This invention is a system and method for managing and allocating memory used for data movement of data being copied in a data storage environment. In one embodiment, a methodology is provided that allocates and manages data buffers based on bandwidth and memory availability in the data storage environment, that includes adjustment of buffer size allocation and/or number of buffers allocated based on a determination of the bandwidth allocated. In other embodiments, implementations include a system, a computer program product, and an apparatus are disclosed that are configured for carrying out the steps involved in the methodology.