[Pollinator] New Management Policies Announced at US FWS

[Laurie Adams]

Office of the Secretary


   June 20, 2006
   CONTACT:
   Hugh Vickery, DOI
   (202) 501-4633

   Valerie Fellows, FWS
   (202) 208-5634


                 Secretary Kempthorne Announces New Policies
              to Improve Management of National Wildlife Refuges

      (WASHINGTON) -- Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today
   announced new policies that define the unique wildlife conservation
   mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and will help refuge
   managers enhance opportunities for people to participate in fishing,
   hunting, bird watching, and other wildlife-related recreational
   activities.
      "In an age when the technology and increasing urbanization are
   causing many Americans to lose touch with the great outdoors, these
   policies will ensure national wildlife refuges continue to be places
   where people can come face to face with nature," Kempthorne said. "They
   will help us to meet our responsibilities
   to conserve our nation's diverse ecosystems, preserve our outdoor
   traditions, and foster a culture of environmental stewardship in future
   generations."
      Kempthorne announced the three policies in a televised broadcast
   during the annual meeting of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
   The new policies implement the National Wildlife Refuge System
   Improvement Act of 1997 and have been previously issued in draft for
   public comment.
      Developed in close coordination with state fish and wildlife
   agencies, the new policies encourage refuge managers to provide
   additional recreational opportunities while, at the same time, establish
   clear guidelines to ensure recreational programs are compatible with the
   conservation mission of each refuge.
      The first policy defines the official mission, goals and purposes of
   the National Wildlife Refuge System to ensure consistency among 545
   refuges that together form the world's largest system of lands dedicated
   to wildlife conservation. Under the policy, the mission of the Service's
   refuge program is "to administer a national network of lands and waters
   for the conservation, management and where appropriate, restoration of
   fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United
   States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans."
      The second policy provides refuge managers with guidance on how to
   plan visitor services that allow for enhanced opportunities for
   wildlife-dependent recreation including fishing, hunting, wildlife
   watching, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. In
   particular, the policy encourages refuge managers to work hand-in-hand
   with state wildlife agencies to provide more such recreational
   opportunities on refuges.
      The third policy provides refuge managers consistent guidelines to
   administer and structure recreational activities.The policy provides a
   framework to determine if activities that are not wildlife-dependent may
   be appropriate for a particular refuge.
         "These policies will ensure that we meet our conservation goals
   while offering more opportunities for families to enjoy
   wildlife-dependent recreation," noted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
   Director H. Dale Hall. "In addition, the policies will encourage
   consistency in the way we manage the refuge system."
         The policies are posted on the Web at www.fws.gov.

                                   --DOI --

Laurie Davies Adams
Executive Director
Coevolution Institute
423 Washington St. 5th
San Francisco, CA 94111
415 362 1137
www.coevolution.org
www.nappc.org

Our future flies on the wings of pollinators.