U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Names New Field Supervisor for the Caribbean
March 22, 2004
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Edwin Muñiz, a 20-year federal government veteran, has been selected as the new Field Supervisor of the Ecological Services Program Field Office for the Caribbean. The Caribbean Field Office has offices in Boquerón and Rio Grande and employs 28 people.
Muñiz is no newcomer to the protection and conservation of natural resources in the Caribbean. Since 1995, Muñiz has served as the Chief of the Antilles Regulatory Section with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While heading the Corps Regulatory Program in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, he has dealt with complex issues on wetland programs, fish and wildlife resources, Coastal Zone Management Act planning, essential fish habitats, and the Endangered Species Act. He also has established working relationships with federal and state agencies, and local government representatives.
“Edwin has played
a key role in the implementation of wetland programs in the Caribbean,”
said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast
Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“He will maintain needed continuity at that office through his
strong support for collaborative partnerships between the Service,
other federal and state agencies, local government representatives,
and private individuals and organizations.”
“I am excited about this new and challenging assignment and the mission of the Caribbean Field Office,” said Muñiz. “The islands of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are wonderful places with many unique resources, and I am looking forward to continuing my efforts toward balanced development and conservation of natural resources.”
A primary responsibility of the Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office is to protect endangered and threatened species through listing, consultation, and recovery efforts in cooperation with federal, state, and other community partnerships. Another important accomplishment is to conserve wetlands by recommending modifications to proposed projects for federal construction, authorization, or funding. The Field Office also works with other Caribbean nations, as well as other federal and Commonwealth agencies and citizen groups to address issues that affect fish and wildlife. Species impacts from environmental contaminants are also evaluated.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.