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On October 9, 1997, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was signed into law . Among other things, it requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to write comprehensive conservation plans for all of the refuges in the System by 2012. CCP's are intended to describe future conditions of a refuge and provide long-range guidance and management direction to achieve the purposes of the refuge, refuge policy requirements, and the mission of the System. The Improvement Act also designates six priority, wildlife-dependent uses that are to receive our enhanced consideration in planning public recreation on refuges: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation.

We in the Division of Conservation Planning and Policy are primarily responsible for developing comprehensive conservation plans for the national wildlife refuges in 13 northeastern states (download our 1-page printable map). We are also responsible for facilitating the process that invites the public, our conservation partners, and other agencies to participate in developing those plans under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Our division also provides technical guidance on when and how to apply established policy for a wide variety of activities conducted on refuges.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5
Division of Conservation Planning and Policy
300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley , MA 01035 -9589

Last Updated: Fri, August 10, 2007 15:00