Acting Director’s Message: Facing the Challenges

It has been my privilege for over 30 years to work with the dedicated employees of the Fish and Wildlife Service. As Acting Director, I am even more impressed and inspired by your commitment to the conservation of our
Nation’s natural resources.

The Service has faced daunting conservation challenges for 139 years, but along with our partners, we have persevered. The 21st Century is no exception, bringing new challenges that require a renewed dedication to our
mission, one which requires teamwork and the ability to adapt and
move forward, in an ever-changing environment.

This dedication is evidenced by our immediate response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To date, over 1,900 Service employees have been deployed to support the clean-up effort. We are leading the way in conducting natural resource damage assessments that will eventually provide a road map for restoring the Gulf Coast’s vital ecosystems. The consequences of the spill is are expected to linger for years, for wildlife and their habitats, not to mention Gulf Coast residents. The Service and our state and federal colleagues remain committed to aiding the effort for Gulf Coast restoration.

The Service is also moving forward to address other conservation challenges. Vital work has begun with our partners on significant climate change adaptation measures such as Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) and formulation of a National Fish and Wildlife Climate Adaptation Strategy. Nine LCCs were established in FY2010, and more are planned in 2011.

Accelerated climate change is real and is impacting America’s natural resources. We are hard at work with our many partners to take action now to prepare for the future.

Thank you for the hard work you do every day to confront today’s conservation challenges and for your dedication to the Service as we prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.