Last year, hundreds of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and partners forged the Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System. This year, we collectively are implementing that vision.

In 2012, Refuge Update is presenting a series of Focus sections devoted to the implementation. The sections emphasize and parallel the realms of various Conserving the Future implementation teams.

This Focus section, titled Recreation on Refuges, centers on the work of the Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation team as it pertains to recommendations 17 and 18 of the vision.

Recommendation 17: The Service will work closely with state fish and wildlife agencies to conduct a review of its current hunting and fishing opportunities, especially opportunities currently offered for youth and people with disabilities. Based on this review, the Service and states will work cooperatively to prepare a strategy for increasing quality hunting and fishing opportunities on national wildlife refuges.

Recommendation 18: Support and enhance appropriate recreation opportunities on national wildlife refuges by partnering with state fish and wildlife agencies, other governmental bodies, conservation organizations and businesses; and by updating relevant policies and infrastructure.

The Focus section includes articles about the pleasures and responsibilities of hunting, fishing, birding, geocaching and photography on refuges.