State Wildlife Grants Program Overview
Purpose
The purpose of the State Wildlife Grant program is to provide funding to state wildlife agencies to help meet the conservation needs of animal species considered to be "at risk." It places primary emphasis on the conservation of traditionally under-funded species. With more than 1,000 plant and animal species listed nationally as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, Congress has looked to the State Wildlife Grant program as a tool for proactive conservation and reversal of declining population trends. In enhancing or maintaining the populations and habitats of rare animals, the grant program can keep species off the endangered or threatened species list and prevent costly recovery programs. In authorizing the State Wildlife Grant program, Congress provided the following guidance:
- Priority should be given to species in greatest need of conservation
- Funds should be used to address the needs and habitat requirements of species at risk of endangerment to preclude the need to list them as endangered or threatened
- Funds are intended to supplement, not replace, existing wildlife funding sources
- Funds are to be used for conservation-related projects and may not be used for recreational, law enforcement or educational activities unless these are deemed critical to the conservation of the species in question
Background
In 2000, Congress decided to invest in this country's wildlife by creating the State Wildlife Grants program. The program is a federal assistance program that provides funding to all 50 state wildlife agencies and six U.S. territories for the conservation of "species of greatest conservation need." Funds are allocated to states using a formula based upon the state's population (two-thirds) and land area (one-third), and are made available on a 50:50 or a 75:25 cost-share ratio depending upon the project type.
For a territory or state wildlife agency to be eligible for State Wildlife Grant funding, Congress required that it develop a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for its wildlife resources by October of 2005. The Conservation Strategy provides guidance for how State Wildlife Grant money is spent and ensures that states are accountable for and make the best use of these funds.
The State Wildlife Grant program is not a continuous or guaranteed funding source for wildlife conservation, but all states and U.S. territories are working toward that goal. We are using the needs identified in each state's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and the quality of the projects funded under the State Wildlife Grant program to show Congress the importance of making the program permanent.
History
The State Wildlife Grant program is the culmination of a 20-year effort to provide a dedicated source of federal funding for the conservation of fish and wildlife species not managed with the assistance of Wildlife Restoration or Sport Fish Restoration funding. The State Wildlife Grant program provides resources to manage the remaining diversity of wildlife, which comprises about 84 percent of Idaho's wildlife species. Congress recognized the need for wildlife diversity funding in 1980 when it passed the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act - or "Nongame Act." While Congress authorized annual appropriations of $5 million for the act, no money was ever allocated. The nation was still without resources for wildlife diversity management when the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies began work in 1990 to establish a funding mechanism for the Nongame Act. The association's goal was a meaningful and consistent source of federal funding for nongame management in a manner similar to that of the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts.
A Grassroots Effort
By 1994, this effort had given rise to the Teaming with Wildlife Initiative and its 4,000 plus member coalition, including 33 in Idaho. The Teaming With Wildlife coalition includes conservation organizations, sportsmen and women, environmentalists, wildlife managers, businesses, private landowners and state and local officials. The Teaming With Wildlife coalition demonstrates strong grassroots support for wildlife conservation funding.
The Creation of the State Wildlife Grants Program
In 1999, the goals of the Teaming With Wildlife coalition were adopted by the congressional authors of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, and a new title was added to the bill that would provide up to $350 million annually for wildlife conservation. In 2000, the act passed the House by a two-thirds majority, but the Senate didn't act on it. Late in 2000, a compromise bill passed the House and Senate. The compromise, often referred to as CARA-lite, established the Conservation Trust Fund and created the State Wildlife Grant program, which is funded by an annual federal appropriation. The State Wildlife Grant program is re-evaluated by Congress each year.
State Wildlife Grants Today
Because the State Wildlife Grant program has strong bipartisan support, it is likely to continue in some form beyond the current fiscal year and could become one of the nation's core programs for wildlife conservation. Over the past five years, about $300 million has been appropriated for the State Wildlife Grant. Of this total, Idaho's share has been about $5 million. These grants represent a future for wildlife conservation that is rooted in cooperation and partnership to ensure the survival of all wildlife.
State Wildlife Grants Program Home