Since the first wildlife refuge was set aside in 1903, a variety of unique ecosystems have been preserved within the more than 500 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System -- Arctic tundra and prairie potholes, tropical Hawaiian forests, and Sonoran deserts among others. But Refuge System also provides many other benefits -- filtering drinking water and reducing flooding, preserving options for new medical treatments, exciting glimpses of animals in their natural habitat, and hunting and fishing.

But our Refuges are subject to many different uses, some of which are inappropriate. Chemical crop farming; jet-ski use; oil and gas development; even military drills all are taking place on our Wildlife Refuge System today, with varying results.

There's much The Wilderness Society and our partner groups are doing to keep our Refuges safe for plants and wildlife, and for future generations.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
This incomparable wilderness is habitat to more than 250 animal species, including wolves, grizzlies, caribou and millions of migrating birds. It is also smack in the crosshairs of the oil industry, which is lobbying Congress to open it to large scale oil development. We're working to keep the oil rigs out.
>> More about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 

Refuges for the 21st Century
For the first time ever, our Refuge managers are producing plans for how they will manage - and protect - our refuges in coming years. Thanks to the Refuge Improvement and Management Act of 1997, first envisioned by The Wilderness Society, we all can have a say in how our Refuges are managed.
>> More

Alaska Refuges
Alaska's 16 National Wildlife Refuges contain some of the most remote and prized wildlife and wilderness resources in the entire refuge system. The Alaska refuges span 70 million acres; 53 million acres qualify for wilderness designation. More than 18 million are already permanently protected as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. But these lands, so important to wildlife, must be managed properly and management plans are now getting underway.
>> Read up on Alaska's National Wildlife Refuges