The National Wildlife Refuge System is essential to conserving America’s biodiversity and addressing the escalating climate crisis. The Biden administration’s actions to enhance conservation on refuges is a big step in the right direction,” said Peter Nelson, Defenders of Wildlife’s director of public lands. “Defenders looks forward to working with Secretary Haaland to expand opportunities for further conservation and public enjoyment of this special system of lands and waters.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced that $78 million in grants were approved to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conserve or restore nearly 500,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds across North America.
“It’s been a really tough few years for migratory birds,” said Renee Stone, Defenders of Wildlife's senior vice president of conservation programs. “Today’s announcement is welcome news after years of treating migratory birds as collateral damage for development projects. There is still so much to do to right the wrongs of the Trump administration, but this is a positive signal that birds are a priority for Interior.”
The grants were approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which Secretary Haaland chairs and made possible through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The grants will be matched by nearly $125 million in partner funds. Partners on the wetland restoration projects include private landowners, states, local governments, conservation organizations, sportsmen’s groups, Tribes, land trusts, and corporations.
DOI Announces $78 Million in Funding for Wetland Conservation and National Wildlife Refuges
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced that $78 million in grants were approved to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conserve or restore nearly 500,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds across North America.
“It’s been a really tough few years for migratory birds,” said Renee Stone, Defenders of Wildlife's senior vice president of conservation programs. “Today’s announcement is welcome news after years of treating migratory birds as collateral damage for development projects. There is still so much to do to right the wrongs of the Trump administration, but this is a positive signal that birds are a priority for Interior.”
The grants were approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which Secretary Haaland chairs and made possible through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The grants will be matched by nearly $125 million in partner funds. Partners on the wetland restoration projects include private landowners, states, local governments, conservation organizations, sportsmen’s groups, Tribes, land trusts, and corporations.
DOI Announces $78 Million in Funding for Wetland Conservation and National Wildlife Refuges