Opinion ID: 358776
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The National Wildlife Refuge System

Text: 5 The National Wildlife Refuge System consists of more than 350 refuges containing more than 30 million acres in 49 of the 50 states. The primary purposes of the NWRS are to preserve endangered species and to sustain populations of migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, by maintaining intact a diverse network of their natural habitats. A secondary purpose of the System is to provide for its educational and recreational use (study, observation, and hunting) by people. 6 The System is administered by the Service according to the provisions of several statutes. 1 Much of the refuge land was acquired during the 1930's. After a period of little growth during the 1940's and 50's, the System has been enlarged during the 60's and to the present, particularly in the area of wild rivers and of wetlands. (There has recently been increasing recognition of the contribution to the preservation of important wildlife made by wetlands, which have been rapidly depleted.) During this period of territorial growth, new statutory mandates (such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1543), and increased public use of the NWRS, the resources devoted to staff and maintain the Refuge System have not kept up with the rate of territorial growth. 2 Between 1973 and 1976, there was a 7% Decrease in staffing, while the number of field stations increased by 10 percent. 3 This has led to a substantial ($83 million) backlog of rehabilitation work, as well as unfulfilled construction work, new and replacement, E. g., water control structures, roads, and buildings. 4 Given the policy decision to plan for roughly constant total expenditure (approximately $43 million in 1974 dollars), the FWS focuses on a strategy of increasing the effectiveness of the NWRS in its primary conservation task, while gradually reducing its direct use by the public. The Service's statement (FES) analyzes the environmental consequences of this proposed strategy, alternatives, and mitigating measures.