The mission of the Service is to conserve, protect and enhance fish and wildlife species and their habitats for the benefit of people. The Service manages a network of over 500 refuges in 50 states to provide habitat for fish and wildlife. The Service also manages national fish hatcheries, and provides federal leadership in habitat protection, technical assistance, and the conservation and protection of migratory birds, certain marine mammals and threatened and endangered species. The charge of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is to protect the natural diversity of the Connecticut watershed. Natural Diversity Natural diversity is the variety of life in all its forms.
Natural diversity is critically important to maintain the resilience of the environment.
A healthy environment will produce an abundance of fish and wildlife. Managing for natural diversity over a large area is a new scientific and social challenge. It can only be accomplished through the cooperation of many people. The Connecticut River watershed has abundant natural diversity. Some diversity has been lost due to development, pollution, habitat fragmentation and introduced invasive species.