The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced over $45 million in funding provided through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program.
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.
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.
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. Funds may also be used to update, revise or modify a state’s plan.
For more information, visit: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG.htm.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service