The display, dedicated today by Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark and Kirk Wineland, deputy administrator of the Maryland Aviation Aministration, spotlights Patuxent Research Refuge and the more than 500 other national wildlife refuges across the country where Americans can learn more about this premiere network of wildlife lands. The exhibit also urges those headed overseas to steer clear of the illegal wildlife trade--a black market that flourishes at the expense of animals worldwide.
"The airports loan of this exhibit space is a very special gift," said Clark. "We are truly grateful to the Maryland Aviation Administration for giving the Service the opportunity to tell people about refuges and wildlife."
With at least one wildlife refuge in every state, Americans can experience a diversity of animal and plant life and enjoy a variety of outdoor recreational activities virtually anywhere they go in the U.S. In addition to providing habitat for many wildlife species, the refuge system offers people a chance to learn about conserving this countrys natural heritage.
"The Fish and Wildlife Service is entrusted with the task of conserving plants and animals, but I believe every American has a responsibility to help preserve the natural world," said Clark. "We can all be good stewards and have a positive impact on the conservation of wildlife at home and abroad.
In the Baltimore-Washington area, for example, the Patuxent Research Refuge preserves nearly 13,000 acres of wetlands and forests and offers opportunities to hike, hunt, fish, and observe wildlife. It is home to a nesting pair of bald eagles, white- tailed deer, and various species of waterfowl. In addition, Patuxent offers a world-class visitor center featuring high-tech interactive displays.
The new Service exhibit also encourages travelers to be "wildlife-wise" consumers when they travel overseas. Seemingly innocuous products made from tortoise shell, coral, ivory, and reptile skin are available in marketplaces around the world, even though many of the animals that supply this trade are protected by U.S. and international laws and treaties.
"Wildlife souvenirs may not be the best way to remember a trip abroad because many of these items are illegal to bring home," Clark said. "When we return to this country from overseas, we are asked if we have any purchases we need to declare. Lets declare ourselves in favor of wildlife."
The Service exhibit is a joint conservation outreach project of the Patuxent Research Refuge, the Services Chesapeake Bay Field Office, the agencys Baltimore law enforcement office and their partner, the Maryland Aviation Administration. Thanks to this partnership, passengers using Baltimore/Washington International Airport can stop by the display to learn more about wildlife conservation.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------ (fact sheet) WILDLIFE INSPECTION PROGRAM
