On May 3, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that the Department will grant $2.1 million to state and local partners in six western states for habitat conservation in migration corridors and winter range for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.
A priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, this funding is an important step for improved habitat and conservation of a wide array of wildlife.
Grants will be allocated across Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, through a public-private partnership between the Department of the Interior (DOI), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and ConocoPhillips. With matching contributions included, this grant is expected to leverage $8.6 million for conservation efforts.
This announcement is part of the implementation of Secretarial Order 3362, titled, “Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors,” a cooperative conservation initiative that includes the sportsmen’s community, federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, private landowners, industry partners and others committed to improving wildlife movement and habitat across the West.
In a DOI announcement, Secretary Bernhardt stated, “Working in a collaborative and cooperative fashion with states, landowners, tribes, and partners who are committed to actual on-the-ground habitat conservation projects is the best approach to support a wide variety of voluntary habitat conservation activities.”
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?
