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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service announced today nearly $11 million will
be distributed to state fish and wildlife
agencies in the Midwest to help conserve and
recover imperiled fish and wildlife species
through the State Wildlife Grant program.
The State Wildlife Grant
program funds come from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund, which this year will
distribute more than $61 million to fish and
wildlife agencies across the 50 states,
commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and
U.S. territories.
“The conservation successes
generated by the State Wildlife Grant Program
prove these funds are being put to very good
use,” said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We are
strategically investing in the restoration of
our wetlands, prairies, forests, grasslands and
aquatic habitats to benefit priority species in
the Midwest.”
Funds support planning and
implementation activities that contribute
directly to the development, modification or
execution of a State’s
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan
(also known as a Wildlife Action Plan). Priority
for use of these funds is placed on those
species with the greatest conservation need,
while also considering the relative level of
funding available for the conservation of those
species.
“In their Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Plans, the states put
together truly strategic documents aimed at
directing limited resources to their highest
priority species,” said Interior Secretary Ken
Salazar. “The State Wildlife Grant Program
represents exemplary conservation in action.”
Considered the largest wet
prairie restoration effort in the world, the
Scuppernong River Habitat Area project in
Wisconsin covers 3500 acres of wet prairie
habitat including calcareous fens, and sedge
meadow. State Wildlife Grant funds have been
used for the past three years to remove invasive
woody species and restore the area to native
prairie, oak savanna and marsh. Upon project
completion, the habitat will benefit more than
35 species of greatest conservation need.
“In Wisconsin, State
Wildlife Grant funds have helped us protect
native animal species and the habitats upon
which they depend through projects to restore
and manage native natural communities on State
Natural Areas, State Wildlife Areas, State
Forests and other properties,” said Signe Holtz,
Director of the Endangered Resources Program at
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
“These properties, like Scuppernong Prairie, are
often the last refuge in the state for our
Species of Greatest Conservation Need.”
Iowa Department of Natural
Resources has used SWG funds to collect data on
wildlife species that are listed in their State
Wildlife Action Plan as species of greatest
conservation need.
"Multiple species inventory
and monitoring is critical to Iowa's wildlife
conservation efforts. Never before have we
attempted such a comprehensive assessment of all
the state's wildlife,” said Doug Harr, Wildlife
Diversity/SWG Coordinator for the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources. “State Wildlife
Grant funding for this project will help us make
much better-informed wildlife and habitat
management decisions in the future."
Apportionment figures for
states in the Midwest are listed below (amount
includes 2007 reverted funds and FY 2009 funds).
For a complete apportionment list for all 50
states, commonwealths, the District of Columbia,
and U.S. territories, visit
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/
State Wildlife Grant
Apportionments
Illinois
$2,023,786
Indiana
$1,054,232
Iowa
$750,289
Michigan
$1,664,502
Minnesota
$1,217,497
Missouri
$1,211,333
Ohio
$1,744,566
Wisconsin
$1,087,079
TOTAL 10,753,284
The State Wildlife Grants
program provides grants to state and other
eligible jurisdictions through a
formula-based distribution calculated using
the state’s land area and population. Congress
initiated this grant program in FY 2002 and
funded it from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund. Since the program’s inception, Congress
has provided $502,246,708 for conservation work
on state and private lands.
A state may receive no more
than 5 percent and no less than 1 percent of the
available funds. The District of Columbia and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico each receive 0.5
percent and the territories of American Samoa,
Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
each receive 0.25 percent.
The mission of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife,
plants and their habitats for the continuing
benefit of the American people. We are both a
leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife
conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural
resources, dedicated professionals and
commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make
it happen, visit
www.fws.gov. |
