News Release 06/20/06

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES HELP DEVELOP NEW POLICIES FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND RECREATION ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued three final policies to help guide management of the National Wildlife Refuge System, pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. The policies provide guidance and procedures that are important for managing fish and wildlife populations and wildlife-dependent recreational use on refuges. Each of these policies also acknowledges the unique expertise and role of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies in the management of fish and wildlife on refuges.

"In an age when the technology and increasing urbanization are causing many Americans to lose touch with the great outdoors, thesepolicies will ensure national wildlife refuges continue to be places where people can come face to face with nature," said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne."They will help us to meet our responsibilitiesto conserve our nation's diverse ecosystems, preserve our outdoortraditions, and foster a culture of environmental stewardship in future generations."

The first of the three policies: “Refuge System Mission, Goals, and Refuge Purposes,” articulates the mission of the system, revises its goals, and provides guidance for identifying or determining the purpose(s) of individual refuge units within the System. The second policy: “Appropriate Refuge Uses,” establishes a procedure for determining when uses other than the six wildlife-dependent recreational uses are appropriate or not appropriate on a refuge. Finally, the third policy: “Wildlife-Dependent Recreational Uses,” covers the six wildlife-dependent recreational uses: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and Environmental Education and Interpretation.

During the last several years, Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Duane L. Shroufe, Chairman of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' Federal and Tribal Relations Committee, worked aggressively to affirm this Congressional direction and engage the states in the development of these refuge policies.

“The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the 56 individual State and Territorial Fish and Wildlife Agencies have a long-standing interest and involvement in the Refuge System and were instrumental in deliberations leading to the passage of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997,” said Shroufe. “Under that Act, Congress directed the Service to effectively coordinate management of fish and wildlife within the Refuge System with the States. We feel these new policies are a significant step in that direction.”

The policies are posted on the Web at www.fws.gov.

# # #

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is the collective voice of North America 's fish and wildlife agencies at every level of government. The Association provides its member agencies and their senior staff with coordination services that range from migratory birds, fish habitat, and invasive species, to conservation education, leadership development, and international relations. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key conservation and management policies, and works to ensure that all fish and wildlife entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides management and technical assistance to both new and current fish and wildlife leaders.