U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 93 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System of more than 520 National Wildlife Refuges and thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. Under the Fisheries program, we also operate 69 National Fish Hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations.
The vast majority of fish and wildlife habitat is on non-Federal lands, and partnership activities like Partners for Fish and Wildlife and Partners in Flight are the primary means for fostering aquatic, avian, and terrestrial conservation and assisting voluntary habitat conservation and restoration.
Our objectives include
- Assisting in the development and application of an environmental stewardship ethic for our society, based on ecological principles, scientific knowledge of fish and wildlife, and a sense of moral responsibility.
- Guiding the conservation, development, and management of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources.
- Administering a national program to provide the public opportunities to understand, appreciate, and wisely use fish and wildlife resources.
We work to meet our mission by:
- enforcing Federal wildlife laws,
- protecting endangered species,
- managing migratory birds,
- restoring nationally significant fisheries,
- conserving and restoring wildlife habitat like wetlands,
- helping foreign governments with their international conservation efforts, and
- using our Federal Aid program to distribute hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.
USFWS Programs and Resources
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Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grants
The US Fish and Wildlife Service offers grants to states through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund to support voluntary conservation projects for candidate, proposed, and listed species. Authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act, these funds may be awarded in turn to private landowners and groups for conservation projects.
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Migratory Bird Conservation Fund
The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund provides the Department of the Interior with financing for the acquisition of migratory bird habitat.
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North American Wetlands Conservation Act
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) provides matching grants for the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement of wetland ecosystems for the benefit of waterfowl and other wetland dependent migratory species.
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Joint Ventures in Bird Conservation
The 1986 North American Waterfowl Management Plan established a framework for establishing self-directed partnerships between agencies, organizations, corporations, tribes, or individuals that take responsibility for implementing bird conservation plans for specific species or geographic areas.
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Partners for Fish and Wildlife
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes who are willing to work with us and other partners on a voluntary basis to help meet the habitat needs of our Federal Trust Species (federally endangered, threatened, and candidate species).
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Local and Regional Initiatives
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Casco Bay Estuary Partnership - Important Habitat Protection Fund
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USFWS Gulf of Maine Coastal Program
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Go Straight to Your State
Learn about conservation and open space in your state.