01:00 AM EST on Sunday, December 2, 2007

The nation’s wildlife refuges are widely viewed as places to preserve the country’s wildlife and environment. But a study by the agency that operates the refuges, including one in Rhode Island, concludes they are moneymakers too. They generate several times more revenue than the government spends to run them.

In reviewing activities at the Ninigret Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown, the researchers found it generated $6.25 in local spending for every $1 the government spent to operate the refuge. An estimated 108,000 people visited the refuge last year and 62 percent were nonresidents.

Among the findings in Banking on Nature 2006: the Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuges were:

• Some 34.8 million people visited wildlife refuges in the lower 48 states and they generated nearly $1.7 billion in spending in the surrounding communities.

• Recreational spending on outdoor activities connected to the refuges generated $185.3 million in local, state and federal spending.

• Surveys show refuge visitors would be willing to pay an additional $860 million to visit refuges if they had to.

Charlie Vandemoer, manager of the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (a total of five refuges) said in a statement that the study suggests that land conservation is good for the economy.

“When you consider that the national wildlife refuges comprise only a small portion of the open space available in Rhode Island, the economic contribution of all lands managed by the state, towns, land trusts and conservation organizations must be substantial,” Vandemoer said. “It’s clear that conserving lands in the state for the benefit of natural resources and the public is an important element in our economy as well.”

Vandemoer says the refuge complex also makes annual payments to local towns that totaled $130,000 last year.

Ninigret attracts more than 250 bird species each year and 70 species nest on the property, according to the report.

While the government spent about $377,000 to operate the refuge, visitors spent more than $2.2 million, largely in association with fishing and birding.

The 382-page report can be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/.

plord@projo.com