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Marine Turtle Newsletter 61:27-28, © 1993

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge: An Update

S. Jean Cantwell
ACNWR Fund Chairman, 402 Rio Palma South
Indialantic, Florida 32903 USA; Tel: (407) 773-4543

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR) was proposed to encompass approximately 860 acres of coastal dune property in eastern central Florida (Brevard and Indian River counties) to provide protection of dunes and their vegetation that act as a storm buffer, to preserve land and adjoining surf habitat for native and migratory wildlife, and to offer educational and recreational opportunities. Sea turtle nesting statistics within the Refuge area are as follows:

Presently, 242 acres of the proposed 860 acres designated for the ACNWR have been reserved or are under negotiation. At this time our goal is three-fold: (1) to impress our federal representatives that the public desires and requires more funding for the refuge acquisition, (2) to sustain the state commitment through Preservation 2000 funding via the Florida Conservation and Recreational Land Program, (3) to acquire donations for the Indian River Land Trust-Archie Carr Land Acquisition Fund. When the refuge was established in October 1990, the estimated cost was $90 million for the program. With present commitment of only $45.5 million by federal and state government, $44.5 million is still needed.

Because of rapid acquisition of the threatened coastal dune and barrier islands land by private entrepreneurs for commercial development, time is of the essence for concerned members of society to act for preservation. The Indian River Land Trust-Archie Carr Refuge Fund is appealing for contributions to help fund this effort. Please make your tax deductible contributions to Indian River Land Trust-Archie Carr Refuge Fund, Box 1302, Vero Beach, Florida 32961 USA.