The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Sept. 22 new funding for wetland conservation and national wildlife refuges.
Through the $34 million provided by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, the Department of the Interior will use the Standard Grants program in order to connect public organizations with private businesses to fund projects that protect, restore, or enhance wetlands and uplands habitats for migratory birds, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2020, 46 projects were funded with $46,108,247, and $122,645,132 in partner matching funds.
“These projects are great examples of the work we are accomplishing through the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative, supporting locally led and locally designed conservation efforts and restoration approaches that will create jobs and support healthy communities,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in a press release. “Working together, we can improve the habitat of the birds we love while conserving lands for everyone to enjoy.”
In addition to the Standard Grants, The Small Grants program is for projects seeking $100,000 or less to to toward smaller-scale, long-term wetlands conservation projects that may be too small for the U.S. Standard Grants program, according to USFWS. In 2020, the program funded 34 projects, for a total of $3,219,304 in grant funds and $7,895,388 in matching funds.
The grants provided by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission add up to $34 million that will be matched by $74 million in partner funds, according to the Department of the Interior. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved an additional $3.1 million from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to be used for preserving land in four wildlife refuges for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and more.
This year's projects include: Southeast Louisiana Marsh Enhancement towards the black rail, brown pelican, and bald eagle, Kansas Prairie Wetlands VIII to protect wetland and grassland habitats in Kansas, and Wetlands of the Sacramento Valley IV, California, for restoration of important winter habitat for waterfowl that benefits Northern pintail, redhead, and American wigeon.
