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1. Audubon Connecticut Strategic Priorities:

Long Island Sound

State

• Building a state legislative coalition to advocate for protection of Long Island Sound habitat and species
• Restoring and maintaining full funding for the Connecticut Clean Water Fund
• Securing funding to support Long Island Sound stewardship and to provide a match for federal Long Island Sound Stewardship Act funding

Federal

• Advocating for full funding of the Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Acts
• Advocating for full funding of the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program
• Advocating for approval of a 2008 Long Island Sound Agreement that focuses on protections for water quality and bird habitat

Habitat Protection

State & Federal

• Advocating for funding of land preservation/acquisition programs and for specific projects that protect bird habitat
• Improving efforts to protect endangered grassland habitat including DEP’s Grassland Initiative
• Securing funding for:
  • Long Beach in Stratford and Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport as additions to the Great Meadows Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
  • Conservation of the East River Preserve/Goss property in Guilford by the DEP and Town of Guilford
  • Additions to the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Diversity

State

• Addressing threats from invasive plants and animals
  • Expanding enforcement authority for invasive plants
  • Enacting bans of invasive plant species
  • Advocating for creation of an Invasive Plants Program in the DEP
• Increasing funding for DEP’s wildlife programs and other department functions that support bird conservation

Federal

• Advocating for increased Department of Interior funding for the State Wildlife Grants program
• Creating a stronger grassroots base of support for wildlife by expanding Connecticut’s Teaming with Wildlife Coalition

Connecticut's Environmental Laws

State

• Leading efforts to improve mitigation plan enforcement under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act
• Highlighting enforcement issues with the Connecticut Endangered Species Act and promoting its strengthening

Global Warming/Climate Change

State

• Advocating for measures that address global warming and climate change focusing explicitly on birds and habitat protection

Audubon Centers & Programs

State

• Hosting public legislative forums at Audubon Centers and locally with Chapters to bring federal and state lawmakers together with environmental advocates.

2. Issues Monitoring:

• Pesticides
• Light pollution
• Proposed Broadwater LNG re-gasification facility
• Endangered utility (water and electric) lands

Legislative Contact: Sandy Breslin, Director of. Governmental Affairs, email or (203) 264-5098 x307

Audubon Connecticut, a part of the National Audubon Society with more than 12,000 members statewide, works to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats using education, science and conservation, and legislative advocacy for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.