These include hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating, hang gliding, off-highway vehicle driving, mountain biking, birding, and visiting natural and cultural heritage sites. The BLM also manages 4,500 miles of National Scenic, Historic, and Recreational Trails, as well as thousands of miles of trails used by motorcyclists, hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. With over 20 million people now living within 25 miles of BLM-managed lands, access to outdoor recreational opportunities on public lands enhances the quality of life in areas facing increasing urbanization. The Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million acre National Wildlife Refuge System of more than 520 national wildlife refuges and thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas.
Refuges are a place where all wildlife species can be observed in natural settings.
More than 30 million visitors come to national wildlife refuges each year. To enhance their experience, a variety of wildlife-oriented recreational activities are offered. Recreational activities vary with each refuge and the season and may include hiking, auto tours, bicycling, photography, wildlife observation, hunting, and fishing. The National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1966, other laws, and the Service's policy permit hunting on a national wildlife refuge when it is compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established and acquired. The Bureau of Reclamation was created to help develop and sustain the economy, improve the environment, and improve the quality of life in the 17 western states by providing reliable supplies of water and energy.