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Detroit River Sparkled in September Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge captured the Centennial spotlight during a weekend of events September 26-28. Some 3,000 people, including more than 2,000 schoolchildren, learned about the refuge system and conservation and experienced firsthand the "wild side" of the Detroit River area in southeastern Michigan. Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Service Director Steve Williams and Refuge System Chief Bill Hartwig joined U.S. Rep. John Dingell and a host of partners for a gala opening ceremony at Lake Erie Metropark, on the Detroit River in Brownstown, Michigan. The ceremony featured a tribute to late refuge supporter Peter Stroh; the signing of an historic cooperative management agreement between FWS and the chemical company BASF for habitat management on a nearby BASF site; and a keynote address by the Secretary. The ceremony culminated with the release of a rehabilitated peregrine falcon by Secretary Norton and Rep. Dingell. Rachel F. Levin, External Affairs, Ft. Snelling, MN Broadening Conservation Horizons on a Hemispheric When was the last time you saw a blue- winged teal pass through airport customs before entering its South American wintering grounds? Or a leatherback sea turtle pull out a diplomatic passport prior to hauling itself onto a beach to lay eggs on the Central American coastline? The answer, of course, is never; but, while wildlife species do not acknowledge international borders, wildlife conservation initiatives have traditionally been planned according to the rules of passing political regimes and shifting national boundaries. This narrow method for shaping wildlife conservation in the Western Hemisphere may soon be changing however, thanks to the progress made by a group of open- minded conservationists and government decision-makers who gathered in Puyehue, Chile in early October to plan a strategy for Hemispheric conservation of migratory species. Sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of State, the meeting drew government wildlife agency heads from 25 countries in the Western Hemisphere as well as members from over 40 international NGO conservation groups and wildlife conservation stakeholders. The purpose was to develop strategies for cooperation in the conservation of migratory species and collaboration on wildlife conservation issues among the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The products of the meeting included: a detailed, prioritized list of issues of conservation concern needing international collaboration; an emerging matrix of tools available from NGOs, international conventions, and government bodies to address these identified needs; and a strategy for follow-up calling for an interim forum to build upon the momentum of the Conference. The interim forum will be headed by a committee comprised of five government representatives from various regions of the Western Hemisphere, four representatives from the NGO conservation community, and representatives from applicable international conventions. Selected members of the Northern oriole. Scale f' interim steering committee included representatives from Colombia, Costa Rica, Saint Lucia, the United States, Uruguay, American Bird Conservancy, Guyra Paraguay/Birdlife International, Wetlands International, World Wildlife Fund, the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; and the Sea Turtle Convention. Additionally, in a show of support for the visionary conservationist behind the meeting, the Conference country representatives unanimously elected Herb Raffaele, Chief of the Division of International Conservation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to chair the interim committee and ensure that the progress made at the Conference continues. This was the first time in more than four decades that representatives of the fish and wildlife agencies of the hemisphere met to discuss issues of mutual concern. The deterioration of the environment and habitats for migratory species is a problem of Continued on page 12 Secretary Norton and Rep. Dingell look on as a rehabilitated peregrine falcon is about to be released. FWS photo.