Kanuti: The Long View, revised long-term managment plan completed
The Kilolitna River where it enters the refuge, epitomizes the fundamental qualities of wilderness. The refuge's adopted management strategy will promote conservation of the wild and natural, unaltered character of the refuge. Photo Credit: USFWS.
Kanuti: The Long View, revised long-term managment plan completed
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge recently completed its long-term management plan, also called a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). This plan will provide refuge staff with management guidance, including specific goals and objectives, for the next 15 years. The final plan represents the culmination of a four-year effort that included public involvement, consultations with stakeholders, an extensive peer-review of the biological program, writing and analysis, editing and public review. The final record of decision to implement the plan was signed by the Service's Regional Director Tom Melius in August 2008. In late fall 2008 a summary of the plan will be published and distributed to all who participated in the process. Refuge Manager Mike Spindler said he "appreciates the involvement and participation in the planning process by both the local village public and stakeholders throughout Alaska. We view the public involvement process as a valuable 'pulse check' on the work that we are doing."
Each national wildlife refuge is required to have a CCP to ensure management actions and permitted activities fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the purposes for which the refuge was established. This plan provides a vision, goals and objectives for future management of the refuge. It also ensures that subsistence and fish and wildlife oriented recreational opportunities continue to be available to the public.
The CCP provides specific guidance for dealing with two major issues identified during public scoping and review of the draft plan: (1) acceptance and integration of new management policies and guidelines into the Plan, and (2) conservation of the natural, unaltered character of the refuge. New management policies and guidelines are essentially the same for all of the refuges in this region, establishing a common framework for management.
The management of Kanuti Refuge will generally continue to follow the same course of action that it has previously. It will strive to maintain the ecological integrity of the refuge with little evidence of human-caused change. Any such disturbances to resources resulting from public use, economic activities and facilities will be minimized. Finally, habitats will primarily be allowed to change and function through natural processes. You may view and download the Record of Decision and the Final Plan online at: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/plans.htm.
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Contact Info: Joanna Fox, (907) 456-0322, joanna_fox@fws.gov
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