State efforts to protect species and habitats in greatest need of conservation received a boost today as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced over $45 million in funding provided through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program.
"The State Wildlife Grant Program has made a significant impact by preventing the need to list species under the Endangered Species Act," said Service Director Dan Ashe. "The program identifies the highest priorities in each state to effectively conserve and protect species on a large landscape scale."
The SWG program awards grants for projects that implement strategies to conserve priority species contained in approved State Wildlife Action Plans. All 50 states and territorial wildlife agencies have such plans, which collectively provide a nationwide blueprint for actions to conserve rare species, such as the monarch butterfly, for future generations.
Additional examples of how SWG funding supports wildlife conservation initiatives include:
Prairie Dog: Using SWG funds, Arizona Game and Fish Department developed landscape tools for prairie dog management. Four prairie dog species—the white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah and black-tailed—are considered keystone species because they support the conservation needs of more than 12 other western grassland species. Management for these essential species exemplifies a cooperative and adaptive approach that seeks to preclude future listings of targeted species. This multi-state landscape-level conservation project is coordinated by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which refers to it as the Grassland Initiative.
Delmarva Fox Squirrel: SWG and other program funds delivered to state fish and wildlife agencies by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program have played a critical role in the recovery of the Delmarva fox squirrel. The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife used a combination of Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) and SWG funds to acquire habitat for the squirrel. The agency also received a SWG grant to develop a comprehensive management plan for the species in that state. In late 2014, the Service announced the proposed removal from the Endangered Species List of the Delmarva fox squirrel, marking another great conservation partnership success story.
Kirtland's Warbler: State Wildlife Grants have also supported Kirtland's warbler restoration through key habitat modification such as jack pine management. The warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America and is listed as endangered. Jack pine management for timber requires the use of clear cutting and prescribed fire, which provide optimized habitat conditions that enable species recovery.
Conserving these species through direct actions such as reintroduction and habitat enhancement can help prevent listing under the Endangered Species Act. Proactively conserving and restoring valued species helps local communities, agencies and taxpayers avoid potentially greater conservation costs when species become rare.
"We appreciate the strong ties formed by state agencies and their partners to protect wildlife species and their habitats," said Hannibal Bolton, the Service's assistant director for Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration. "These partnerships are critical to the on-the-ground success of saving wildlife and job creation."
The grants are distributed through an apportionment formula in accordance with the Appropriations Act. These funds are allocated to states and territories based on population and geographic area.
Grant funds must be used to address conservation needs, such as research, wildlife surveys, species and habitat management, and monitoring, identified within a State's Wildlife Action Plan. These funds may also be used to update, revise or modify a state's plan.
For more information and a list of state, commonwealth and territory funding allocations, visithttp://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG.htm.
Learn more about State Wildlife Grant Program accomplishments here: http://tracs.fws.gov/public/.
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
FINAL APPORTIONMENT OF STATE WILDLIFE GRANTS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015
STATE
STATE WILDLIFE - 5620
STATE WILDLIFE - 5720
ALABAMA
$706,767
$169
ALASKA
2,299,199
549
AMERICAN SAMOA
114,959
27
ARIZONA
1,157,527
277
ARKANSAS
533,622
128
CALIFORNIA
2,299,199
549
COLORADO
978,951
234
CONNECTICUT
459,840
110
DELAWARE
459,840
110
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
229,919
54
FLORIDA
2,096,437
500
GEORGIA
1,215,316
291
GUAM
114,959
27
HAWAII
459,840
110
IDAHO
547,191
131
ILLINOIS
1,506,940
360
INDIANA
798,001
191
IOWA
560,878
134
KANSAS
665,329
159
KENTUCKY
610,749
146
LOUISIANA
663,690
159
MAINE
459,840
110
MARYLAND
607,466
145
MASSACHUSETTS
671,965
161
MICHIGAN
1,233,175
295
MINNESOTA
912,202
218
MISSISSIPPI
512,608
123
MISSOURI
908,874
217
MONTANA
791,825
189
N. MARIANA ISLANDS
114,959
27
NEBRASKA
542,750
130
NEVADA
784,548
188
NEW HAMPSHIRE
459,840
110
NEW JERSEY
886,749
212
NEW MEXICO
774,726
185
NEW YORK
2,105,449
502
NORTH CAROLINA
1,170,978
280
NORTH DAKOTA
459,840
110
OHIO
1,310,700
313
OKLAHOMA
693,534
166
OREGON
829,784
198
PENNSYLVANIA
1,442,234
345
PUERTO RICO
229,919
54
RHODE ISLAND
459,840
110
SOUTH CAROLINA
594,372
142
SOUTH DAKOTA
459,840
110
TENNESSEE
812,916
194
TEXAS
2,299,199
549
UTAH
669,105
160
VERMONT
459,840
110
VIRGIN ISLANDS
114,959
27
VIRGINIA
965,548
231
WASHINGTON
972,360
232
WEST VIRGINIA
459,840
110
WISCONSIN
815,464
195
WYOMING
517,593
124
TOTAL
$45,983,994
$10,987
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.
