The Refuge System: A Century of Wildlife Conservation

Last week marked the100th anniversary of America's National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order to establish Pelican Island Migratory Bird Reservation along the central Atlantic coast of Florida. Pelican Island Migratory Bird Reservation became the first unit to be managed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Biological Survey for migratory birds purposes.

Today, the Refuge System is a widespread network of Federal lands and waters selected for their value to America's wildlife, especially migratory birds and endangered species. The system includes 540 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), covering over 95 million acres total and ranging in size from Minnesota's Mille Lacs NWR at less than an acre to Alaska's Arctic NWR at over 19 million acres. All are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior.

This week, you'll investigate how wildlife conservation in this country developed, and that such efforts began decades before Roosevelt's order in 1903. You'll also discover who was involved in the creation of the first wildlife refuges, and visit some of these refuges for a close-up look of their individual history and ecology.

A Crusade for Conservation

Start this week's journey at The Evolution of the Conservation Movement, hosted by the Library of Congress. Begin browsing the Chronology of Selected Events at 1847-1871. Click on any of the underlined names or events for further resources related to that subject, and click BACK to return to the time period where you left off. Continue through the timeline in a similar manner through 1912-1920.

Read more about some of the events and laws passed during that time period and into the 20th Century at the History of the National Refuge System website. Start in the Chronology section Before 1900 - Origins of the Conservation Movement. Travel through the decades, and read about how related social, political and ecological changes in our nation occurred over the years through the 1990s - Approaching Our Centennial.

Who were some of the people -- including Presidents and other policy makers, scientists and writers -- associated with the conservation movement? How exactly did they influence changes in public land laws?

Next, visit the History of the National Wildlife Refuge System's Overview, and find out more about what this particular program is, how it works and developed over time. After reading the Introduction, click through the Short History of the Refuge System from 1864 to 1997 and on.

What year did Congress pass the Act that formally defined the NWRS as we know it today? What other laws contributed to the overall efforts of protecting wildlife? What were some of the factors or conditions that motivated policy makers to create these laws?

In the Biographies section, you can also read about some of the people who were instrumental in strengthening wildlife conservation efforts and developing the Refuge System during its early years, such as Rachel Louise Carson and John Clark Salyer. Since Pelican Island was the first official refuge, also make sure to read about Paul Kroegel's role in the History of Pelican Island. How did their personal and professional experiences contribute to wildlife conservation on a national level?

Of course, no study of American wildlife conservation would be complete without a deeper look into the life of Theodore Roosevelt, so learn more about his Conservation Legacy at the Theodore Roosevelt Association's website. How much federal land did he formally protect during his Presidency? Why was he especially interested in bird reserves? In what other ways did he influence public land laws?

How much do you think the personal views of a President, as well as other leaders in our government and our society, have affected and continue to affect the laws and management decisions regarding wildlife conservation?

Fly Through the System

Thanks to the efforts in establishing wildlife refuges over the years, people can still enjoy wildlife in their natural habitats. Find out more about what areas close to you provide refuge at the NWRS's Refuge List by State site. Click on your state and find one or more refuge names you're familiar with, and others you may not have heard before.

When you click to each page, you'll find an Overview of the refuge, as well as its Management Activities, Educational Opportunities, and Driving Directions. Some pages also provide a link to the refuge's home page.

How big is the refuge area? When and for what purpose was it established? What kinds of wildlife species would you probably see there? Does the refuge have any unique features? What types of human activities are allowed? How exactly does the refuge contribute to the overall conservation of one or more species who live here, either as year-round residents or migrants? What types of human development surround the refuge? How is the refuge area important to the health of the larger ecosystem?

---

Newspaper Activities

Browse a current issue of Targetnewspaper and look for stories about any National Wildlife Refuge or other federally-owned and managed land. Is the news about a recent management or activity change? Are different groups of people debating over certain activities or other management decisions that happen within the refuge? Or maybe scientists have launched or concluded an ecological or species-specific study -- if so, why are they conducting the study or what did the study conclude? In what ways are human visitors enjoying the refuge?