We’ve broken into small groups to brainstorm strategies to implement recommendation #13 to create an urban refuge initiative. Do you have any ideas you would like us to consider?

Hey folks, we’re getting ready to start the next session of brainstorming on how to implement the urban refuges recommendation. Is anyone joining us virtually?

Here are the great ideas from the policy team: create a team to survey, inventory, study urban refuges. What is unique? What are the challenges? Lessons learned? Include non NWRS folks, like our partners. These results can inform guidance, best practices, ways of working with partners. Need to have wildlife on the wildlife refuge so [...]

The partnership team had some great thoughts. We want to be careful about going too far “off the refuge” and lose our identity and support. Make sure we are telling who we are and what we do wherever we go. We ought to be seeking non-traditional partnerships. We can go to urban lands to work [...]

The team addressing staffing and organizational needs came up with great ideas: hold a summit for refuge managers; define urban refuges and develop success critieria; evaluate staffing and skill sets that we currently have and determine what skills we will need to have a successful urban refuges program.

The team addressing the challenge of urbanization on existing refuges came up with some great ideas: get a map of population growth to figure out which refuges are at risk, have urban refuges teach lessons learned…

The groups are getting ready to report out on their ideas to implement the four strategies on implementing the urban refuges recommendation.

Do you have anything you’d like to group to discuss?

We’ve divided into four table groups to discuss some themes that arose with our strategies: 1) revising/developing policy for urban refuges; 2) developing partnerships — leveraging resources; 3) urbanization of existing refuges that were not designed to be “urban refuges” ; 4) organizational and staffing issues.

How do we prioritize the needs of aquisition between urban refuges and other priorities.

Another good recommendation coming from group brainstorming: Query existing urban refuges to find out what works, what doesn’t — develop a white paper to generate discussion, use that to inform the revision of the 1991 policy.

May not always be in the best interests of FWS to own the land — let’s think of other ways to have a Refuges presence in urban areas and communities other than purchasing land. Schoolyard habitat programs, parks, etc. Then direct folks to our Refuges an hour away etc.

Leverage resources for acquisition dollars. Some local acquisition $$ can protect the land but can’t staff it or do the education. We can work together to fill in the holes.

Broaden the urban refuge vision to include migratory birds partnerships.

Vision document should include communication and coordination with other Federal agencies and other partners. With current budget situation, should work with other partners with experience in urban environmental education.

Ecological Services is an important internal partner that we should work with for urban refuges. Environmental eduction and outreach needs, expertise, and staffing.

Optimize green space — need to work for wildlife purposes at urban refuges.

We are missing kids in rural settings too — let’s not forget this with a focus on urban refuges. Connecting with kids is a generation thing, not just an urban/rural issue.

Revisit the 1991 Urban Refuges Policy. Address the issue of urbanization impacting existing refuges.