May 4, 2002: Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today dedicated the 22,000-acre Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas as a "wetland of international importance" making the area the 18th such site in the United States and one of the 1,000 so honored worldwide. The designation under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar convention, is non-regulatory, but brings international renown and prestige to the site. Secretary Norton was joined at the dedication by Senator Pat Roberts, Lieutenant Governor Gary Sherrer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Director Michael Hayden.
Secretary Norton said she was impressed by the broad support that Quivira
