1.) The Fish and Wildlife Services’ (FWS) Division of Refuges provides overall direction for the management and operation of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Listed Species Often Occur on Wildlife Refuges

Of all the listed species, 215, or 24 percent, occur on wildlife refuges. Some listed species use the refuges on a temporary basis for migratory, breeding, and wintering habitat. Wildlife Refuges Contribute to the Recovery of Listed Species

Wildlife refuges and refuge staff contribute to the recovery of listed species in a variety of ways. Refuges contribute to the recovery of listed species by providing secure habitat. Funding Limitations Constrain the Contribution Wildlife Refuges Make to Species Recovery

While refuge staff have taken some actions to protect and aid the recovery of listed species on their refuges, we found that efforts were at times not undertaken. At 14 of the 15 locations we visited, refuge managers and staff said funding constraints limited their ability to fully implement recovery actions for listed species and other protection efforts. Additional copies are $2 each.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) National Wildlife Refuge System, focusing on the extent to which wildlife refuges contribute to the protection and recovery of endangered species.

What GAO Found

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.