About this Collection

The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires that every national wildlife refuge develop a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and revise it every 15 years, as needed. This collection includes comprehensive conservation plans for many national wildlife refuges.

Science underpins all aspects of National Wildlife Refuge System planning, but comprehensive conservation plans are citizen-centered government at its best. Developing these long-term plans relies on public participation and input. Local communities, volunteers and Friends of national wildlife refuges, state conservation agencies, and such partners as the National Rifle Association and Defenders of Wildlife help guide refuge management through the development of each CCP. CCPs also provide an opportunity to improve and increase recreation critical to connecting people, particularly young people, with nature.  

CCPs ensure that each 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.

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unit is managed to fulfill the purpose(s) for which it was established. Completed CCPs allow refuge managers to take actions that support State Wildlife Action Plans, improve the condition of habitats and benefit wildlife. The current generation of CCPs focuses on individual national wildlife refuge actions that contribute to larger, landscape-level goals identified through the Landscape Conservation Design process.

The full list of CCPs is available on ServCat