Open to all - Vote for name of your choice on facebook - Urban Wildlife Refuge

Good morning neighborhoods,

Please see the below news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are soliciting public comment to name the new Urban Wildlife Refuge. Please share with your members and contacts. Hope you can participate!

Bernadette Miera
Cultural Services Manager / Neighborhood Coordination
Economic Development & Cultural Services
BERNALILLO COUNTY
(505) 468-1279

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News Release
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Southwest Region (Arizona ? New Mexico ? Oklahoma ?Texas) www.fws.gov/southwest/

For Release: September 10, 2012
Contacts: Christine Tincher at 505/248-6909
Megan Kelhart at 505/248-6285

Public Invited to Help Select Name for New Urban Wildlife Refuge
Agency looks for unique and culturally significant names for new refuge near Albuquerque.

Albuquerque, NM - Members of the public are invited to provide suggested names for a new urban national wildlife refuge in Albuquerque's South Valley. The project was approved last September under the working title of Middle Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge. Since that time, the Service has been working with project partners Bernalillo County and the Trust for Public Lands to identify sufficient funds to purchase the lands.

While lands to formally establish the refuge have not yet been acquired, the Service has initiated a social media campaign to solicit public input into the name of the eventual refuge.

Interested members of the public may submit suggestions by email to: urbanrefugeABQ@fws.gov

They may also post name suggestions at: www.facebook.com/USFWSSouthwest

"This project has had tremendous public participation and support since we proposed it two years ago," said Benjamin N. Tuggle, Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "It's only appropriate that we invite everyone to help name this unique addition to the National Wildlife Refuge System."
Some of the names being considered attempt to reflect the cultural identity of the area, while also reflecting on the important conservation opportunities this project provides. These include Valle de Oro (Valley of Gold), Parajito (little bird) El Camino Real, and Valle de Oro (Valley of Gold).
"Our hope is that members of the public will be able to provide names that resonate with the local community" said Tuggle. "As this refuge grows, the surrounding community will grow with it."
The overall project area is 570-acres and once complete will provide meaningful environmental education, recreation and conservation opportunities. Efforts to acquire the first interest in land later this fall are currently underway.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.