grants will be going to six state fish and wildlife agencies to help
conserve and recover Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) through
the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Competitive Program.
Priority is given to multistate, cooperative conservation projects that
demonstrate measurable performance results and benefit SGCN. This federal
funding will be matched by $2.9 million in non-Federal funds provided by
states and their partners for projects helping SGCN and their habitats.
The SWG Competitive Program, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?s
State Wildlife Grants program, awards grants for projects that implement
strategies and actions to conserve SGCN contained in approved State
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plans (also known as State Wildlife
Action Plans). Funding for the grants comes from Fiscal Year 2011
appropriations for the SWG Competitive Program.
All 56 states and territorial wildlife agencies have approved State
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plans, which collectively provide a
nationwide blueprint for actions to conserve SGCN. The plans were created
through a collaborative effort among state and federal agencies,
biologists, conservationists, landowners, sportsmen, and the general
public. Each plan was then reviewed and approved by a national team that
included members from the Fish and Wildlife Service as well as directors
from state wildlife agencies.
Funded projects include:
1) Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Title: Multistate Sandhills/Upland Longleaf Ecological Restoration Project
(Phase 2): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi
Goals and Objectives: This project will significantly increase the quality
and quantity of habitat for priority wildlife species on over 51,775 acres
of sandhill/upland longleaf forest in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, and Mississippi by prescribed fire, invasive species removal or
hardwood removal and the planting of native longleaf pine and groundcover.
This proposal is a substantial effort to improve the habitat and status
of about 80 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) among the 5
primary State partners. Federal Funds awarded: $981,050;
Non-Federal match: $552,819
2) Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Title: Rangewide New England Cottontail (NEC) Initiative Continuation and
Expansion of NEC Conservation Effort
Goals and Objectives: The project will integrate conservation design and
conservation delivery in 6 States in order to ensure that NEC conservation
efforts will be implemented and that they are effective. The project will
deliver 1200 acres of NEC habitat restoration in an adaptive management
framework creating 50 new habitat patches across the species range. The
Primary State partners are Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York,
and Rhode Island.
Federal Funds awarded: $1,000,000; Non-Federal match: $452,100
3) Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Title: Driftless Area Restoration and Assessment to Benefit Species of
Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
Goals and Objectives: This project will restore at least 1,600
privately-owned acres and 3,150 acres of lands owned or managed by 3 State
DNRs to bluff prairie, oak savanna, and/or woodland habitat for up to 79
SGCN. The Driftless Area?s habitat has changed greatly during the past
150 years. Savanna and prairie loss has been substantial across the
region, with less than 2 percent savannas and 1percent prairies remaining.
Primary State partners include Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Federal Funds awarded: $972,000; Non-Federal Match: $783,463
4) New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Title: Conservation of Blanding?s Turtles and Associated Wetland SGCN in
the Northeast
Goals and Objectives: This project will maintain and enhance functional
wetland and upland wildlife habitat in New England, New York, and
Pennsylvania by applying conservation principles and practices needed to
support a healthy Blanding?s turtle population. The project will seek to
prevent further declines by developing and initiating implementation of a
regional conservation plan to: identify and protect genetic variation
among the Northeast?s turtles to improve habitats critical to their
survival; develop monitoring protocols to detect status and trends; and
create or enhance at least five nesting areas.
Federal Funds awarded: $637,336; Non-Federal Match: $273,912
5) Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Title: Big Rivers Mussel Restoration
Goals and Objectives: This project will support a regional effort to
increase populations of mussel SGCNs (in Kentucky, Ohio, and West
Virginia), and to develop captive propagation, restoration and monitoring
protocols which will be used to inform regional and national mussel
conservation efforts. Thirty-five mussel SGCNs including 8 Federally
Threatened or Endangered species will benefit from the project.
Federal Funds Awarded: $953,899; Non-Federal Match: $638,585
6) Arizona Game and Fish Department
Title: Western Coordinated Multi-State Response to a Deadly, Emerging
Threat: White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in Bats
Goals and Objectives: This proposal addresses eligible issues identified
in State Wildlife Action Plans (WAP) of all six major Western project
partners and addressed the emerging issue of WNS as a wildlife health
threat. All application partners propose improving the status of bat
species including SGCN (15) species and/or their habitats. The
application will have four WNS Priority Areas: Oversight, Surveillance,
Communication, Education and Outreach and Research. WNS has been included
in the upcoming revision of the Arizona Game and Fish Department?s WAP.
Because the disease is so new and devastating, it is being included in WAP
revisions nationwide.
Federal Funds Requested: $445,715; Non-Federal Match: $204,087
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a
leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for
our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws,
follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at
http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
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