Accept. To allow ecosystem processes, function, structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure , or composition to change without intervening to alter their trajectory. A management response to ecosystems facing the potential for rapid, irreversible ecological change, chosen within the context of a decision regarding whether to resist change, accept change, or direct change.
Acquisition Boundary (also known as an Approved Acquisition Boundary). A defined area within which we are authorized to acquire all the acreage. The Director approves an acquisition boundary after we have completed the land protection planning and environmental compliance process. Approval of an acquisition boundary does not grant the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) jurisdiction or control over lands within the boundary, does not make lands within the refuge acquisition boundary part of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System), and places no restrictions on any landowners. Lands and interests in lands do not become part of the Refuge System until we acquire them or they are placed under an agreement that provides for management as part of the Refuge System. Acquisition boundaries may also be designated by an act of Congress.
Administrative Change. Any minor change or edit to a plan to correct errors and inaccuracies or update the plan in a manner that does not result in a change in management.
Alaska Native Corporations (ANC). The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 established 13 regional corporations and 195 village corporations. ANC lands often share boundaries with Federal lands, and this requires cooperation and regular communication on land use and management. Given the size and nature of ANC lands and the critical inter-dependence of fish and wildlife populations across shared habitats, there is a Service responsibility to communicate and work together on issues of mutual interest where outcomes may alter benefits to Alaska Native peoples and their Tribes, Alaska Native Organizations, and ANCs. The Service recognizes that there is a difference between the government-to-government relationship with Tribes and its relationship to ANCs. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, as amended, requires Federal agencies to consult with ANCs on the same basis as Tribes.
Alaska Native Organizations (ANO). ANOs are tribally controlled nonprofit organizations that act on behalf of and for the benefit of their member Tribes. The Service acknowledges that Tribes may establish ANOs as official representatives of their interests and in government-to-government relations.
Amendment. A modification to one or more parts of an existing planthat does not result in a major change to the management direction outlined in the plan.
Biological Planning. A component of the Strategic Habitat Conservation framework (see 602 FW 5), biological planning is the process of identifying priority conservation species and measurable targets such as population objectives, assessing the current status of populations (increasing, decreasing, static), identifying threats and limiting factors, and building models to describe the relationship of populations to habitat and other limiting factors.
Compatibility Determination. A written determination signed and dated by the Refuge Manager and Regional Chief, signifying that a proposed or existing use of a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge is a compatible use or is not a compatible use. The Director makes this delegation through the Regional Director (see 603 FW 2).
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). A document that describes the desired future conditions of a refuge or planning unit and provides long-range guidance and management direction to achieve the purposes of the refuge; helps fulfill the mission of the Refuge System; maintains and, where appropriate, restores the ecological integrity of each refuge and the Refuge System; helps achieve the goals of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and meets other mandates.
Conservation Design. A component of the Strategic Habitat Conservation framework (see 602 FW 5), conservation design is the application of scientific information, expert opinion, and spatial data that helps us to establish estimates of where and how to achieve our mission through landscape sustainability. It is the integration of multiple objectives and the determination of how to efficiently apportion objectives across the landscape and among Refuge System units.
Conserve. To sustain and, where appropriate, restore and enhance healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants using, in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws, methods and procedures associated with modern scientific resource programs. Such methods and procedures include, consistent with provisions of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), protection, research, census, law enforcement, habitat management, propagation, live trapping and transplantation, and regulated taking.
Coordination Area. A wildlife management area wildlife management area
For practical purposes, a wildlife management area is synonymous with a national wildlife refuge or a game preserve. There are nine wildlife management areas and one game preserve in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Learn more about wildlife management area made available to a State, by: (A) cooperative agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State fish and game agency pursuant to Section 4 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 664); or (B) by long-term leases or agreements pursuant to the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (50 Stat. 525; 7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.). States manage Coordination Areas, but they are part of the Refuge System. We do not require CCPs for Coordination Areas.
Co-Stewardship. Co-stewardship broadly means the cooperative and collaborative engagements of the Service with Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations related to shared interests in managing, conserving, and preserving natural and cultural resources under the primary responsibility of the managers of Federal land and water. Cooperative and collaborative arrangements can take a wide variety of forms based on the circumstances and applicable authorities in each case. Forms of co-stewardship may, among other forms, include sharing of technical expertise; combining Service capabilities with Tribes, ANCs, ANOs, and the Native Hawaiian Community to improve resource management and advance the responsibilities and interests of each; making Indigenous Knowledge (IK), experience, and perspectives integral to the public's experience of Federal lands and waters; and entering into annual funding agreements under the Tribal Self-Governance Act (Director’s Order 227, section 2h).
Cultural Resources. This is a general phrase that describes a wide variety of resources, including, but not limited to, archaeological sites, isolated artifacts, features, records, manuscripts, historical sites, and traditional cultural properties. Cultural resources include: archaeological resources, historic property, objects of antiquity, cultural items, traditional cultural property, sacred sites, heritage assets, and cultural landscapes (see 614 FW 1).
Direct. To actively shape ecosystem processes, function, structure, or composition toward new, preferred conditions. A management response to ecosystems facing the potential for rapid, irreversible ecological change, chosen within the context of a decision regarding whether to resist change, accept change, or direct change.
Ecological Transformation. The shift in an ecosystem, resulting in a new system that deviates from prior ecosystem structure and function or species composition.
Ecosystem. Systems comprised of biota (living organisms), the abiotic environment (e.g., air, light, soils, water), the interactions within and between them, and the physical space in which these operate.
Finding of Appropriateness. See 603 FW 1.
Goal. A descriptive, open-ended, and often broad statement of desired future condition(s) that conveys a purpose but does not define measurable units.
Habitat and Species Plan. A step-down plan that outlines how a refuge or group of refuges will conserve selected priority habitat and species; describes how we will accomplish conservation by setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-fixed (SMART) objectives; identifies significant problems; evaluates alternative management strategies; documents selected strategies that will be deployed; and describes the process to evaluate plans, incorporate new information, and record learning.
Indigenous Knowledge (IK). A body of observations, oral and written knowledge, practices, and beliefs developed by Indigenous Peoples and applied to phenomena across biological, physical, cultural, and spiritual systems. IK can develop over millennia, continues to evolve, and includes insights based on evidence acquired through direct relationships with the environment, long-term experiences, extensive observation, and lessons and skills passed from generation to generation.
Indigenous Peoples. Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and others whose ancestors have occupied what is now known as the United States and its territories since time immemorial, including members of Tribal Nations.
Issue. Any unsettled matter that requires a management decision, e.g., an initiative, opportunity, resource management problem, threat to the resources of the refuge, conflict in uses, public concern, or the presence of an undesirable resource condition.
Land. Throughout Part 602, the term “land” means lands and waters, including terrestrial, aquatic, and marine environments, over which we have jurisdiction.
Land Acquisition. The purchasing or other obtainment of fee title or less than fee title interests in land. Acquisition can occur by a variety of methods, including direct purchase from willing sellers, exchange, transfer from other Federal agencies, donation, or withdrawal of land from the public domain.
Land Protection Plan (LPP). A plan that we develop to evaluate project proposals to create new refuges or expand existing refuges. These project proposals can be identified through the landscape planning and design process. LPPs include details about the project proposal and inform the public and landowners within the project proposal area about our plans.
Land Protection Strategy (LPS). An initial concise proposal to pursue a major expansion of an existing refuge or the creation of a new refuge. The Director reviews the LPS and determines whether further planning for the project is warranted in an LPP. An LPS:
- Identifies our contributions to implementing the vision, goals, objectives, and land protection strategies that are in a landscape plan;
- Identifies the total long-term management, biological, and ecological goals of the land protection proposal;
- Describes how the proposal will help fulfill the Refuge System mission and refuge purposes; and
- Clearly demonstrates how the proposal aligns with and supports the priorities in 602 FW 5, Strategic Growth Policy.
Landscape. An area encompassing an interacting mosaic of ecosystems and human systems that is characterized by a set of intersecting management concerns. The landscape is not defined by the size of the area, but rather by the interacting elements that are meaningful to the management objectives. In addition, the term ‘landscape’ encompasses watersheds and marine environments that match this description.
Landscape Plan. A document that includes the best available interdisciplinary scientific information on spatial and temporal conditions, vulnerabilities, risk, and opportunities for landscape-level conservation. A landscape plan may be developed either by partners or Service staff and may be used as source material for an LPP, LPS, or CCP.
Landscape Planning and Design. Conducting biological planning and conservation design at a landscape scale, which brings people together across geographies and cultures to collaborate on conserving natural and cultural landscapes.
Landscape Scale. A term that can represent many different spatial scales depending on the resources being managed. For planning purposes, landscape scale is often synonymous with ecoregions, watersheds, or similar units that we and our partners delineate during the planning process to assist in the development of a landscape plan.
Limited Acquisition Boundary (also known as an Approved Limited Acquisition Boundary). A defined area within which we are authorized to acquire a specified, limited amount of acreage within a larger area, approved prior to land acquisition. As with an acquisition boundary, only the Director may approve a limited acquisition boundary after we have completed the land protection planning and environmental compliance process. The boundary designates only those lands that the Service has authority to acquire from willing sellers or manage through various agreements. Approval of a limited acquisition boundary does not grant the Service jurisdiction or control over lands within the boundary, does not make lands within the refuge acquisition boundary part of the Refuge System, and places no restrictions on any landowners. Lands and interests do not become part of the Refuge System until we acquire them or they are placed under an agreement that provides for management as part of the Refuge System. Limited acquisition boundaries may also be designated by an act of Congress.
Major Expansion. When the total acreage authorized for acquisition at a refuge is increased by either: 1) a cumulative total of more than 15 percent of the acquisition acreage approved by the President, the Secretary, the Director, or Congress; or 2) a cumulative total of more than 50 acres, whichever is greater. These expansions require the Director’s approval and follow the same planning process as new refuges.
Minor Acquisition Boundary Modification. When we modify an existing approved acquisition boundary to remove a cumulative total of up to 15 percent of a refuge’s total authorized acquisition acreage and add in its place a similar amount of acquisition acreage that is in a different location but adjacent to the refuge’s approved acquisition boundary.
Minor Expansion. When the total acreage authorized for acquisition at a refuge is increased by either: 1) a cumulative total of 15 percent or less of the acquisition acreage approved by the President, the Secretary, the Director, or Congress; or 2) a cumulative total of 50 or fewer acres, whichever is greater. Minor expansions must be contiguous with or adjacent to (within 1 mile) the established unit. Regional Directors may approve minor expansions without completing a Land Protection Strategy or a Land Protection Plan.
National Wildlife Refuge. A designated area of land, water, or an interest in land or water within the Refuge System, but not including Coordination Areas (from 16 U.S.C. 668ee). A complete list of all units of the Refuge System is available in the current Annual Report of Lands Under Controlof the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located on our website.
National Wildlife Refuge System Mission. To administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Native Hawaiian Community. The distinct Native Hawaiian Indigenous political community that Congress, exercising its plenary power over Native American affairs, has recognized and with which Congress has implemented a special political and trust relationship (43 CFR 50.4).
Native Hawaiian Organizations. The Service has a special political and trust relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community that exists even without a formal government-to-government relationship (43 CFR 50). The Native Hawaiian Community uses Native Hawaiian organizations as its informal representatives. Based on these relationships, Native Hawaiian organizations may engage directly with the Service to address matters of mutual interest in the management of Federal lands and waters. The Service will maintain its special political and trust relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community by interacting through Native Hawaiian organizations. A non-exhaustive list of Native Hawaiian organizations can be found on the Department of the Interior’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations website.
Objective. A concise statement of what we want to achieve, how much we want to achieve, and when and where we want to achieve it. Objectives derive from goals and provide the basis for determining strategies, monitoring refuge accomplishments, and evaluating the success of strategies. Objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-oriented, and Time-fixed (SMART) descriptions about how we will accomplish conservation.
Planning Portfolio. An assemblage of refuge planning documents for a planning unit containing LPPs, CCPs, CCP reviews, and step-down plans, and where relevant, incorporating goals from landscape plans.
Planning Team. A group of individuals tasked with developing a specific plan. Teams are interdisciplinary in membership and function. Team composition varies depending on the type of refuge planning and particular circumstances, but generally consists of a Planning Team Leader and staff from the planning unit. The team may also include other program specialists (e.g., social scientist, ecologist, recreation specialist, realty specialist), and representatives from Federal and State agencies, Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native Organizations, Native Hawaiian Community representatives, local agencies, territories, and other partners.
Planning Unit. A single refuge, a group of refuges, an ecologically or administratively related refuge complex, or a distinct portion of a refuge. The planning unit may also be comprised of lands currently outside of refuge boundaries.
Preplanning. Data and information gathering that occurs before we begin Refuge System planning. Preplanning may include consideration of or participation in landscape planning and design and the initial identification of information and resources that may be needed to develop an LPS or CCP.
Priority Habitats. A limited set of habitats, plant communities, or ecosystems that provide a strategic focus for a planning unit’s conservation efforts. In general, priority habitats support priority species, and together they form the basis for setting goals and objectives, selecting strategies, and measuring effectiveness.
Priority Species. A limited set of populations, subspecies, species, or species groups that provide a strategic focus for a planning unit’s conservation efforts. In general, priority habitats support priority species, and together they form the basis for setting goals and objectives, selecting strategies, and measuring effectiveness.
Project Proposal. A recommendation for the major expansion of an existing refuge(s) or the creation of a new refuge(s) as described in a landscape plan, LPS, or LPP.
Purpose(s) of the Refuge. The purpose(s) specified in or derived from the law, proclamation, Executive Order, agreement, public land order, donation document, or administrative memorandum establishing, authorizing, or expanding a refuge, refuge unit, or refuge subunit. For refuges that encompass congressionally designated wilderness, the purposes of the Wilderness Act are additional purposes for the wilderness portion of the refuge.
Resist. Work to restore or maintain ecosystem processes, function, structure, or composition based on historical or acceptable current conditions. A management response to ecosystems facing the potential for rapid, irreversible ecological change, chosen within the context of a decision regarding whether to resist change, accept change, or direct change.
Revision. A major alteration of an existing plan.
Scenario Planning. A framework for making decisions for an uncertain future by considering plausible yet contrasting future conditions.
Stakeholder. A person or entity with an interest or concern in National Wildlife Refuge System planning. This includes the public.
Step-Down Plan. A detailed plan guiding the protection, management, or use of refuge lands or resources over a multi-year timescale to achieve a refuge’s broad vision and goals outlined in a CCP.
Strategy. A specific action, tool, technique, or combination of actions, tools, and techniques used to meet objectives.
Subsistence Uses. The customary and traditional use by rural Alaska residents of wild renewable resources for direct personal or family consumption of food, shelter, fuel, clothing, tools, or transportation; for the making and selling of handicraft articles out of nonedible byproducts of fish and wildlife resources taken for personal or family consumption; for barter or sharing for personal or family consumption; and for customary trade (see Section 803 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) for more information).
Threats. In land protection planning, these are issues that may prevent a project proposal from being successful. Threats may include agricultural, residential, or commercial issues; oil and gas development; public use interference; and biological or ecological changes associated with climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change . The latter could include prolonged drought, extreme weather events, increased wildfire and flood events, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , or sea level rise.
Tribes. Any Native American or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or other organized group or community identified in the most recent list of “Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs” published in accordance with section 104 of Public Law 103-454 (108 Stat. 4792; 25 U.S.C. 479a-1).
Vision. A concise statement of the planning unit’s desired future conditions based primarily on the Refuge System mission, specific refuge purposes, the role of the planning unit in the landscape, and other mandates.
Wildlife-Dependent Recreational Use. A use of a refuge involving hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education, and interpretation. These are the six priority public uses of the Refuge System as established in the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended (see Part 605 of the Service Manual).