600 acres (240 hectares) of land in Oregon is now set aside as America’s newest federally managed wildlife refuge.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service announced yesterday the official establishment and management launch of the Willamette Valley Conservation Area. The new refuge is found between the cities of Eugene and Salem.
Designating the zone as a “conservation area” means USFWS is managing the tract as a combination of public lands and conservation easements covering private property. USFWS said it first purchased the Diamond Hill wetlands and then secured easement agreements with landowners to create the conservation area.
A separate wildlife refuge and an Oregon state park already exist nearby.
“These conservation easements support private landowner efforts to protect important habitat for fish and wildlife, and major migration corridors, while helping to keep agricultural lands in production,” the USFWS media office explained.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said in an overview that the creation of this newest wildlife management area was made possible by the “America the Beautiful Initiative” spearheaded by President Joe Biden and his administration. She said it is the fifth new USFWS-managed property created under the Biden-Harris presidential administration.
“In communities across the nation, the Biden-Harris administration is investing resources and bringing together local, state, tribal, and conservation partners to protect treasured outdoor spaces for current and future generations to enjoy,” Haaland said.
The new refuge was created to prevent the extinction of endangered species.
The creation of the Willamette Valley Conservation Area “is a step in a 10-year effort to permanently protect oak and prairie habitat for the benefit of five species listed under the Endangered Species Act, two candidate species and numerous other plant and animal species of concern,” US Fish and Wildlife explained.
“The conservation area will also provide habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical songbirds, and iconic Oregon species such as the Western monarch butterfly, Western meadowlark, and Oregon white oak.”
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Park Info
Park Name:
Willamette Valley Conservation Area
Location:
Oregon, USA
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