Thanks.  I forwarded this message to two of my relatives who own farms in
Minnesota.

At 07:15 PM 07/09/2003 -0500, you wrote:

>
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE
>RELEASE
>Contact: Allison Dobson/Maureen Knightly
>
>July 9,
>2003
>202.224.3254
>
>
>
>HARKIN ANNOUNCES BOOST FOR NORTHERN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
>
>
>
>WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that $470,000
>in funding for the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge has
>been included in the Interior Appropriations bill.  The bill will go
>through the full Appropriations committee on Thursday and is expected to
>be voted on in the Senate later this month.  Harkin, who pushed for this
>funding, is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
>
>
>
>These funds are critical to the refuges efforts to acquire and preserve
>additional land,said Harkin.  If the refuge doesnt purchase the land soon,
>other buyers may take over the land for purposes that could be harmful to
>the environment.
>
>
>
>The funds will be used to buy land in Western Minnesota and Northwest Iowa
>to preserve native prairie land.  Tallgrass prairie used to cover 25
>million acres in Minnesota and Iowa, but is now considered one of the most
>endangered ecosystems in North America. Although it is home to a number of
>endangered plant and wildlife species, only about one percent of the
>natural North American Prairie remains.  The goal of this funding is to
>preserve 25% of the remaining prairie through permanent conservation
>easements. Four species of plants and seven species of animal whose
>natural habitat is in this area are listed as endangered or threatened,
>including the Powesheik Skipperling and the Piping Plover.
>
>
>
>
>
>---end---
>
>
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