What is the National Wildlife Refuge System composed of?

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.

Why is the national wildlife refuge important?

Wildlife Refuges Protect Biodiversity Ecosystems with a high level of biodiversity are generally more stable and healthy than others. Having a more biodiverse ecosystem buffers communities from environmental stressors and allows them to recover more quickly after disturbances.

What is the meaning of wildlife Refuge?

A national wildlife refuge is a designation for certain protected areas that are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These public lands and waters are set aside to conserve America’s wild animals and plants.

What are the economic benefits of opening ANWR to oil exploration?

At peak production, ANWR could supply up to 1.45 million barrels of oil per day. Opening a small portion of ANWR to energy production could create tens of thousands of American jobs and contribute to significant economic growth.

Are they drilling in ANWR?

The decision blocks, for now, oil and gas drilling in one of the largest tracts of undeveloped wilderness in the United States.

What are the benefits of wildlife preserves?

Aside from wildlife preservation, preserves have numerous other important benefits.

  • They encourage biodiversity.
  • They provide outdoor recreation.
  • They create cleaner air.
  • They preserve cultural heritage.

What ecosystem services do wildlife refuges provide?

The refuge system sequesters a substantial amount of carbon through wetlands, grasslands, and forested areas, and it further contribute to carbon sequestration through habitat protection, management, and restoration.

Why is the National Wildlife Refuge System Important?

The Refuge System protects some of the country’s most iconic ecosystems and the fish and wildlife that rely on them: prairies of the heartland, teeming with native pollinators and bison; hardwood forests of the Southeast, a source of regional and cultural pride; and desert Southwest landscapes,…