National Wildlife Refuge Appropriate Use and Compatibility Determination (Self Study)

Target Audience: 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service project leaders, refuge managers, biologists, visitor services managers, and other refuge staff who are tasked with preparing appropriate use findings and compatibility determinations.  

Summary and Objectives: 

Appropriate use and compatibility are two core concepts for managing our National Wildlife Refuge System as a network of lands and waters set aside for the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. This self-paced, online training course offers you an understanding and basic knowledge of the authorities and mandates that establish the appropriate use and compatibility standards.  

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Given a proposal for a use, determine if it is a refuge use. 
• Given a proposal for a refuge use, determine if the use is appropriate. 
• Given an appropriate use, determine if a compatibility determination is required. 
• Given a proposal for a refuge use that is both appropriate and requires a compatibility determination, complete required documentation and prepare a draft compatibility determination. 

Competencies Addressed: 

Environmental Compliance - Basic, Reading - Basic, Writing - Basic