National Wildlife Refuges: Portals to conservation

Abstract

Scientific uncertainty regarding the potential effects of climate change on natural ecosystems will make it increasingly challenging for the National Wildlife Refuge System to fulfill its mission to conserve wildlife and fish habitat across the diverse ecosystems of the United States. This is especially true in the contiguous 48 states, where 70 percent of the land and water resources are in private ownership. One answer is to employ science-driven landscape planning and design, establish refuge boundaries defined by those of major watersheds or ecological regions, and then use our presence in communities to encourage and deliver land conservation and habitat improvement on both private and public lands. Refuges thereby become a portal to conservation for private landowners who can really make the biggest difference in the long-term sustainability of wildlife and their habitats. This paper summarizes results from using this approach in the Connecticut River watershed, and its potential value in supporting public-private habitat conservation strategies adapted to a changing climate.

Parent Publication

• Forest conservation and management in the Anthropocene: Conference proceedings

Citation

McCauley, Joseph F. 2014. National Wildlife Refuges: Portals to conservation. In: Sample, V. Alaric; Bixler, R. Patrick, eds. Forest conservation and management in the Anthropocene: Conference proceedings. Proceedings. RMRS-P-71. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 413-425.