When was the National Wildlife Refuge System Act amended?
1997
In 1997, President Clinton signed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, (an amendment to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966) that ensures the lands are managed with a consistent and well-defined mission.
What is the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act?
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (Improvement Act) amended the Refuge System Administration Act in 1997 by establishing a unifying mission for the Refuge System, a new process for determining compatibility of uses on refuges, and a requirement that each refuge will be managed under a Comprehensive …
What is the purpose of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act?
The Act was passed to ensure that the Refuge System is managed as a national system of related lands, waters, and interests for the protection and conservation of our Nation’s wildlife resources. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the only system of Federal lands devoted specifically to wildlife.
Why is the National Wildlife Refuge System significant in terms of land protection in the US?
“(2) The System was created to conserve fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats and this conservation mission has been facilitated by providing Americans opportunities to participate in compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, including fishing and hunting, on System lands and to better appreciate the value of …
Who enforces the National Wildlife Refuge System Act?
The Act has been amended a number of times since its enactment. The Act identifies areas to be designated as the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) and administered by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary).
Who established the first national wildlife refuge?
Roosevelt
With the establishment of the first national wildlife refuge on Pelican Island on March 14, 1903, Roosevelt created the National Wildlife Refuge System. While in office, he would go on to create 50 more federal bird reserves and four national game preserves within the refuge system.
Why was the National Wildlife Refuge founded?
Inspired by concerned sportsmen and conservationists, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in 1941 to protect Kodiak bears and their habitat.
How many acres is the National Wildlife Refuge System?
95 million acres
While in office, he would go on to create 50 more federal bird reserves and four national game preserves within the refuge system. Building on that foundation, the National Wildlife Refuge System today spans 95 million acres, including 567 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetlands management districts.
Which state has the most wildlife refuges?
state of Alaska
Acreage/Area includes water as well as land areas. Statistics are as of 30 September 2007. The eleven largest National Wildlife Refuges are all in the state of Alaska….List of largest National Wildlife Refuges.
| Name | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge |
|---|---|
| State(s) | Alaska |
| Acreage | 19,286,482.30 |
| Area: km² | 78,049.62 |
When was the first national wildlife refuge established?
1903
US Fish & Wildlife Department Services/Established
What was the first national wildlife refuge in the US?
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, along Florida’s Atlantic coast, as the first unit of what would become the National Wildlife Refuge System.
How big is a wildlife refuge?
Roosevelt went on to create 55 more refuges before he left office in 1909; today the refuge system encompasses more than 500 units spread over nearly 94 million acres. National wildlife refuges are places where wildlife comes first, and where people can experience the beauty of the natural world in a truly wild place.