|
NWRA CHEERS NEW VISION FOR THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM
For Immediate Release: October 20, 2011
Contact: Evan Hirsche, (202) 292-2421, ehirsche@refugeassociation.org
Washington, DC— The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) today applauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s new vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System as one that will address the conservation and public engagement challenges of the new century. Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, joined FWS Director Dan Ashe, as he announced the new vision, "Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation" at a ceremony today at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the first national wildlife refuge established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903.
“Conserving the Future provides a compelling new partner-based framework for the National Wildlife Refuge System to achieve its wildlife conservation objectives, while educating and enlisting a new generation of Americans in the stewardship of wildlife and habitat,” said Evan Hirsche president of the NWRA. “By embracing this collaborative vision, the Refuge System will leverage its remarkable conservation impact with the resources of other federal agencies, states, private landowners, recreationalists, and refuge Friends and volunteers to protect more habitat and reach more Americans than ever.”
The culmination of a year-long process to create an updated plan for the National Wildlife Refuge System, Conserving the Future acknowledges growing conservation challenges like habitat fragmentation, the need for adequate quantities of clean water, the explosion of invasive species, impacts of climate change, and rapidly shifting public demographics, and lays out a detailed plan of action.
In recognizing that habitat fragmentation poses the greatest challenge to wildlife conservation, the plan makes clear the need for national wildlife refuges to work “beyond the boundaries,” seeking out creative alliances with adjacent landowners, states, and other federal agencies in crafting large landscape strategies. With scarce federal and state funds, the plan emphasizes leverage and community support to realize larger conservation results.
“The conservation challenges of the 21st century demand that the Service renews its commitment to our important relationship with state fish and wildlife agencies and with traditional partners such as anglers and hunters,” said Dan Ashe, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. “At the same time, we need to be creative and bold in forging new partnerships.”
As part of one of the most transparent government processes ever, Conserving the Future attracted more than 10,000 comments and included an on-line forum for the public and constituent organizations to discuss ideas and express their views. “The National Wildlife Refuge Association was honored to serve as FWS’s partner in enlisting public comments and input from a variety of constituency groups” Hirsche said.
“Hunters, anglers, bird watchers, outdoor photographers, environmental educators, and many others who care about our refuges should be excited about the vision and energized to work toward its implementation,” Hirsche continued. “This plan emphasizes the importance of engaging our country’s diverse population in accomplishing meaningful conservation, while encouraging folks of all ages to get outdoors and enjoy America’s great natural treasures.”
The NWRA looks forward to working closely with the FWS to implement this ambitious and inspiring plan for the future.
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.
###
More Information: :
|
