Protection of Coastal Habitats
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's
Coastal Program - Great Lakes is developing
innovative partnerships with local and statewide land trusts and other
conservation partners to identify and protect some of the most valuable fish and
wildlife habitat and species in the Great Lakes basin. The program
features non-regulatory, partnership-based efforts to achieve its mission.
The Coastal Program’s
Mission is to
conserve healthy coastal ecosystems for the benefit of fish, wildlife and
people. It accomplishes this through cooperative partnerships that identify,
restore and protect habitat in priority coastal areas. It works with a variety
of partners, including other Federal and State agencies, local and tribal
governments, businesses, conservation organizations and private landowners.
The Coastal Program is working to avoid further species declines by enhancing coastal areas and securing funding for
conservation,
including habitat restoration efforts.
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Why Should We Care About Our Great Lakes Coasts
The binational Great Lakes Basin,
representing the world’s largest fresh water system and the nation’s fourth
largest coastline, supports the livelihood and activities of 10 percent of the
U.S. and 25 percent of the Canadian populations. The environmental and economic
vitality of the Great Lakes depends on the ecological state of the lakes,
including fish and wildlife communities and associated habitats. As a full
partner with States, Tribes, local governments, academia, industry and citizen
groups, the Service brings a variety of tools to bear on the most pressing fish
and wildlife issues facing the basin.
Threats To Coastal Habitats
Numerous fish and wildlife species and their habitats within the Great Lakes
Basin face serious threats from human population growth and the development and
disturbance that are often a consequence of growth. Because
coastal areas have the highest population densities in the country and are
expected to face continuing population pressures, there is a strong need for
action to protect and restore coastal habitats.
The Program is Guided by Three
Ecological Principles
1) Maintain natural coastal
ecosystem diversity, functions and productivity
2) Promote natural, self-sustaining
populations of native species within their historic ranges
3) Provide for ecologically sound
levels of public use, economic benefits, and the enjoyment of natural
resources
Please select from the links above
to learn more about the recent accomplishments of the program,
qualification factors and submission procedures.
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Last updated:
February 24, 2009