National Wildlife Refuge Funding Crisis

Several years of stagnant budgets have rapidly ballooned the operations and maintenance backlog of the National Wildlife Refuge System to $3.5 billion, and forced plans for a dramatic 20% downsizing of the workforce.

Facts:

 

  • Most refuges operate with only minimal staffing
  • Approximately 200 refuges have no staff on-site
  • Roads and visitor centers are frequently closed
  • Observation platforms and hiking trails in disrepair
  • Habitat restoration has been eliminated
  • School education programs have been eliminated
  • Invasive plant species are taking over
  • Only 180 full-time law enforcement officers are responsible for patrolling 100 million acres
  • Wildlife poaching and drug offenses are on the rise

 

Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement

In recognition of these problems, the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE), a diverse coalition of 21 conservation, sporting, recreation, and scientific organizations with more than 14 million members, including Defenders of Wildlife,  works to help the National Wildlife Refuge System fight this serious funding crisis.

To see CARE's full report and recommendations on Refuge System funding, download the following reports:

Restoring America's Wildlife Refuges 2008
A CARE coalition report documenting the serious funding shortfalls facing the Refuge System and recommends future funding to enable the Refuge System to accomplish its wildlife conservation mission.
Shortchanging America's Wildlife
A CARE coalition report on the national wildlife refuge system funding crisis profiling 12 refuges
CARE Refuges Fact Sheet FY 2009
The CARE coalition's fact sheet on FY 2009 needs for National Wildlife Refuges

Find out how refuges in your state will be affected