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WILDLIFE REFUGES

A system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants.

Most Recent Science

Climate Change Implications for Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge

June 1, 2009 - Alaska is experiencing visible signs of climate change, including melting permafrost, drying wetlands, and increased fire activity. To better understand what changes are taking place, and how land managers might deal with these changes on public lands, Dr. Wendy Loya, an ecologist with The Wilderness Society (TWS), initiated a project to apply climate change scenarios to Alaska’s federal wildlands. Together with TWS GIS analyst Anna Springsteen, and in partnership with the University of Alaska’s SNAP (Scenarios Network for Alaska Planning) program, Dr. more

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Map

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October 8, 2008 - The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge boasts extensive wilderness and wildlife values. The refuge provides a home for birds, bears, caribou, and more. A proposed road threatens to cut through designated wilderness and reduce critical habitat for the species the refuge was established to protect. more

Global Warming and U.S. Public Lands: America's Wild Lands are Under Threat, and Will Play Key Role in Any Climate Change Solution

March 4, 2008 - America’s public lands — some 600 million acres of land and 150,000 square miles of protected waters — are the birthright of every citizen, and the legacy we hold in trust for generations to come. Global warming poses an unprecedented threat to the nation’s iconic landscapes — our national parks, forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges. At the same time, protecting these natural places is more important now than ever before. more

America's Treasured Wildlife Refuges on the Brink

March 28, 2007 - Several years of stagnant or declining budgets have exacerbated the more than $2.5 billion operations and maintenance backlog at refuges, and have forced a dramatic 20 percent reduction in staff nationwide. This fact sheet details effects at refuges across the country. more