On March 22, more than 30 sportsmen’s conservation groups sent letters to the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, urging support of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).
NAWCA is a unique, voluntary-based competitive matching grant program that leverages non-federal to federal funds in excess of a 2:1 ratio, to protect, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife. Since its inception in 1989, NAWCA grants totaling more than $1.48 billion have leveraged $4.34 billion and have positively affected over 33.4 million acres of habitat.
This program has received consistent bipartisan support due to the wide range of benefits it offers. As stated in the recent letters, sportsmen’s groups have requested that the Committees support robust funding for NAWCA by urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committee to recognize the need and importance of future funding.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
