The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission on Friday approved $28 million in funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to purchase, lease, restore or otherwise conserve more than 128,000 acres of wetland habitats for ducks, bitterns, sandpipers and other birds in the United States.
In the Southeast, projects in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina received a combined total of $9,861,731 in federal funds and another $20,888,399 in matching funds from non-federal organizations and agencies. For a complete description of each project and its funding, go to http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/US/2014_Nov.shtm
Nationally, of the total funds approved by the commission, $24.6 million will be provided through North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants to conserve more than 127,000 acres of wetlands and adjoining areas in 16 states.
Eight of the 24 grants will target species or areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Grants made through this program require matching investments; the projects approved today will leverage an additional $54.4 million in non-federal matching funds. More information about these grant projects is available at: http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/index.shtm
“Many people don’t realize how important swamps, bogs, marshes and other wetlands are to maintaining the populations of birds we see flying overhead and visiting our backyards,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “These habitats play a crucial role in breeding, migration and other parts of migratory bird life cycles.”
The commission also recognized the contributions of Rep. John Dingell, who is retiring after an unprecedented 45 years of service as a member.
“Our nation’s efforts to conserve migratory birds have no better supporter than Congressman Dingell, who has worked tirelessly over more than four decades to protect and restore the wetland and upland habitat so vital to them,” Mr. Jewell said. “Today, during his final meeting, we continued this legacy with the acquisition and conservation of vital habitat so important not only to birds but to countless other species of wildlife.”
The commission also announced the approval of more than $3.5 million for fee title land acquisitions of more than 1,700 acres on four national wildlife refuges. These funds were raised largely through the sale of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as “Duck Stamps.” For every dollar spent on Federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents go directly to acquire habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. This year the federal Duck Stamp celebrates its 80th anniversary.
This year also marks the 85th anniversary of the commission, which first met in February 1929. Members include U.S. Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Mark Pryor of Arkansas; U.S. Representative Robert Wittman of Virginia; Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy.