migratory birds are an important component of the Refuge System land protection mber of refuges whose establishing purpose(s) refer to bird conservation. Refuge o decisionmaking, not only for habitat management actions and land acquisition, but l concepts such as compatibility. As of August 31, 2012, 77 percent of all refuges “migratory bird” and/or the word “bird” in their purpose statements.3
A Legacy of Conservation
“Trustby species” and “trust also evident the number of resources” refuge projects Table 4: LAPS Migratory Bird Score describe wildlife and habitat for which # of Refuge at for birds as a regional or national priority. LAPS Migratory Bird the Service has statutory responsibilities Component Score Projects nservation is measured on refuges using the to conserve, particularly regarding 0–50 10 and Acquisition Priority System which land protection. Trust species(LAPS), typically 51–100 40 to federally-listed threatened onents refers tied to trust resources includingor bird 101–150 16 endangered species, support migratoryfor birds, and ects that can document a major 151–200 31 certain marine mammals and fish; trust of the overall North American population of any resources include wetlands. The Refuge Threatened andrefuge Endangered Species awardedSystem additional points. Table 4 shows the score for the 97 projects ranked has conserved two major groups Citing several examples individually of traditional species: or migratory nalysis for birds listedtrust as regional national priorities. Of these 97 refuge projects, do not necessarily and with complete52 birds and threatened and endangered protecting more than five percent of2 the North American of one orrole more specificitypopulation define the important
• The Refuge Annual Performance Plan (RAPP) shows that in 2011, 211 refuges reported implementing a total of 1,822 conservation activities for threatened or endangered species as recommended in recovery plans. While management actions, as opposed to land protection, make up the majority of these activities, these data illustrate the importance of the Refuge System land base to listed species.
species in addition to wetlands.
• The Service’s Environmental land protection has within the Refuge Conservation Online System (ECOS) is System in conserving threatened and Migratory Birds another source of information related endangered species. However, viewed Migratory birds have been a focus of to Refuge System contributions to d 2012 Endangered as a whole, the following items suggest ber / Land ProtectionSpecies Projects Assessment and Report Refuge System land conservation since threatened and endangered species a strong link between refuge acquisition Pelican Island NWR was established in conservation. One component of and threatened and endangered species 1903. Migratory ECOS lists recovery plan actions and mples individually do bird notpopulations necessarilybenefit and with complete specificity define the conservation. from refuge lands,the especially protection d protection hasSpecies within Refuge System in conserving threatened endangered Endangered Act as an acquisition authority after being and established for otherresponsible purposes parties. The Refuge System of breeding, migration, and wintering or individual refuges were listed as 5 • Nearly one-fifth refuges refuge (98) viewed as adifferent whole, the following items suggest a strong linkof all between and under authorities. habitat. The following activities and being solely or partially responsible for list the Endangered Species Act as one eatened and endangered species conservation. measures suggest a strong emphasis onplant and animal Table 5: Endangered 628 actions in recovery A refuge’s contribution to supporting Speciesaccomplishing Score of their land acquisition authorities. bird conservation by refuges. plans. Where land protection was listed species listed as endangered, threatened, or candidates is LAPSavailable Endangered Species # of Refuge The most recent data (2005) as a conservation strategy in a recovery e-fifth of all using refugesthe(98) list the Endangered Species Act as Component one ofestablished their Score land Projects finds that 61 refuges were measured endangered species component of One indicator that migratory birds plan, refuges were listed 56 times as one 6 specifically for endangered species; 0–50 authorities. The most recent data available (2005) finds that 61 refuges were LAPS.are Ofanthe 97 projects included on the 2014 LAPS list, important component of the of31the responsible parties. however, some refuges could have 51–100 29 d specifically for endangered species; however, some refuges could have used the System protection strategy 11 Refuge received thelandmaximum Endangered Species used the Endangered Species Act as 101–150 11 is the number of refuges whose Wetlands Component Score of 200 points. Of these, an seven were authority acquisition after being 151–200 establishing purpose(s) refer to bird In26addition to managing the Refuge established for other purposes and under System, the Service has several critical to a single Refuge speciespurposes and fourare received the maximum conservation. key different authorities. decisionmaking, not only for habitat responsibilities including the restoration scoretodue to large number of species supported (Table 5). 5 management actions and land acquisition, wildlife habitat such as wetlands. The Refuge Annual Performance Plan (RAPP) shows contribution that in 2011, 211 refugesof reported • A refuge’s to supporting but for important legal concepts such as Wetlands are important to the ecosystem, plant and animal species listed as implementing a total 1,82231,conservation activities for threatened or endangered speciesthey as provide functional habitats compatibility. As ofof August 2012, 77 because endangered, threatened, or candidates percent of all include theWhile phrase management actions, as opposed to land protection, for a wide variety of wildlife and plants, recommended inrefuges recovery plans. is measured using the endangered bird” and/or the word “bird” these and Refuge they provide many ecosystem make“migratory up the majority of these activities, data illustrate the importance of the species component of LAPS. Of the 97 in their purpose statements. 3 services for humans. In 2011, refuges projects included on the 2014 LAPS list, System land base to listed species. reported 24,004,244 acres of wetlands 11Online receivedSystem the maximum Endangered The importance is also evident by the within The Service’s Environmental Conservation (ECOS) is another sourcetheofRefuge System. The condition d Protection Projects Assessment and Report Species Component Score of 200 points. number of refuge to projects thatSystem protect contributions of these wetland acres were classified as information related Refuge to threatened and endangered species Of these, seven were critical to a single habitat for birds as a regional or national shown in Table 6. species and fouractions receivedand the maximum conservation. One component of ECOSislists recovery plan responsible parties. The priority. Migratory bird conservation score due to large number of species ered Species Act as an acquisition authority after being established for other purposesresponsible Refuge System or individual refuges were listed as being solely or partially for System, including refuges, measured on refuges using the Refuge The Refuge supported (Table 5). 5 System’s Land Acquisition Priority waterfowl deraccomplishing different authorities. 628 actions in recovery plans. Where land protection was listed as a conservationproduction areas and System (LAPS), which scores coordination areas—but excluding the e’sstrategy contribution to supporting plantfour and animal Table 5: Endangered Score in a recovery plan, refuges were listed 56 times as one of Species the responsible parties. components tied to trust resources minor outlying islands, American Samoa, listed asincluding endangered, threatened, or candidates is LAPS Endangered Species # of Refuge bird conservation. Projects and Hawaii—contains approximately Projects ed usingthat thecanendangered speciesforcomponent of Component Score document support a major 94.5 million acres. Wetlands comprise ands 31 percentage (>5%) of on the the overall North 25 percent of that total area, and of that, Of the 97 projects included 2014 LAPS list, 0–50 29 population Endangered of any single species 86 percent of wetlands are considered ceived American the maximum Species 51–100 101–150 11 aremanaging awarded additional points.System, Table 4 the Service to be in Class dition to the Refuge has several responsibilities including the 1A condition where no nent Score of 200 points. Of these, seven were 151–200 26 shows the habitat score forsuch the 97 refuge projects management is needed. ation of wildlife as wetlands. Wetlands are important to the ecosystem, because they to a single species and2014 fourLAPS received the maximum ranked in the analysis for de functional habitats for supported aor national wide variety of Table 6: Wetland Classification ue to large number of regional species (Table 5). birds listed as e and plants, and they provide many priorities. Of these 97 Plan refuge(RAPP) projects, fuge Annual Performance shows thatWetland in 2011, 211 refuges reported Classification Acres 7 are credited with protecting morerefuges stem humans. In 2011, entingservices a52total offor 1,822 conservation activities for threatened or endangered species No active management needed (Class as 1A) 20,657,588 than five percent of the North American ted 24,004,244 acres of wetlands within the Receiving needed management (Class 1B) 1,147,646 mended in recovery plans. While management actions, as opposed to land protection, population of one or more species. Management deferred (Class 1,493,186 the majority of these activities, these data illustrate the importance of the2) Refuge ep System. The condition of these wetland acres Restoration deferred (Class 3) 705,824 land base to listed species. classified as show in Table 6. Total wetlands 24,004,244 rvice’s Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) is another source of
tion related to Refuge System contributions to threatened endangered species A Plan for Strategic Growth Refuge System, including refuges, waterfowl productionand areas and coordination areas—but ation. component ECOS lists recovery plan actions and responsible approximately parties. The 94.5 million ding theOne minor outlyingofislands, American Samoa, and Hawaii—contains
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