Distribution of Funding Applauded by Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

Washington D.C.- The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies applauds Deputy Secretary Bernhardt's announcement about allocating much needed funding to state wildlife agencies and Native American and Alaskan tribes through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program and the Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) program. This funding helps address critical fish and wildlife needs by supporting species and habitats listed in approved state wildlife actions plans and encouraging key partnerships for wildlife conservation. 

"We appreciate the Department of Interior and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for releasing this critical funding for fish and wildlife conservation," said Nick Wiley, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Executive Director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "State and Tribal Wildlife Grants leverage the expertise and professional management capacity of state fish and wildlife agencies with conservation partners to deliver successful conservation projects that directly benefit species in greatest need of support."

The State & Tribal Wildlife Grants program is the only federal program available to states, territories, District of Columbia and tribes to help conserve more than 12,000 fish and wildlife identified in State Wildlife Action Plans as species in greatest need of conservation. State Wildlife Action Plans were recently revised and updated with the best science and rely on funding from the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program for implementation.

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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America's fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association's member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.