"The approaching 100th birthday of the refuge system is an excellent opportunity for journalists and film makers to help their viewers and readers discover the beauty and diversity of the Refuge System and its unique contributions to wildlife conservation," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark.
The Refuges 100 site was designed to avoid many of the pitfalls journalists encounter when researching their stories online. All time-sensitive material is clearly dated, and contact numbers and e-mail addresses are always at your fingertips so you can quickly confirm that your information is current and complete. The website architecture makes navigation easy, and a streamlined graphic design means pages load quickly, even on older computers with dial-up connections.
Heres a sample of some of the features on the Refuges 100 website:
* More than 75 pages of fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and other information,
* Links to 10 searchable databases, including one with hundreds of public domain images of wildlife, scenery, management, and recreational activities.
* Selected wildlife "spectacles," permit procedures, and funding opportunities for film makers.
* Testimony and statements from top officials on current issues.
* Possible storylines for feature stories and films.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 520 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices 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.
- FWS -
Links">http://refuges100.fws.gov">
