Welcome!
On October 9, 1997, President William Jefferson Clinton signed into law the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. Among other things, it requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to write comprehensive conservation plans for all of the refuges in the System by 2012. It also designates six priority, wildlife-dependent uses to receive enhanced consideration in planning public recreation on refuges: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation.
We in the Region 5 Division of Conservation Planning and Policy primarily are responsible for developing comprehensive conservation plans for the national wildlife refuges in 13 northeastern states (download our 1-page printable map). We are also responsible for facilitating the process that invites the public, our conservation partners, and other agencies to participate in developing those plans under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. MORE…
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5
Division of Conservation Planning and Policy
300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley, MA 01035-9589
