Key Policies Governing Administration
of National Wildlife Refuges

Guiding Policies
Policies developed to implement provisions of the Improvement Act enhance the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ability to manage the Refuge System for wildlife and for people in a more consistent manner.

Mission, Goals and Refuge Purposes
This policy restates the Refuge System mission articulated in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act and its relationship to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission. In addition, the policy identifies the following Refuge System goals:

A. Conserve a diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats, including species that are endangered or threatened with becoming endangered.

B. Develop and maintain a network of habitats for migratory birds, anadromous and interjurisdictional fish, and marine mammal populations that is strategically distributed and carefully managed to meet important life history needs of these species across their ranges.

C. Conserve those ecosystems, plant communities, wetlands of national or international significance, and landscapes and seascapes that are unique, rare, declining, or underrepresented in existing protection efforts.

D. Provide and enhance opportunities to participate in compatible wildlife-dependent recreation (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation).

E. Foster understanding and instill appreciation of the diversity and interconnectedness of fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats.

Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health
This policy provides for the consideration and protection of the broad spectrum of fish, wildlife, and habitat resources found on refuges and associated ecosystems. According to this policy, "the highest measure of biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health is viewed as those intact and self-sustaining habitats and wildlife populations that existed during historic conditions." The policy directs refuge managers to prevent additional degradation of environmental conditions and, where appropriate, to restore lost or severely degraded components.

Wildlife-Dependent Recreation
This policy provides national guidance on the management of wildlife-dependent recreation within the Refuge System. It focuses on the six wildlife-dependent recreational uses defined by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation). Hunting and fishing programs are to be consistent with state regulations to the extent practicable and consistent with laws, regulations, and policies. The policy provides guidance on developing a visitor services plan that will cover wildlife-dependent recreation programs, outlines the criteria for providing quality programs, and provides tools and standards for managing programs.

Compatibility Policy and Appropriate Uses Policy
A compatibility determination is required for any use that occurs on a refuge. A compatible use is one which, in the sound professional judgment of the Refuge Manager, will not materially interfere with or detract from fulfillment of the Refuge System Mission or refuge purpose(s). When preparing a CCP, refuge managers must re-evaluate all general public, recreational, and economic uses (even those occurring to further Refuge habitat management goals) proposed or occurring on a refuge for appropriateness and compatibility. No refuge use may be allowed or continued unless it is determined to be appropriate and compatible. Generally, an appropriate use is one that contributes to fulfilling the refuge purpose(s), the Refuge System mission, or goals or objectives described in a refuge management plan.

For further information
To read the specific text of these and other policies go to the Refuge System policy page.