A major purpose of establishing the Conte Refuge (stated in the Conte Act) is to conserve, protect and enhance the natural diversity of the species and ecosystems within the watershed. Biological diversity is critically important: to maintain the resilience of natural systems by allowing species to adapt to changing environmental conditions; to maintain the processes in ecosytems that provide us with fertile soils, regulated hydrologic cycles and an abundance of fish and wildlife populations; to provide genetic resources for potential use in agriculture, medicine and industry; and to surround us with the beauty of nature.