From Thoreau to today's congressional delegation that is steadfast in defense of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts has produced a pantheon of environmental heroes, thinkers and leaders. The late Sen. Paul Tsongas spearheaded passage of the Alaska Lands Act. Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Ed Markey work today to fulfill its promise.

Cape Cod National Seashore is Jet-ski Free
Two years ago, the National Park Service banned noxious jet-skis at the Cape Cod National Seashore, one of the most spectacular beaches in the northeast. The Wilderness Society and other conservation organizations worked hard for the decision and applauded it. But we may have to defend the ban again as efforts to reverse it continue.
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Massachusetts and the Arctic Refuge
Though it's a very long way from Massachusetts, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is still wild today because, in large measure, of the work and leadership of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation. We will need them more than ever in 2003 as the Congress returns to consideration of the Bush Energy Plan which calls for opening this marvel of wilderness and wildlife to oil and gas development.
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Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge: An End to Horseshoe Crab Harvesting
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2002 found that harvesting of horseshoe crabs on the Refuge's North Monomoy Island is incompatible with the purposes of the Monomoy Wildlife Refuge. That is good news for the Refuge, for the crabs and for the shorebirds that rely on them.

Protection of migratory birds, and especially shorebirds, is the primary purpose of the Refuge. Feeding and nesting shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food. Crab gathering also occurred in areas that were otherwise seasonally closed to protect nesting terns.
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