HomeMy WebLinkAboutMerritt Island National Wildlife Refuge - Community Conservation and Education Center E
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WHEREAS,the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is the sixth most-visited refuge out
of 563 refuges in the United States,with 1.2 million visitors in 2015 who enjoyed watching wildlife,
exploring history,hiking, fishing,hunting,birding and biking; and
WHEREAS, the economic value of the Indian River Lagoon has been estimated at more
than $3.7 billion annually to our State and region, and the protected waters of the Merritt Island
National Wildlife Refuge are essential for the long term health of the Indian River Lagoon; and
WHEREAS, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides critically important
habitat for over 1500 species of animals and plants including a number of animals that are federally
listed as threatened and endangered; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service has
approved over $4 million for an exciting new Refuge Visitor Information Center to serve as the
Community Conservation and Education Center; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service does not
use appropriated funds for the exhibits and has requested the non-profit Merritt Island Wildlife
Association raise the funds with community support; and
WHEREAS,the Community Conservation and Education Center will benefit the entire East
Central Florida community as well as the growing number of national and international tourists
seeking to experience the extraordinary wildlife that thrives at our nation's most historic gateway to
space; and
WHEREAS,the City of Cape Canaveral and community partners support providing safe and
accessible recreation and educational opportunities, with the goal of fostering conservation of our
unique coastal resources,including the Indian River Lagoon; and
WHEREAS, the City of Cape Canaveral recognizes that the new Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge Community Conservation and Education Center will contribute to the economic
viability of the City of Cape Canaveral and Brevard County by attracting tourists who are interested
in the natural Florida, including our beaches,the Indian River Lagoon, the St John's River and our
wildlife refuges.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Robert Hoog, Mayor of the City of Cape Canaveral, Brevard
County,Florida,do hereby pledge support for the
MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
COMMUNITY CONSER VA TIONAND EDUCATION CENTER
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