2005
State of the System Report Cites Urgent Need To Protect
National Wildlife Refuge Buffer Zones
New
Research Shows Growing Threats To Refuges By Outside
Activities
August
10, 2005 (Washington, DC)— A new report by
the National Wildlife Refuge Association cites an
urgent need to implement strategies that conserve
lands outside national wildlife refuges. Finding that
lands and waters surrounding refuges —called
buffer zones—actually have more agriculture,
subdivision and other human activity than the national
average, the report tells the story of 12 refuges—six
threatened and six rescued— that graphically
illustrate why we must take action now.
The
six top threatened National Wildlife Refuges in the
United States are: Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR), North Carolina; Horicon NWR, Wisconsin;
Stone Lakes NWR, California; White River NWR, Arkansas;
Alaska Maritime NWR, Alaska; and Desert NWR Complex,
Nevada.
The six top rescued national wildlife refuges in the
United States are: Sacramento NWR Complex, California;
Minnesota Valley NWR, Minnesota; Lake Umbagog NWR,
New Hampshire/Maine; Tensas River NWR, Louisiana;
Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana; and Lower Rio Grande
Valley NWR, Texas.
The
twelve sites were named for either imminent threats,
or for having successfully averted threats through
creative strategies. "The protection of buffer
zones is absolutely critical to the National Wildlife
Refuge System," said Evan Hirsche, president
of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, which
issued the report. "Since many of the lands within
buffer zones are privately held, we must work closely
with landowners to ensure the long-term protection
of these national treasures."
The
NWRA is urging Congress and the Administration to
implement five solutions: strengthening incentives
for private landowners to practice conservation; conserving
more land through acquisition and easements; allocating
more funds at the state level; conducting more research
to determine priorities; and establishing preventative
systems for shipping disasters near refuges.
The
National Wildlife Refuge System contains 545 refuges
and 3,000 waterfowl production areas located in all
50 states and several U.S. territories. The refuges
help protect 700 bird species, 220 mammal species
and 200 kinds of fish, among others.
CLICK
HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT IN PDF FORMAT
###
The
National Wildlife Refuge Association is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit, nationwide membership organization, established
in 1975. The NWRA's mission is to protect, enhance
and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System, lands
and waters set aside by the American people to protect
our country's diverse wildlife heritage. Over the
years we have worked to make the Refuge System stronger
and better able to address the growing challenges
of conserving wildlife in our country. For more information
about the NWRA, please visit www.refugenet.org.
