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.
A New Vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System
In July 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will adopt a new vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Defenders has been actively involved in the development of this vision and is working to ensure its success in guiding America’s refuges through the conservation challenges of the future.
- Learn about Executive Vice President Jamie Rappaport Clark’s vision for the Refuge System in this video and blog.
- Read our comments on the draft vision here. (PDF)
Planning to Protect the Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently revising its long-term management plan for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, called the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP).
See Defenders’ Julie Kates discuss the draft CCP and what it means for the future of the Arctic refuge.
Read the blog post.
Learn more about the Arctic Refuge and the CCP.
Refuge Funding
Refuges face a $3.3 billion backlog and continued funding shortfalls will force refuges to fall further behind in their mission to conserve America’s wildlife.
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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