(Washington, D.C., September 24, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will join U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army Alex Beehler, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith TOMORROW, September 25th for a conservation announcement regarding the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker at Ft. Benning.
Secretary Perdue and Secretary Bernhardt Make Conservation Announcement
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will join Secretary Bernhardt for a major announcement on an historic conservation milestone involving the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Following the Announcement, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
Background: Once abundant from New Jersey to Florida, west to Texas and north to Missouri, the red-cockaded woodpecker’s range had dwindled to just a handful of states by the 1960s, following more than a century of habitat loss. In the late 1970s, there was an all-time low of an estimated 1,470 clusters (or groups) of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Today, thanks to Endangered Species Act-inspired partnerships and the commitment of countless landowners, agencies, states and stakeholders, there are an estimated 7,800 clusters ranging across 11 states, from southern Virginia to eastern Texas.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday September 25th, 10:00am ET
WHERE: Campbell King Horse Bowl, Fort Benning, Georgia. You must RSVP to receive admission instructions to enter Ft. Benning.
*NOTE: Attendance will be limited to a small number of reporters at this event due to COVID-19. Media interested in covering the event should RSVP to Interior_Press@xxxxxxxxxxx by TODAY, Thursday, September 24th at 5:00pm ET.
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