National Wildlife Refuge System

Of the nearly 900 species listed under the Endangered Species Act, one quarter can be found on national wildlife refuges. These listed species include plants, birds, and mammals. Although a significant portion of the current habitat for 94 listed species is on 66 wildlife refuges, many other listed species use refuge lands on a temporary basis for breeding or migratory rest stops. Refuges and refuge staff contribute to the protection and the recovery of listed species in several ways. First, the refuges themselves represent about 91 million acres of secure habitat, including more than 310,000 acres that have been acquired by the Service specifically for the protection of listed species. Second, refuge staff are taking steps to protect and recover listed species. Third, refuge staff, by identifying specific actions that can help a species recover, help to develop recovery plans that the Fish and Wildlife Service requires for listed species. Funding limitations constrain efforts to manage wildlife refuges. Two 1993 Interior Department reports found that available funding was not enough to meet established objectives for refuges because the level of funding has not kept pace with the rising costs of managing existing refuges.

GAO found that: (1) of about 900 endangered species, 215 occur or have habitat on national wildlife refuges; (2) the endangered species found on wildlife refuges represent a diversity of wildlife; (3) although many listed endangered species inhabit wildlife refuges, many other endangered species use refuge lands temporarily for breeding or migratory rest stops; (4) FWS refuges contribute to the protection and recovery of endangered species by providing safe and secure habitats, implementing recovery projects that are tailored to each endangered species, and identifying specific actions that can contribute to species recovery; (5) FWS efforts to manage wildlife refuges have been inhibited because funding levels have not kept pace with the increasing costs of managing new or existing refuges; and (6) at 14 of the 15 locations reviewed, refuge managers and staff believed that funding constraints limited their ability to enhance habitat and facilitate the recovery of endangered species.