The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved the acquisition of more than 4,600 acres of important migratory bird habitat at its September meeting in Washington, D.C. Newly acquired lands will benefit migratory birds and other species on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System in 5 states.
The Cabinet-level commission, chaired by Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Craig Manson, approved funds of nearly $1.5 million to acquire the land. All acquisitions had been previously approved by the affected states.
"The land acquisitions approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission will protect important habitat, ensuring that the National Wildlife Refuge System continues to provide vital nesting, breeding, feeding and resting places for migratory bird populations," said Steve Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge system. "By working with state, public and private partners, the Commission continues to make sure that the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System remains the worlds premier network of public lands dedicated to wildlife conservation."
New National Wildlife Refuge System acquisitions approved by the Conservation Commission are:
Texas: Acquisition of 5,129 acres to preserve important bottomland hardwoods and associated wetlands for migrating, wintering and breeding waterfowl within the boundaries of Trinity River NWR in Liberty County.
Virginia: Acquisition of 92.8 acres to protect waterfowl within the boundaries of Back Bay NWR in the City of Virginia Beach.
North Carolina: Acquisition of 20 acres to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl within the boundaries of Mackay NWR in Currituck County.
North Carolina: Acquisition of 3,063 acres to protect and enhance bottomland hardwood forest and swamps for waterfowl within the boundaries of Roanoke River NWR in Bertie County.
Mississippi: Acquisition of 120 acres to conserve, protect and restore migratory waterfowl habitat at Tallahatchie NWR in Grenada County.
Mississippi: Acquisition of 640 acres to provide habitat for waterfowl within the boundary of Panther Swamp NWR in Yazoo County.
Louisiana: Acquisition of 640 acres to protect, enhance and restore bottomland hardwood forest and swamps for waterfowl within the boundary of Lacassine NWR in Cameron Parish.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission also approved 44 grants that will foster wetland restoration, protection and enhancement projects in Mexico, Canada and the United States under the auspices of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Grant funds of nearly $7 million will be combined with more than $13 million in partnership money in Canada, more than $1 million will be combined with $1.5 million in Mexico, and more than $24 million will be combined with $117 million in the United States. The commission acts as overseer for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
The Commission also funded 42 small grants totaling nearly $2 million for conservation programs for 2002 in the United States. This will be combined with more than $13 million in partner funds.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 established the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to approve land to be purchased for the National Wildlife Refuge System with monies from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The 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 entry fees.
The Commission meets three times a year to approve funding proposals. Permanent Commission members are Interior Secretary Norton, Senators Thad Cochran and John Breaux; Representatives John Dingell and Curt Weldon; Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman; and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman.
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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 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 -
For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
visit our home page at http://www.fws.gov
