05-25-2007, 09:10 PM
Washington (May 24, 2007) - The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, led by Chairman, Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA), approved the Interior Environmental Appropriations bill yesterday afternoon with significant proposed increases for fish and wildlife conservation, including $85 million for the State Wildlife Grants Program, $42.6 million for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and $5.2 million for the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
"We were heartened to see the dramatic changes for some of these important fish and wildlife programs," said Matt Hogan, Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. "The additional funding for these programs will help us more adequately fund our nation's conservation needs."
For the state fish and wildlife agencies the markup is a significant victory for the State Wildlife Grants Program, funded at $85 million. This program is the nation's core program for preventing wildlife from becoming endangered. This year, 162 Members of Congress, including 60 Senators-representing both parties in every part of the country and in urban, rural and suburban areas-signed on to a letter of support $85 million. This record level of funding for State Wildlife Grants has only been reached once before in 2002, and represents a substantial increase from the $67.5 million in FY 2007.
"This is a significant step forward, providing critical funds for states to manage wildlife resources more effectively and to address specific threats to wildlife around the nation," said Rep. Norman Dicks (D-WA). "Now that the state [wildlife action] plans have all been completed, this increased funding will help implement these important conservation measures."
In addition, the state agencies were pleased with the appropriated funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act at $42.6 million. This funding will ensure that the Joint Ventures are able to carry out high priority wetlands habitat projects.
The Subcommittee agreed to the President's request of $5.2 million of funding for implementation of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. This national aquatic conservation effort is modeled after and seeks to emulate the success of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. To date more than 500 organizations have signed on as partners to this effort.
In April, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies testified at a hearing for the House Interior Environmental Appropriations Subcommittee, offering its state fish and wildlife agency perspective on the Appropriations bill and its proposed increase in funding for conservation.
Each of these recommendations emphasizes the importance of the states' interests in more proactive conservation, advancing landscape-level conservation and forging new partnerships.
One recommendation of the Association's was to boost the Landowner Incentives Program (LIP) to $25 million, although the President recommended no further funding for the program. In the end, the Subcommittee agreed with the Administration, providing no funds for FY 2008. In past years, LIP has worked to forged unique partnerships between state and federal agencies and private landowners, including water rights holders, and is being used to emphasize the opportunity and importance of proactive conservation of at-risk species in private watersheds and landscapes.
For more information about appropriations please call Rachel Brittin at 202/624-7744.
"We were heartened to see the dramatic changes for some of these important fish and wildlife programs," said Matt Hogan, Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. "The additional funding for these programs will help us more adequately fund our nation's conservation needs."
For the state fish and wildlife agencies the markup is a significant victory for the State Wildlife Grants Program, funded at $85 million. This program is the nation's core program for preventing wildlife from becoming endangered. This year, 162 Members of Congress, including 60 Senators-representing both parties in every part of the country and in urban, rural and suburban areas-signed on to a letter of support $85 million. This record level of funding for State Wildlife Grants has only been reached once before in 2002, and represents a substantial increase from the $67.5 million in FY 2007.
"This is a significant step forward, providing critical funds for states to manage wildlife resources more effectively and to address specific threats to wildlife around the nation," said Rep. Norman Dicks (D-WA). "Now that the state [wildlife action] plans have all been completed, this increased funding will help implement these important conservation measures."
In addition, the state agencies were pleased with the appropriated funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act at $42.6 million. This funding will ensure that the Joint Ventures are able to carry out high priority wetlands habitat projects.
The Subcommittee agreed to the President's request of $5.2 million of funding for implementation of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. This national aquatic conservation effort is modeled after and seeks to emulate the success of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. To date more than 500 organizations have signed on as partners to this effort.
In April, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies testified at a hearing for the House Interior Environmental Appropriations Subcommittee, offering its state fish and wildlife agency perspective on the Appropriations bill and its proposed increase in funding for conservation.
Each of these recommendations emphasizes the importance of the states' interests in more proactive conservation, advancing landscape-level conservation and forging new partnerships.
One recommendation of the Association's was to boost the Landowner Incentives Program (LIP) to $25 million, although the President recommended no further funding for the program. In the end, the Subcommittee agreed with the Administration, providing no funds for FY 2008. In past years, LIP has worked to forged unique partnerships between state and federal agencies and private landowners, including water rights holders, and is being used to emphasize the opportunity and importance of proactive conservation of at-risk species in private watersheds and landscapes.
For more information about appropriations please call Rachel Brittin at 202/624-7744.