Identifying Refuge Resources of Concern and Management Priorities: A Handbook

This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS, Service) handbook provides a strategy for anyone who must identify biological priorities (Refuge Resources of Concern) and develop associated resource goals and objectives that will guide future refuge wildlife and habitat management, as well as inventory and monitoring needs. Other responsibilities such as archaeological, paleontological, and historic resources are not covered. This handbook provides stepdown guidance to integrate the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) Mission and Goals and Refuge Purposes policy (601 FW 1) with our Refuge System Planning Overview (602 FW 1) and Habitat Management Plans (620 FW1) policies. This handbook provides a stepwise process (Figure 1) that will help you collect information and generate products necessary for your refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) or Habitat Management Plan (HMP), as well as products critical to short- and longterm resource management decisions on your refuge.