The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) is responsible for protection and stewardship of 850 million acres and the species that live there — far more than the National Park Service (85 m), U.S. Forest Service (193 m), and Bureau of Land Management (245 m) combined.
• The Service assumes 850 M acres of responsibilities with a far smaller budget than all other Department of Interior agencies combined.
The National Wildlife Refuge System has been doing more with less for over a decade! Since 2011, the National Wildlife Refuge System has a experienced nearly a 30% decline in personnel, with a nearly 50% increase in visitors. And 21 new Refuges have been established since 2010.
• During the last month, the Service has lost 10% of its work force with an additional 10% also soon scheduled to leave, leaving only 1880 staff and a 42% loss since 2010.
• The National Wildlife Refuge System is a boost to local economies, generating $3.2 billion for local economies and 41,000 local jobs. 53.5 million people visited Refuges in 2017.
• The National Wildlife Refuge System provides outdoor recreation: hunting, wildlife habitat and observation, hiking and outdoor health oppotunities for millions.
• Locally, in your district, the lack of a Refuge Manager and a “freeze” on Service programs & partnerships has directly affected the ability of the Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge to provide a full range of conservation outreach activities.