More than 30 advocates met at the statehouse for Audubon Great Lakes Advocacy Day, to raise awareness of the importance of conservation funding and climate solutions for birds and people. This year the advocates were able to meet with over 50 lawmakers. Each contact is an opportunity to present concerns about birds and conservation and to promote legislation that will have a positive affect on the environment.
The event began with a welcome by Marnie Urso, Senior Policy Director for Audubon Great Lakes. She set the tone for the day with the reminder that “the loss of 3 billion birds since 1970 is a warning we can’t ignore” and called for Indiana to have a greater investment in our natural resources. She then introduced the next speaker, Governor Braun.
Governor Braun delivered remarks at the event on the importance of bipartisan solutions to protect our environment. He said, “Everyone likes birds and other wildlife and supporting their protection is the most bipartisan thing you can do.”
Other speakers at the event were State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) Chair of the House Environment Affairs Committee and State Sen. Shelli Yoder, Minority Caucus Leader. Rep. Baird said, “Birds are not just a beautiful part of our surroundings, they’re a critical part of our ecosystems that serve as indicators for our environmental health”. Sen. Yoder’s message was, “When we lose wetlands and clean waterways, we don’t just lose bird habitats, we lose protections for our own communities. We need strong policies that safeguard these resources, hold polluters accountable and invest in solutions that benefit both people and wildlife”.
After the speakers, lunch was provided by Great Lakes Audubon where the attendees had an opportunity to speak with senators and representatives who took time out of their day to meet with the advocates. After lunch, attendees were given the opportunity to meet with their own representative and senator to speak specifically about current legislation pertaining to the environment, conservation, and birds.
Advocating for birds does not end with the conclusion of Advocacy Day. Anyone is able to contact their legislator and advocate for the birds and the environment. The message will become stronger, the more voices they hear.