USFWS Urban Bird Program
Description
Mission
To create a modern conservation legacy, second only to Theodore Roosevelt, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is deploying an innovative community-centered model in and near cities where 80% of Americans live. We work to understand individual conservation issues as they affect the interests of local communities. Then the Service deploys customized approaches to address these needs to help fish, wildlife and people.
The Challenge
With 80% of Americans living in cities, how do we help people get outside when they spend so much time indoors and plugged in? How can the Service be a good neighbor, inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, and ensure long-term conservation?
The Answer
The Urban Wildlife Conservation Program (UWCP) understands that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to fish and wildlife conservation. To inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, the Service maximizes activities and partnerships that recruit, reactivate and retain outdoor recreation users in high population areas. To become a community asset, the Service is addressing barriers and improving access to the outdoors.
The UWCP developed a framework, called the Standards of Excellence, used to build a program at urban national wildlife refuges and urban partnerships, which establishes a refuge presence in demographically and geographically varied cities across the U.S.