Introduction
Since
the early 1990s the Teaming
with Wildlife coalition has worked to secure funding for state
fish and wildlife agencies to take preventative actions that help
keep rare species from becoming endangered and keep common species
common.
Their efforts helped to establish the Conservation
and Reinvestment Act (CARA), Congressional funding that would
have provided a permanent and reliable source of funding to protect
the
nation’s diverse wildlife and their habitats.
While CARA failed
to pass during the 107th Congress (2000-2001), in fiscal year (FY)
2002 President Bush signed the State Wildlife
Grants program (SWG) into law. This program distributed $85
million among the states. The program continued with an appropriation
of $65 million in FY 2003 and an appropriation of $75 million in
FY 2004. Continued annual appropriations represent support for
the State Wildlife Grants program, and we are hopeful that long-term
funding such that CARA would have provided will be achieved in
the future. To learn more about CARA and the ongoing Teaming With
Wildlife efforts, visit www.teaming.com.
State Wildlife Grants Program requirements:
- SWG
funds are intended to supplement, not replace, existing fish
and wildlife funding sources. Priority for use of these funds
should be placed on those species with the greatest conservation
need. View a list of
NC projects that are currently funded by the SWG Program.
- SWG
funds state distribution formula = 1/3 land area, 2/3 population
size. SWG funds are not (at this time) a continuous funding
source. They are appropriated on an annual basis. Click
here to see the appropriations table.
- Non-federal
match requirement: 75/25 for Planning-related activities, 50/50
for Implementation-related activities
- To continue
eligibility for SWG funds, a state must commit to developing
a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (a.k.a Wildlife
Action Plan) by Oct. 2005
>See frequently
asked questions about SWG funds
In order to make
the best use of the SWG program, Congress charged each state and
territory with developing a statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
Strategy. These plans will provide an essential foundation for
the future of wildlife conservation and a stimulus to engage the
states,
federal agencies and other conservation partners to think strategically
about their individual and coordinate roles in prioritizing conservation
efforts across the nation.
This site is
dedicated to providing you with information about North Carolina's Wildlife Action Plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions about SWG funds
What type of activities are SWG funds available for?
States must use SWG allocations to fund the development and implementation
of programs that benefit wildlife and their habitats. All activities
that meet these criteria are eligible for funding (e.g., surveys/
inventory, species and habitat monitoring, laboratory and field
research projects, habitat management, land acquisition, database
development). Consistent with the law these funds must be directed
toward those species with the greatest conservation need and must
take into consideration the current level of funding available
for the conservation of those species.
Can SWG funds be used to fund projects associated with wildlife education?
No, unless the education component is a minor or incidental activity
which is considered critical to the success of a project which
directly contributes to the conservation of wildlife species and
their habitats with the greatest conservation need and is consistent
with the development or implementation of the State's comprehensive
wildlife conservation plan. The Service would entertain the State
making a specific case for the use of these funds in this regard
on its grant proposal. For example, a State might propose some
special wildlife education effort is needed to protect critical
wildlife habitat where unauthorized all-terrain vehicles (ATV)
use was endangering a natural community associated with a hiking
or wildlife interpretive trail. Some educational initiative such
as development of brochures and signage might be necessary to discourage
ATVs in the area, and thus achieve wildlife habitat project goals.
These types of specific activities will all need to be approved
by Service grant specialists prior to funding and implementation.
The grant specialists will need to understand and concur that these
activities are essential to meeting the wildlife habitat objectives
of the grant.
Can SWG
funds be used to fund projects associated with wildlife recreation?
No.
Will SWG money
become available to agencies and organizations beyond the NC Wildlife
Resources Commission?
Currently, as annual allocations, SWG funds are being used to support
nongame fish and wildlife conservation solely through NCWRC staff
and programming. However, NCWRC staff members are continually looking
for cooperative efforts and possibilities for joint funding. If and
when federal funds are made permanent and at a level beyond that
needed to support basic agency conservation activities, there will
likely be funds available for partnering with other entities to address
mutual conservation/research concerns.
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