Migratory birds throughout the Western Hemisphere will benefit from $4 million in grants for 32 collaborative conservation projects across the Americas, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grants will leverage the Service’s investment with $16.9 million in additional partner funds.
The projects will conserve migratory bird habitat, engage local communities in bird habitat protection, and strengthen international relations, while raising awareness of the importance of bird conservation.
There are 386 species of neotropical migratory birds that migrate to and from the United States each year, including songbirds and shorebirds, according to the USFWS.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000 established the matching grants program to fund projects that conserve neotropical migratory birds in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
It is the only source of federal funds solely dedicated to this mission. Funds may be used to protect, research, monitor and manage bird populations and habitat, as well as to conduct law enforcement and community outreach and education.
This year’s neotropical migratory bird conservation grants go towards projects in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
For more information, visit www.fws.gov.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service