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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Mastrati, Gail (DEM) <gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 3, 2021 3:17 PM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> DEM SEEKING PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON USE OF STATE CONSERVATION LANDS AND MANAGEMENT AREAS
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D6FA3F.94D8AD00" alt="DEM-logo-small"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Gail Mastrati, 401-255-6144<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Wednesday, February 3, 2021
</span><a href="mailto:gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM SEEKING PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON USE OF STATE CONSERVATION LANDS AND MANAGEMENT AREAS
</span></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Information gathered from online survey will help support nature-based
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">recreation opportunities for Rhode Islanders and visitors
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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">PROVIDENCE,
R.I. – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is conducting an
</span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/naturalresources/state-lands-survey.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">online survey</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> to gather input on
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">how the public uses and values state lands.
<span style="color:black">Feedback from the survey will be used </span>to shape the future of nature-based recreation in Rhode Island including fishing, hunting and boating, and management of state owned/operated conservation lands and management areas. Survey
data will also help prioritize funding for future conservation efforts and support the growth and management of outdoor recreation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.25pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">“We encourage Rhode Islanders to participate in this important survey and share information about their involvement in activities such as fishing, hunting,
boating, hiking, and bird-watching on state conservation lands,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. "Their valuable feedback will help us create better outdoor opportunities for all Rhode Islanders and visitors. Providing people with places to get outdoors and
enjoy nature is part of DEM’s core mission, is good for health, and fosters our next generation of environmental stewards.”
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM invites a broad representation of stakeholders including local and state leaders, environmental organizations, private-sector groups, and all others interested in outdoor
recreation to take the survey and share their thoughts about the use of state lands. Hearing directly from the people that use Rhode Island’s network of management areas and conservation lands will help DEM gauge the level and type of use, how the public
values state lands, and develop ideas for better management and funding to keep areas open, staffed, and operational.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">The
</span></span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/naturalresources/state-lands-survey.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">survey</span></a><b><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">
</span></i></b><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">takes only a few minutes to complete and is available on
</span></span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/naturalresources/state-lands-survey.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.25pt">www.dem.ri.gov/naturesurvey</span></a><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal">.
</span></span><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The effort is part of a broader project DEM is conducting to assess the
</span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/index.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Division of Fish & Wildlife</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> and the
</span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/forestry/index.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Division of Forest Environment’s</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> strategic priorities, oversight, and stewardship
of state-owned/operated conservation and management areas, including fishing access areas and boat ramps.
<span style="color:#222222">The project includes lands that are directly managed by DEM's Divisions of Fish & Wildlife and Forest Environment; state parks and beaches are not included.</span> Visit the list of state-owned/operated conservation and management
areas by </span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/naturalresources/state-lands-survey.php#maps"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">clicking here</span></a><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.</span></u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222">With more than 60,000 acres of state of land, including 25 state management areas, 400 miles of hiking and biking trails, 200 fishing spots, and over 200 public boat ramps
in Rhode Island, recreationists of all kinds have plentiful options of places for hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, photographing wildlife, watching birds, or just enjoying the outdoors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/index.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222"> is responsible
for managing thousands of species of wildlife, including freshwater species. Revenue generated from fishing and hunting license and permit sales supports Rhode Island fish and wildlife conservation programs. A critical source of funding, these monies are leveraged
to match federal </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fws.gov/wsfrprograms/Subpages/GrantPrograms/FundingIndex.htm__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!cxW14QyMaOy4xYq5K0pSJdYbXZSZdxR5khNqB2HxWRZYE0PUN36xbIMU8qa_4l_IkU66vEGV$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program</span> [fws.gov]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222">
dollars that support nature-based recreational opportunities for fishing, hunting, and boating in Rhode Island.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">A steward of forest-based recreation,
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/forestry/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM’s Division of Forest Environment</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> manages 40,000 acres of state-owned
rural forestland including the Arcadia and George Washington Management Areas. The Division also works across the state with property owners along with rural and urban communities on a wide range of forestry topics including forest health, forest fire prevention,
community tree planting, and private forest land management to maximize the positive benefits forests bring to all Rhode Islanders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
<a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov">www.dem.ri.gov</a>. Follow us on Facebook at </span>
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!cxW14QyMaOy4xYq5K0pSJdYbXZSZdxR5khNqB2HxWRZYE0PUN36xbIMU8qa_4l_IkfNULreb$" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely
updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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