FRIENDS ACADEMY September 26, 2009

Priorities: PeoplePriorities: People

Debbie SteenDebbie SteenChief- Division of Visitor Services and Fire Management - Chief- Division of Visitor Services and Fire Management -

AlaskaAlaska

Lewis and ClarkLewis and Clark

Expedition started in Expedition started in 18041804

Two year journeyTwo year journey Documented over 100 Documented over 100

species of animals and species of animals and approximately 176 approximately 176 plants. plants.

Passenger PigeonPassenger Pigeon

American BisonAmerican Bison

Once listed as the most Once listed as the most numerous single species numerous single species of large wild mammal of large wild mammal on earth.on earth.

In the mid-1880’s, less In the mid-1880’s, less than 1000 roamed free.than 1000 roamed free.

Uses: clothes, food, rugs Uses: clothes, food, rugs

Feathers for FashionFeathers for Fashion

19031903

On March 14, 1903, On March 14, 1903, President Theodore President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Roosevelt signed an executive order executive order designating Pelican designating Pelican Island as the Nation’s Island as the Nation’s first wildlife refugefirst wildlife refuge

The Dust Bowl: 1930 - 1936The Dust Bowl: 1930 - 1936

Migratory Bird RefugesMigratory Bird RefugesDust Bowl Era of Conservation EffortsDust Bowl Era of Conservation Efforts

1930s and 1940s1930s and 1940s A great drought and an economic depression occurred A great drought and an economic depression occurred

during the 1930sduring the 1930s Waterfowl populations plummeted Waterfowl populations plummeted Congress passed the Migratory Bird Conservation Congress passed the Migratory Bird Conservation

Act in 1929Act in 1929 Funding for acquiring new refuges provided by Funding for acquiring new refuges provided by

Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act of 1934of 1934

Waterfowl refuges established throughout the United Waterfowl refuges established throughout the United StatesStates

GuidanceGuidance

1943 Refuge Manual – “recreational use on 1943 Refuge Manual – “recreational use on refuges shall be held to a minimum refuges shall be held to a minimum commensurate with reasonable local commensurate with reasonable local demands”. The adverse effect of public use demands”. The adverse effect of public use will be offset by public relations value.will be offset by public relations value.

1957 Refuge Manual – primary use of refuges 1957 Refuge Manual – primary use of refuges is for protection of wildlife, areas are managed is for protection of wildlife, areas are managed on a multiple use basis w/o defeating on a multiple use basis w/o defeating objectives for which refuge establishedobjectives for which refuge established

Guidance cont.Guidance cont.

1962 Refuge Recreation Act1962 Refuge Recreation Act and and 1966 Refuge 1966 Refuge Administration ActAdministration Act – refuges closed to all – refuges closed to all recreation uses until a manager determines that recreation uses until a manager determines that a proposed use was compatible with a proposed use was compatible with establishing purposes, and sufficient funding establishing purposes, and sufficient funding to administer those uses.to administer those uses.

1989 GAO Report1989 GAO Report

At least 7 non priority uses occurring on 70% At least 7 non priority uses occurring on 70% of refugesof refuges

Managing non priority uses diverts scarce Managing non priority uses diverts scarce resourcesresources

Refuge Managers unable to stop uses due to Refuge Managers unable to stop uses due to existing lawsexisting laws

National Wildlife Refuge System National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997Improvement Act of 1997

National Wildlife Refuge System

Mission StatementThe mission of the System is to administer a national network of lands and water for the conservation , management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans”

Established:Established:

Six compatible wildlife –dependent Six compatible wildlife –dependent recreational uses. These uses are recreational uses. These uses are “hunting, “hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education photography, and environmental education and interpretation.” and interpretation.” In addition, these uses In addition, these uses were described as priority public uses of the were described as priority public uses of the Refuge SystemRefuge System..

Refuge Improvement ActRefuge Improvement Act

Quality Wildlife Dependent Quality Wildlife Dependent RecreationRecreation

Calls for:Calls for:

Increased Increased opportunities for familiesopportunities for families to to experience compatible wildlife-dependent experience compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, particularly opportunities for recreation, particularly opportunities for parents and their children to safely engage in parents and their children to safely engage in traditional outdoors activities such as hunting traditional outdoors activities such as hunting and fishing.and fishing.

Refuge Improvement ActRefuge Improvement Act

In October, 1998, Refuge System In October, 1998, Refuge System employees and their partners employees and their partners gathered to set a visiongathered to set a vision

Result: “Fulfilling the Promise” documentResult: “Fulfilling the Promise” document

Fulfilling the Promise VisionFulfilling the Promise Vision

Refuges will provide the American people:Refuges will provide the American people:

A Legacy of WildlifeA Legacy of Wildlife

A Place where Visitors feel WelcomeA Place where Visitors feel Welcome

Opportunities for Public StewardshipOpportunities for Public Stewardship

Fulfilling the Promise VisionFulfilling the Promise Vision

Refuges will provide the American people:Refuges will provide the American people:A Legacy of WildlifeA Legacy of Wildlife

A Place Where Visitors Feel Welcome A Place Where Visitors Feel Welcome

Opportunities for Public StewardshipOpportunities for Public Stewardship

A System to AppreciateA System to Appreciate

ConnectionsConnections

Connect people to their natural resource Connect people to their natural resource heritageheritage

Better understand the connection between Better understand the connection between people, wildlife, habitat, and land people, wildlife, habitat, and land management.management.

This is important because: This is important because:

An informed citizenry – An informed citizenry – understanding the understanding the connections puts people in a better position to make connections puts people in a better position to make wise resource decisions.wise resource decisions.

Best chance for the future of wildlifeBest chance for the future of wildlife Best chance to ensure a System of lands and Best chance to ensure a System of lands and

water dedicated to conserving wildlife water dedicated to conserving wildlife survives for future generations to enjoy. survives for future generations to enjoy.

HistoryHistory

1903-Sanctuaries for wildlife 1903-Sanctuaries for wildlife 1920’s - some hunting and fishing1920’s - some hunting and fishing 1949 – Duck Stamp Act opened 25%1949 – Duck Stamp Act opened 25% 1951- first records- 3.4 million visitors1951- first records- 3.4 million visitors 1960 – 10 million visitors1960 – 10 million visitors 2006- 37 million visitors2006- 37 million visitors 2009- +40 million visitors2009- +40 million visitors

Banking on Nature - 2006• 37 million visits to Refuges

• Spent $1.7 billion (890 million in 2002 report)

• Generated $543 million in employment income

• Created 27,000 jobs

• For every taxpayer $, the NWRS returned $4

Banking on Nature 2006

National TrendsNational Trends

By 2050, the US population is expected to By 2050, the US population is expected to increase to 392 million. (as of July 09- 309 increase to 392 million. (as of July 09- 309 million)million)

The populations will be more diverse. The populations will be more diverse. Individuals of Hispanic origin will be the Individuals of Hispanic origin will be the largest minority group.largest minority group.

Immigration is expected to play a major role in Immigration is expected to play a major role in the growth of the Nation’s population.the growth of the Nation’s population.

National TrendsNational Trends

199 refuges are classified as “urban” which 199 refuges are classified as “urban” which means, according to the Census Bureau means, according to the Census Bureau definition, they are in or adjacent to urban definition, they are in or adjacent to urban areas.areas.

Urban area expansion will cause increased Urban area expansion will cause increased pressure on natural areas as more people will pressure on natural areas as more people will try to connect with nature.try to connect with nature.

National TrendsNational Trends

There are 75.8 million babies born between the There are 75.8 million babies born between the years 1946 and 1964. (baby boomers)years 1946 and 1964. (baby boomers)

In 1957, the biggest year of boomers, 4.3 In 1957, the biggest year of boomers, 4.3 million children were born. million children were born.

These individuals are 52 years of age today These individuals are 52 years of age today and many will begin retiring in the next 5 to 10 and many will begin retiring in the next 5 to 10 yearsyears

As a group, they tend to be active, educated, As a group, they tend to be active, educated, and well off financially. and well off financially.

National TrendsNational Trends

48.6 million Americans ages 6 and older 48.6 million Americans ages 6 and older participated in some type of nature based participated in some type of nature based recreation in 2008*recreation in 2008*

Hiking was up 9%*Hiking was up 9%* Bird watching was up 5%*Bird watching was up 5%* Hunting and Fishing numbers are declining* Hunting and Fishing numbers are declining*

(*Source: Outdoor Industry Association)(*Source: Outdoor Industry Association)

National TrendsNational Trends

According to the Bureaus of Labor Statistics, According to the Bureaus of Labor Statistics, 62 million Americans volunteered last year.62 million Americans volunteered last year.

Even during lean economic times, Even during lean economic times, volunteerism increased.volunteerism increased.

What is the Service Doing?What is the Service Doing?

VFEsVFEs Connecting Children with NatureConnecting Children with Nature Connecting People and NatureConnecting People and Nature Birding Initiative- focus on nonconsumptive Birding Initiative- focus on nonconsumptive

uses uses Raising Congressional AwarenessRaising Congressional Awareness PublicationsPublications

How can Friends help?How can Friends help?

Get to know your refuge, its purpose and Get to know your refuge, its purpose and visionvision

Ask questions of your Refuge ManagerAsk questions of your Refuge Manager Understand what your Refuge is planning in Understand what your Refuge is planning in

future yearsfuture years

The The FriendsFriends “Connection” “Connection”

Friends organizations are advocates for their Friends organizations are advocates for their particular refugesparticular refuges

By extension, Friends serve as advocates for By extension, Friends serve as advocates for the NWRS as a wholethe NWRS as a whole

A strong and dynamic NWRS means more A strong and dynamic NWRS means more opportunities for individual refugesopportunities for individual refuges

DiscussionDiscussion

How can Friends help us be a part How can Friends help us be a part of the lives of future generations?of the lives of future generations?

DiscussionDiscussion