West 2nd Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Office 501-376-7913    Fax 501-374-3935

Art Hobson ahobson@uark.edu
Physics Professor Emeritus of Physic
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-5918

Ethan Nahté  arkwf@sbcglobal.net
Executive Director
Arkansas Wildlife Federation
9108 Rodney Parham Road, Suite 101
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 224-9200

Recently a nation wide poll was taken to assess where sportsman stand on the issue of global warming. It was discovered that a majority of sportsman now believe that Global Warming is a cause for concern. To view some of the results of the Nationwide poll go here; To see media coverage of this poll go here.

In addition many alternatives exist for the generation of electricity other than fossil fuel burning such as the use of renewable sources of energy:

• wind
  
• hydropower
  
• solar
  
• geothermal
  
• biomass
  

For more information about renewable energy go here.

The Arkansas energy office maintains a site which contains information about renewable energy resources in Arkansas.

The following conservation organizations in Arkansas have been very active in our mutual commitment to reduce global warming. They are:

Ken Smith
Executive Director
Audubon Arkansas
1423B South Main St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 244-2229

Glenn Hooks
Associate Regional Representative
Sierra Club of Arkansas
1308 West 2nd Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 301-8280

Don Richardson
Director
Arkansas Climate Awareness Project
(501) 592-1391

Robert McClarty robert@themarkhamgroup.net
Pew Environmental Group
The Markham Group
823 W Markham St # 202
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 324-6000

Rob Fisher
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Ecological Conservation Organization (ECO)
120 S. Cross St.
Little Rock, AR  72201

Bill Kopsky 
Executive Director
Arkansas Public Policy Panel
1308 West 2nd Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
(501) 376-7913; Fax (501) 374-3935

Art Hobson
Physics Professor Emeritus of Physics
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-5918

Ethan Nahté
Executive Director
Arkansas Wildlife Federation
9108 Rodney Parham Road, Suite 101
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 224-9200

In addition there are many simple things individuals can do to lower energy consumption and slow the onset of global warming. This includes recycling, the use of public transportation, the use of renewable energy including solar and wind, buying locally, short showers versus long baths, and turning out the lights to name a few. Until CO2 emissions are regulated in this country an individual can take many steps to lower their own carbon footprint. If you are curious about how heavy your carbon footprint (CO2) measures up, you can check it at this page.

Furthermore there are solutions such as carbon sequestration; which is the removal of carbon from the atmosphere and feeding it to soils, forests, oceans, and other natural cycles, are becoming an option for the management of carbon in the atmosphere.To learn more about carbon sequestration go here.

In the end, lowering fossil fuel use will likely come from a combination of alternative technologies and practicing energy conservation and conscious consumption in our daily lives.

Legislation and Global Warming
Currently the U.S doesn’t regulate carbon emissions on the basis that it is not classified as a pollutant. Despite the number of developed nations who have signed on to the Kyoto protocol, the current administration is sticking to the argument that it will destroy the economy. However, global warming potentially poses the greatest risk human health the world has ever seen. Right now there is legislation being drafted known as the Climate Stewardship Act. This act seeks to regulate carbon emissions through a system of cap and trade, where C02 emitters can buy carbon credits to meet regulations on carbon. For more information about the climate stewardship act visit the UNFCC site or NRDC site. To view FAQ (frequently asked questions)to support the act visit the NRDC FAQ page. To view the Kyoto Protocol in laymans terms you can click here.

Global warming has already been shown to have adverse effects on wildlife, including a migration to higher latitudes and a northward shift of home ranges An analysis of many scientific articles was compiled into a larger report  and a majority of the findings were shown to be consistent with global warming predictions for organisms. In addition, the Parmesan report which outlines current global warming impacts on community and ecosystem change can be viewed here.

Global Warming, Arkansas Sportsman, and Game Species

Increasingly sportsman and hunters have become more and more aware about the effects of global warming on their particular game species.  In Arkansas 77% of hunters and anglers agree global warming is currently occurring, and 74% agree global warming is a threat to the state economy because it depends upon income from natural resources, such as the timber industry and hunting and fishing.

The blog ontarget global warming  deals with the relationship between global warming and hunters, and has the results of the national sportsman poll on global warming. Also a wealth of information on the potential effects of global warming on game and relevant fish species in Arkansas is addressed on this site.

Duck hunters interested in passing on their sporting traditions to their children and grandchildren should be aware of the potential negative effects that Global Warming can have on their favorite duck species. Also, anglers should be concerned with global warming, and the potential effects it poses to the survival of game species in the many generations to come.  Coldwater fish are particularly vulnerable because they don’t respond well to warming water.  For more information on global warming’s effect on cold water fish go here.