In my career as a wildlife biologist, I’ve known the solace of National Wildlife Refuges—from the lush forests of Nisqually near Puget Sound to the river shores of Patuxent, Maryland, not far from where I work as Executive Director of The Wildlife Society. Each single refuge is a gem unto itself. Yet none can survive if they stand alone as isolated pockets of protected biodiversity. Instead, the entire National Wildlife Refuge system needs to re-imagine itself and open the gates to new collaboration that extends beyond fixed boundaries.
I envision an expansive network of well-connected wildlife habitats that serve to maintain biological diversity now and into the future. At the core of this network, the nation’s National Wildlife Refuges will serve as the hubs. They will then collaborate with as many partners as possible—including private and public entities—to engage community members, tribal governments, state and federal agencies, landowners, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure that wildlife conservation efforts extend far beyond the limited and somewhat artificial boundaries of refuges.
Why is this web necessary? Because as a nation with a growing population that is fast encroaching on wild lands, it is unrealistic to depend entirely on isolated refuges to sustain our native wildlife. In addition, a mosaic of fixed habitats may not be able to retain their ecological integrity in the face of rapid change forced by a shifting climate and invasive species.
Wildlife professionals have always known that wildlife roam beyond the limits of the refuge system, so it’s imperative that we act now. I challenge every wildlife manager and conservationist to strive to make this vision a reality. Developing an interconnected web of protected lands—from refuges and greenways to urban parks and wilderness areas—would require bold action. But what vision is realized without boldness at its core?
Dr. Michael Hutchins, Executive Director/CEO of The Wildlife Society
