Defenders' Experts
National Wildlife Refuges
Defenders of Wildlife is working to protect and strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System, the only system of federal public lands in the United States dedicated to wildlife conservation.
Refuge Funding
Refuges face a $3.5 billion backlog and a planned 20% staff reduction. Visitors show up to find roads and visitor centers closed, viewing platforms and hiking trails in disrepair, and habitat restoration and education programs eliminated.
Threats
Despite the clear mandate that wildlife comes first on all refuges, many threats still exist, including climate change, oil and gas drilling, new roads, and the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
America's 10 Most Endangered National Wildlife Refuges
Ten years after the passage of sweeping legislation intended to address issues with our National Wildlife Refuges, refuges continue to struggle with problems that threaten their ability to meet their wildlife-first mission. The 2007 Refuges at Risk report focuses on this issue.
Learn more and read the report >>
Refuges and Global Warming
Global warming and Earth’s rapidly changing climate is the single greatest threat imperiling the Refuge System as a whole. Major changes in plant communities, sea level, storm intensity, and water supply are challenging the Refuge System's ability to support wildlife and visitor programs.
Learn more about refuges and global warming >>
Border Policy
The rush to literally wall America off from Mexico is having terrible consequences wildlife, the environment and local communities. In Arizona and Texas, border walls threaten the best wildlife habitats remaining, national wildlife refuges.
Learn more about border walls and policy >>
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