Happy 120th Birthday National Wildlife Refuge System!

Happy 120th Birthday to the National Wildlife Refuge System! For over a century, these protected areas have been preserving wildlife habitats, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation, and providing wonderful opportunities to learn about nature.

This year marks a particularly special anniversary, as it has been 120 years since Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, located off the coast of Florida, became the first refuge established on May 14, 1903. Since then, the Refuge System has grown to encompass a network of conserved lands across the country, ranging from coastal wetlands to grasslands and from forests to arctic tundra. The Refuge System has helped protect endangered species and restore ecosystems that were on the brink of destruction.

However, the Refuge System faces challenges like never before. Climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species threaten the delicate balance of ecosystems that refuges work hard to preserve. Chronic underfunding and understaffing have left refuges in dire need of maintenance and restoration.

As we celebrate the National Wildlife Refuge System's 120th Birthday, we must acknowledge the progress that has been made, but we also must address the challenges ahead. We must work together to ensure the system's continued success by supporting the funding and staffing necessary to protect our natural world.

Let's take a moment to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the Refuge System and recommit ourselves to its future. Happy 120th Birthday, National Wildlife Refuge System!