State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program Receives Boost of Support from 170 Members of Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Ben Cardin (MD) and Mike Crapo (ID) and Congressmen Don Young (AK), Michael Grimm (NY), Mike Thompson (CA) and Ron Kind (WI) were joined by 163 of their fellow Members of Congress on a “Dear Colleague” sign-on letter to Interior appropriators in support of FY15 funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program. 

In both letters, Members urged their Subcommittees on Interior, Environment and Related agencies to provide the most investment possible for the program, which is the nation’s CORE source of funding for preventing fish and wildlife from becoming endangered.

“Choosing to protect our wildlife and natural resources is good for our environment and our economy. Consistent funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program will further protect more than 12,000 at-risk fish and wildlife species while avoiding costly and often controversial interventions that would be needed if we were forced to add more species to the endangered species list,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “The imminent de-listing, due to sufficient recovery, of the once endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel is a testament to the success of this program.”

“In my home state of Alaska, which I would argue is home to the most pristine wildlife in the country, we understand the critical importance of protecting our wildlife for future generations,” said Congressman Don Young. “I firmly believe the most appropriate and efficient way for populations to flourish and avoid the endangered species list is through a willingness to work together on all levels. The State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program plays a significant role in bringing together states and the federal government to accomplish the important goal of effectively managing our fish and wildlife resources. We know all too well the negative impacts associated with listing any one of our nation’s species, including the detriment to local economies, homeowners, conservationists and sportsmen alike, which is why I proudly support the work of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program and continue to ensure funding levels remain intact from proposed cuts in the President’s FY15 budget.”

The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program has successfully prevented new endangered species listings. The program is used to support data collection that is important to ensure endangered species listings are science-based and provides states with resources to put voluntary on-the-ground conservation measures in place. Without sufficient funding for this program, more species will be added to the federal endangered species list requiring expensive interventions and resulting in increased uncertainty for businesses. 

State Wildlife Grants are vital to fish and wildlife agencies in every state, territory and the District of Columbia to support the implementation and revision of State Wildlife Action Plans that were developed to conserve more than 12,000 species known to be at-risk.  The program has the support of the 6,400 organizations that make up the “Teaming With Wildlife” coalition and directly impacts the 90 million individuals who participate in wildlife-related recreation and spend $145 billion on their outdoor pursuits annually.

The number of Members signing on was up for both “Dear Colleague” letters this year.  The U.S. Senate letter included 31 democrats, 8 republicans and 2 independents and the U.S. House of Representatives letter included 112 democrats and 17 republicans. Outreach by state agency staff and Teaming With Wildlife coalition partners to Members was key to the success of the letters. 

> View copies of each “Dear Colleague”letter and a list of members who signed on (by state) 

> Learn more about the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program

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Senate Members Who Signed the FY15 Dear Colleague Letter Supporting State & Tribal Wildlife Grants

Barbara Boxer (CA), Chris Murphy (CT), Thomas Carper (DE), Johnny Isakson (GA), 

Mazie Hirono (HI), Brian Schatz (HI), Chuck Grassley (IA), Mike Crapo (ID), 

James Risch (ID), Dick Durbin (IL), Edward Markey (MA), Ben Cardin (MD), 

Angus King (ME), Carl Levin (MI), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Amy Klobuchar (MN), 

John Walsh (MT), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Robert Menendez (NJ), Cory Booker (NJ), 

Martin Heinrich (NM), Charles Schumer (NY), James Inhofe (OK), Bob Casey (PA), 

Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Tim Johnson (SD), Tim Kaine (VA), Patrick Leahy (VT), 

Maria Cantwell (WA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI)

House Members Who Signed the FY15 Dear Colleague Letter Supporting State & Tribal Wildlife Grants

Don Young (AK), Paul Grijalva (AZ), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ), Mike Thompson (CA), 

Lois Capps (CA), Jerry McNerney (CA), Henry Waxman (CA), Barbara Lee (CA), 

Sam Farr (CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA), Tony Cardenas (CA), Jared Huffman (CA), 

Raul Ruiz (CA), Jim Costa (CA), Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA), Rosa DeLauro (CT), 

Joe Courtney (CT), Alcee Hastings (FL), Corrine Brown (FL), Frederica Wilson (FL), 

David Scott (GA), Hank Johnson (GA), John Lewis (GA), Colleen Hanabusa (HI), 

Daniel Lipinski (IL), Jan Schakowsky (IL), John Yarmuth (KY), Stephen Lynch (MA), 

John Sarbanes (MD), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD), Elijah Cummings (MD), John Delaney (MD), 

Michael Michaud (ME), John Dingell (MI), Dan Kildee (MI), Gary Peters (MI), 

Collin Peterson (MN), Keith Ellison (MN), Emanuel Cleaver (MO), Mike McIntyre (NC), 

Lee Terry (NE), Jeff Fortenberry (NE), Adrian Smith (NE), Carol Shea-Porter (NH), 

Ann Kuster (NH), Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ), Albio Sires (NJ), Chris Smith (NJ), 

Jon Runyan (NJ), Steve Pearce (NM), Gregorio Sablan (NM), Dina Titus (NV),

Jerrold Nadler (NY), Carolyn Maloney (NY), Carolyn McCarthy (NY), Paul Tonko (NY), 

Michael Grimm (NY), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Jim Gerlach (PA), Allyson Schwartz (PA), 

Matt Cartwright (PA), Robert Brady (PA), Jim Langevin (RI), David Cicilline (RI), 

Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Robert C. Scott (VA), Gerald Connolly (VA), Jim McDermott (WA), 

Suzan DelBene (WA), Derek Kilmer (WA), Ron Kind (WI) and Gwen Moore (WI).

The National Fish Habitat Partnership Unveils its List of 10 “WATERS TO WATCH” in 2014

The National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org) today released its 10 “Waters to Watch” list for 2014—a collection of rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes and watershed systems that will benefit from strategic conservation efforts to protect, restore or enhance their current condition. The 10 Waters to Watch represent a detailed snapshot of this year’s locally driven, voluntary habitat conservation efforts in progress implemented under the National Fish Habitat Partnership by 19 regional Fish Habitat Partnerships across the country.

The objective of the 10 Waters to Watch partnership projects is to conserve freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats essential to the many fish and wildlife species that call these areas home. Such projects are the foundation of the National Fish Habitat Partnership. Throughout 2014, through the work of partners, the 10 Waters to Watch projects will demonstrate how conservation efforts are turning around persistent declines in the nation’s aquatic habitats.

“These projects are a model for how fish habitat conservation should be approached,” said Kelly Hepler, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “Often times these projects bring partners together that otherwise may not work together. These efforts are all about working across boundaries and jurisdictions with a wide array of partners involved, working for the greater good of habitat conservation.”




The 2014 “Waters to Watch” list and associated Fish Habitat Partnerships:

1) Bear Creek, Colorado: Western Native Trout Initiative

2) Boardman River, Michigan: Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership

3) Eel River Delta, California: California Fish Passage Forum


4) Lake Bloomington, Illinois: Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership 


5) Milltown Island Estuary, Washington: Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership 


6) Montana Creek, Alaska: Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership

7) Muddy River, Nevada: Desert Fish Habitat Partnership 


8) Nash Stream, New Hampshire: Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture


9) Tolomato River, Florida: Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership/Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership


10) Twelvemile Creek Watershed, Alaska: Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership

Since 2007, approximately 80 “Waters to Watch” partnership projects have proved that on-the-ground conservation activities and science-based strategies can make a difference in improving fish habitat. 



For more information on project maps and descriptions of the 10 Waters to Watch list for 2014, visit:
http://fishhabitat.org/waters-to-watch/2014. Log on to http://ecosystems.usgs.gov/fishhabitat/ to use the National Fish Habitat Partnership’s interactive habitat data mapper.

About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:

Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has been a partner in 417 projects in 46 states benefiting fish habitat. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects. The national partnership implements the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and supports 19 regional grassroots partner organizations.

fishhabitat.org/

facebook.com/NFHAP 

twitter.com/FishHabitat

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AFWA Releases Two Resource Guides to Federal and NGO Climate Adaptation Programs

Fish and wildlife provide many important ecosystem and cultural services that support people, communities and economies across the country. Many observed changes in the global climate are impacting valuable natural resources. These impacts are expected to compound existing threats to fish and wildlife and their habitats, making it more difficult and costly for state fish and wildlife agencies to manage.

Climate change adaptation, defined as an adjustment in natural and/or human systems to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial opportunities and moderates negative impacts, is a new and rapidly expanding part of fish and wildlife conservation.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Climate Change Committee cited a need for a greater understanding of the available resources from federal agencies and natural resource conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and universities to which state fish and wildlife agency managers can refer for climate adaptation information and assistance.

As a result, the Association has released two, new publications–the Resource Guide to Federal Adaptation Climate Programs for State Fish & WildlifeAgencies and the Resource Guide to NGO Climate Adaptation Resources andTools for State Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Each guide summarizes available tools or resources and provides a brief description and link.  

The federal government has emphasized the importance of preparing fish and wildlife for future climate conditions as well as improving preparedness among human communities. For example, the Executive Order—Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change, created a federal Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. It also created a State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, indicating that states will have an invaluable role in adaptation. State fish and wildlife agencies, having the major responsibility for fish and wildlife management, can lead the nation in facilitating fish and wildlife adaptation to novel climate and other conditions.

In addition, natural resource conservation NGOs and universities have made significant investments in climate adaptation planning and data management. This has led to a vast and growing system of resources that state fish and wildlife managers can use in conservation planning, including in the revision of State Wildlife Action Plans.

The goal of the NGO Resource Guide is to provide that understanding and to encourage state fish and wildlife managers to fully engage with NGOs on climate adaptation work on the state level. This guide is organized in a generalized framework for stepping through a planning process starting with resources that provide free access to data for download and visualization followed by resources for completing vulnerability assessments; adaptation frameworks and planning resources; and digital adaptation networks including forums for collaboration and communication on climate adaptation.

The specific implications of climate change on fish and wildlife are uncertain and vary on a regional and state basis. The resources and tools suggested throughout both guides can be combined with information from state climatologists and state-wide climate adaptation plans to support efforts to understand and respond to the anticipated impacts of a changing climate on fish and wildlife.

For more information about AFWA’s Climate Change focus area, go to http://www.fishwildlife.org/index.php?section=climate_change&activator=50. 


> Download the Resource Guide to Federal Adaptation Climate Programs for State Fish & WildlifeAgencies 

> Download the Resource Guide to NGO Climate Adaptation Resources andTools for State Fish & Wildlife Agencies

April 30th is the Deadline to Apply for Cohort 9 of the National Conservation Leadership Institute

Today’s conservation leaders are starting to retire – who will fill their seats?

The National Conservation Leadership Institute (NCLI) is calling for state fish and wildlife agencies, federal conservation agencies, Tribes, industry and non-governmental organizations in the natural resources community to nominate their “rising stars” or individuals with high potential for leveraging their leadership capacity to be considered for acceptance as a Fellow for Cohort 9 starting in Fall 2014.

Online applications for are due by April 30, 2014, and applicants must be nominated by their organization's chief executive.

The NCLI was created to train tomorrow’s conservation leaders in the latest leadership thinking and practice, and each Fellow will focus on a variety of issues, including a specific leadership challenge from each participant’s own agency or organization. Becoming an NCLI Fellow is a major step in career advancement and contributing to the future of conservation. 

Visit www.conservationleadership.org for further information on the nomination process. The NCLI was established by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agency’s Management Assistance Team. 
 

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The Management Assistance Team (MAT) is the Association's most unique and diverse program. Located at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV, MAT is a leadership development resource for the nation's fish and wildlife agencies. MAT is responsible for program development and administration of the National Conservation Leadership Institute.

AFWA Urges President Obama to Improve Coordination with State Fish and Wildlife Agencies on the Administration’s Energy, Climate and Natural Resource Conservation Policies

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Tuesday asking him to pause and better integrate state fish and wildlife agency considerations into his Administration’s energy, climate and conservation initiatives and processes to avoid unintended consequence to the management of the nation’s fish and wildlife resources.

In the letter, AFWA extends its appreciation to the President for promoting the outdoor recreational economy and natural resource conservation, particularly America’s Great Outdoors and the administration’s Climate Action Plan.

However, the Association expresses concern over the need and desire for improved coordination with state agencies on several of the President’s priorities including Executive Order 13604 on Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects; the U.S. Department of Energy’s Quadrennial Assessment; the clean energy economy and similar initiatives. Through greater alignment, early in the planning process, state and federal agencies can ensure they do not work at cross-purposes, and that fish and wildlife resources are conserved in the Administration’s “All of the Above Energy Strategy.”

AFWA’s letter requests a meeting with the President’s senior advisors on energy, the environment and climate change to discuss perspectives and determine a collaborative path forward.  

> View the Association's letter online

> Download a copy of AFWA's letter

AFWA to Host April 2 Congressional Briefing on the Lacey Act