The Cabinet-level commission, chaired by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, approved the expenditure of more than $4.4 million to acquire the land. Many of the land acquisitions were approved for refuges along one of the migratory waterfowl "flyways," four major travel corridors that migratory birds follow on spring and fall migrations.
"These new acquisitions strengthen our ability to protect and enhance migratory bird habitat that is critical for the future health of dozens of species of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and neotropical migrant songbirds. By supporting new land acquisition, leases and conservation easements, the Commission continues to make sure that the 93 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System remains the worlds premier network of public lands dedicated to wildlife conservation," said Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 established the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to approve land acquisitions to be purchased with monies from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since its inception, the commission has approved more than 4.5 million acres of land acquisitions for the 93-million- acre National Wildlife Refuge System.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission meets three times each year to approve proposals for funding. Members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission are Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, who serves as chairman; Senators John Breaux and Thad Cochran; Congressmen John Dingell and Curt Weldon; Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; and the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund is supported by revenue collected from Federal Duck Stamp sales, import duties collected on arms and ammunition, right-of-way payments to the refuge system and receipts from 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 entrance fees.
New National Wildlife Refuge System acquisitions:
