Summary

Description

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System NWRS is the premier system of federal lands set aside primarily for the purpose of conserving fish, wildlife, and plants. Science based management decisions are needed for refuges to achieve their highest contributions toward wildlife resources, support refuge management decisions, reduce the uncertainty of management outcomes, and improve efficiency. The need to increase science capacity within the NWRS was identified as a priority issue by NWRS Promises Teams and the Conservation in Action Summit. The Strategic Plan for NWRS Biological Monitoring Team Pilot Project for Fiscal Years 2006 2010 addresses biological monitoring and adaptive management as components of the NWRS biology program. The Biological Monitoring Team BMT is implementing a pilot program to address biological monitoring and adaptive management needs for refuges. The BMT is starting as a small effort and will not address all monitoring needs of refuges nationwide. The BMT will focus on high priority monitoring and adaptive management needs common to multiple refuges in Regions 3 and 5. The pilot program defines a vision for biological monitoring and adaptive management in the NWRS and identifies three major goals and related objectives, with outcomes and strategies. The BMT will initiate the Strategic Plan under the auspices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NWRS Regions 3 and 5 as a first step towards a national monitoring program.