What is it that makes Alaska the special, wonderful place it is? For many Alaskans, it is Alaskas wild things and wild places. If you are one of those people who smiles when you see a moose step out of the trees, or if you take a certain pride in knowing that the bears and wolves in other peoples legends are alive and well in Alaska, then you will be pleased to learn the recent good news about our National Wildlife Refuge system.
On October 9th, President Clinton signed into law the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This Act would not have been possible without the support and leadership of both Congressman Don Young and Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. The new Act reaffirms that a system of National Wildlife Refuges will continue to preserve fish, wildlife and and the ecosystems upon which we all depend for the future generations of Americans.
The National Wildlife Refuge system includes land of incredible beauty and diversity, from the Alaskan Arctic to the tropical Florida Keys and beyond. Alaskas 16 National Wildlife Refuges encompass more than 85 percent of the entire 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.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge system, which numbers more than 500 refuges. Although nine of our refuges are relatively new, created by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), seven pre-date Alaskas statehood. One of the first, the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1913 to protect birds and marine mammals, is now contained within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, which continues to protect millions of nesting seabirds. Today, Alaskas refuges also provide homes for the great bears, moose, caribou, birds, fish, wolves, walrus and other wild things for which Alaska is world renowned.
Americas National Wildlife Refuge system, which was founded by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, now approaches its 100th anniversary. But not until the passage of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, has the Refuge System enjoyed a powerful set of unifying purposes and a mission that holds great promise for the new century in a single "organic act." This mission is "to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans." This new law also spells out a specific process whereby proposed uses, if determined compatible with the mission of the refuge system or the specific purposes of an individual refuge, may be authorized.
National Wildlife Refuges are the only system of Federal, public lands within the United States which Americans have dedicated to wildlife, and where wildlife conservation is the top priority.This new Refuge Act reinforces that dedication. However, the new law also places peoples use and enjoyment of refuges as a high priority. Compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses, especially the opportunity for families to participate in traditional outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation are specifically named as priority public uses of refuges.
The Refuge Act does not change the special relationship Alaska Refuges have with their home state. ANILCA not only guarantees that Alaskas outstanding fish, wildlife, habitat, and wilderness refuges will be conserved for future generations, it also clearly specifies that each refuge will be managed to preserve customary and traditional access and uses that are essential to Alaska lifes. This provision is especially important to the thousands of Alaskans who live within Refuge boundaries.
The Refuge Act emulates key features of ANILCA in several ways. For example, the refuge planning process outlined in the new law is based upon that in ANILCA and Alaskas positive experiences. Should any conflict arise between the two laws, ANILCA takes precedence. We are committed to managing Alaska refuges to reflect both the spirit and intent of these two great Acts.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is looking toward the 100th Anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System in 2003, less than six years away. This new legislation is continued proof that American people do care about wild things and wild places. Employees of the Service are dedicated to seeing that the promise of the Refuge System for wildlife, habitat, and people continues to be a reality in our lifetime.
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