October 13 – 19th, 2024 is National Wildlife Refuge week! The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), provides vital habitat for thousands of native species and offers free recreational opportunities. The San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes seven Refuges, three of which sit within the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture’s region: Don Edwards San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and the Farallon Islands, totaling approximately 55,000 acres of land. USFWS employees are charged with managing the Refuge System to protect communities from sea level rise, provide educational and outreach programs for local community members, and contribute to critical scientific research efforts. These San Francisco Bay area refuges provide critical habitat for migrating birds along the Pacific Flyway, and resident endangered species like the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse and Ridgway’s Rail. And unlike the National Parks system, most National Wildlife Refuges are free to the public and open year-round to explore and enjoy!
Over the past 15 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has faced severe budget and staffing shortages impacting their ability to meet their mission and contribute effectively to their partnerships. Specifically, the SF Bay Refuges have been impacted through visitor center closures and reduction in operating hours, and losses of educational programs, failing infrastructure, lack of staff capacity to conduct maintenance, and mental health issues for refuge staff. The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society (SFBWS), a not– for– profit organization, which has operated environmental education programs for children and the general public at the refuges for over 35 years, has seen Don Edwards Refuge environmental education programs go from three year-round jointly operated, to one program, operated with much less support from Refuge staff due to severe staff shortages. SFBWS Program Administrator Mary Deschene, notes that “Due to severe underfunding, the National Wildlife Refuge System is losing experienced and dedicated staff, institutional knowledge, and infrastructure – which is decaying due to lack of maintenance…Now there is only one [environmental education] program remaining, Watershed Watchers, and the impact to the long-term awareness and stewardship development that this location has fostered over the decades will be severely diminished.”
Nationally, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has worked to amplify the message that without adequate support for our refuges we may lose centuries of work to protect wild landscapes: “the Refuge System needs an annual budget of at least $2.2 billion to provide for its basic needs, meet mandates and [accommodate] public demand.” Without immediate action from Congress, our Refuge System remains without the necessary resources to fulfill its mission.
Calls to Action: Help Support the National Wildlife Refuge System!
Partners: In order to support our Refuge System long-term, we must strategize innovative non-federal funding streams for the SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex and partners.
Individuals: You can contact your Congressional Representatives and urge them to fully fund the National Wildlife Refuge System and join the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus. You can contact Mary Deschene to volunteer with the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society and sign up to receive their quarterly newsletter Tide Rising.
All: Check out Events happening this week at Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, including the trail opening celebration on October 19th.
Photo Credit: (Black-necked Stilt) Simon Rumi