Crane Letter 2024
“Think big, act bigger.”
Dear Friends of RRI,
As we approach our 40th anniversary, the RRI team is filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible journey we have undertaken together. When Huey founded his fledgling “think and do” tank in 1985, he had already built an astonishing record of environmental accomplishments. One of these achievements—saving the Marin Headlands—was honored this year by the National Park Service (NPS) with commemorative signage at the Tennessee Valley trailhead in Mill Valley, California. As many of you know, Huey played a pivotal role in saving the land from commercial development and including it in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), one of the most visited parks in the world.
The vision and tenacity Huey showed in saving the Headlands captures RRI’s spirit, demonstrating how persistent effort can lead to monumental achievements in conservation. His legacy reminds us that we can and must continue to protect our cherished landscapes and the ecosystems and biodiversity they support. That’s why we remain fully committed to the restoration of Point Reyes National Seashore, a richly biodiverse park adjacent to the GGNRA that Huey also helped to create. We are bringing this same level of focus and commitment to all of our lead projects, each one chosen and developed to restore and protect biodiversity on public lands, working landscapes, rivers, and coastal waters.
Nurturing Nature: A through line across all our programs.
After nearly a decade of advocacy and legal challenges by RRI and our Restore Point Reyes Seashore coalition partners, the National Park Service (NPS) is finally recommending the removal of the controversial fence at Tomales Point Elk Reserve that cuts off the herd’s access to water and essential nutrients. Trapped behind the fence, hundreds of native Tule elk have died during periods of extended drought. When implemented, this critical change will usher in the revitalization of the parklands and its wildlife and enhance the public’s view of these magnificent animals. We are closely following these developments as we move forward with our confidential mediation sessions with the NPS, in-park ranchers, and The Nature Conservancy.
To expand our knowledge, the Fish in the Fields (FIF) team traveled to Chaco, Argentina, to visit a thriving fish/rice operation. Joined by our Arkansas rice growing partners, we exchanged valuable first-hand experiences as well as the conservation benefits and economic potential of co-cultivation. FIF is now in its third season in Arkansas, the largest rice-growing state in the nation. Its innovative model holds the promise of improving soil health, reducing methane emissions, and fostering biodiversity—all while producing a second income source for rice growers. On the same trip to South America, we continued on to the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia. As members of the California delegation, we had the opportunity to share California's 30x30 ambitious implementation plan with delegates from around the world, many of whom are just getting started.
Finally, our newest major program—Protecting Marine Biodiversity: The Campaign to End Avoidable Bycatch—is educating the public, government leaders, and the California commercial fishing community about transitioning to fishing gear that protects marine wildlife from unintended death and habitat destruction. RRI is co-sponsoring a bill to eliminate the use of set gillnets, a dangerous and indiscriminate gear type still operating in state waters off the Channel Islands.
All three of these programs are highly collaborative—integrating the expertise, insights, and dedication of many partners. By working together, we are able to punch above our weight. To learn more about the exciting progress we’re making on all fronts this year, please take a look at our highlights page and check out our new logo and refreshed website.
We continue to be inspired by our longtime symbol of hope and resilience—the whooping crane–and the heroic efforts to recover its population from near extinction. With the encouraging developments of our own local Tule elk, another iconic species brought back from the brink of extinction, we are entering our 40th year with renewed energy and clarity. We’re making a difference—no matter the political landscape or the hurdles we face. Forty years have taught us that we must continually fight for the environment and defend against the rollback of past gains. After the 2024 election, we know we’ll have to fight even harder. Your unwavering support empowers us to pursue big and bold solutions to the urgent challenges facing our planet. Let’s continue working together to ensure a thriving future for all species.
With heartfelt gratitude from all of us at RRI,
Deborah Moskowitz, President
Also, please join us on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 10 a.m. for the 4th Annual Huey D. Johnson Legacy Walk in Tennessee Valley. We’ll gather at the new signage at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead.
