📷 View of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, TX from Observation Tower | Steve Hillebrand/USFWS

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently shared some good news for conservation efforts throughout the United States. Four national wildlife refuges have been expanded, protecting up to 1.13 million acres of newly protected wildlife habitat across New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. This announcement is particularly exciting for the National Wildlife Refuge Association, which played a significant role in expanding two critical refuges in Texas – Aransas and Big Boggy NWRs. The other two refuges that received expansions are Roanoke River NWR in North Carolina and Muleshoe NWR, which spans the border between New Mexico and Texas.

Lesser Prairie-Chicken on a lek | Greg Kramos/USFWS

Refuge expansions benefit wildlife in several ways, particularly for the most vulnerable species. These newly expanded refuge lands create critical safe havens for endangered and at-risk species, such as the majestic Whooping Crane, the ancient Atlantic Sturgeon, and the imperiled Lesser Prairie-Chicken. Providing these animals with more protected and connected land significantly increases their chances of survival and recovery.

Refuge expansions also contribute to the health of ecosystems as a whole. These protected areas provide stopover points for migratory birds, breeding grounds for fish and other wildlife, and refuges for a wide variety of plants and animals. Healthy ecosystems are essential for clean air and water, and they provide us with many other benefits, such as pollination and flood control.

Why are Fee Title and Voluntary Easement Acquisitions Important?

To achieve these benefits, refuge managers need the authority to acquire land. In the case of the recent expansions, USFWS used two main methods of working with willing landowners to acquire land for refuge expansion: fee title acquisition and voluntary easement acquisitions. These are the most common methods used by the USFWS because they offer a balance between conservation needs and landowner interests.

Fee title acquisition gives the USFWS complete ownership of the land. Fee title acquisition allows the agency to manage the land as it sees fit and to restrict public access if necessary. Fee title acquisition is the most secure way to protect wildlife habitat but can also be the most expensive.

Voluntary easement acquisitions allow the USFWS to purchase specific rights from landowners, such as the right to develop the land or restrict certain activities. Easements can be a more cost-effective way to expand refuges, allowing landowners to retain some ownership and use of their land. Landowners who choose to sell easements to the USFWS may also be eligible for tax breaks.

By using a combination of fee title acquisition and voluntary easement acquisitions, the USFWS can expand refuges in a way that meets the needs of both conservation and private landowners.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association’s Contribution

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is proud to have played a significant role in expanding two of the Texas refuges included in this announcement: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge. Our conservation consultants, Ernest Cook and Mike Lange, were instrumental in developing the Land Protection Plans (1, Aransas NWR LPP; 2 Big Boggy NWR LPP) for these expansions.

Whooping cranes over Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, TX | Steve Hillebrand/USFWS

Ernest Cook and Mike Lange are veteran wildlife conservationists with decades of experience working on national wildlife refuge issues. They deeply understand the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion of Texas and the challenges facing wildlife in the region. They worked closely with USFWS staff, landowners, and other stakeholders to develop plans that met the needs of both conservation and private landowners.

Cook and Lange’s contributions included:

Identifying key conservation areas: They used their scientific expertise to identify areas that were critical for wildlife habitat, and that would connect existing refuge lands.

Conducting landowner outreach: They met with landowners to explain the benefits of refuge expansion and to answer their questions.

Developing conservation easement proposals: They worked with landowners to develop conservation easement proposals that met the landowners’ needs while still achieving conservation goals.

Thanks to the hard work of Ernest Cook, Mike Lange, and others, the Land Protection Plans for Aransas and Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuges were completed. These plans will guide the expansion of these refuges for years to come.

Looking Ahead

While we are excited about the recent national wildlife refuge expansions, we recognize the need for continued investment in the Refuge System. These refuges require adequate funding and staffing to successfully manage the lands and wildlife within their boundaries. The National Wildlife Refuge Association will continue to advocate for the National Wildlife Refuge System and for its adequate funding, staffing, and continued expansion efforts.