The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's recently announced record-breaking $1.5 billion in annual funding for state and local outdoor recreation is a boon for outdoorsy types, an Interior Department official said in a news release.
Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau announced last week that the funding for state wildlife agencies will come through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration from the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.
U.S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau
| doi.gov/
"Hunters, anglers and sportsmen and women have some of the deepest connections to nature," Beaudreau said in the Friday, Feb. 11 Interior news release. "For 85 years, this program has been foundational to wildlife and habitat conservation and outdoor recreation throughout the country. With the historic investments from President Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law and opportunities through the Great American Outdoors Act, these grants will make significant progress in our work to protect our cherished wild treasures."
Beaudreau mentioned the historic disbursements during his remarks at the Mule Deer Foundation's inaugural summit at Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City the same day. Other speakers at that event included Mule Deer Foundation president and CEO Joel Pedersen and director of conservation Steve Belinda.
Final fiscal 2022 state-by-state apportionment tables are now posted for wildlife restoration, as well as sport fish restoration, reauthorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Wildlife Restoration Program. Sport fish restoration for the states and territories came to almost $400 million, according to the tables.
Most states contribute matching funds to receive the distributions with the amount based on criteria, such as how many people have paid recreational hunting and fishing licenses. State agencies determine how to use the funds, according to the release.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program doles out excise taxes on hunting, shooting and fishing equipment, as well as boat fuel, in the states and U.S. territories. The program fosters cooperative partnerships between state and federal agencies, working with hunters, anglers and other outdoor interests to seek enhanced recreational opportunities and advancing sustainable resource goals.
"These goals are consistent with President Biden's America the Beautiful initiative to support locally led efforts to conserve and restore our nation's lands, waters and wildlife," the DOI news release said. "The initiative's inclusive approach recognizes that hunters, fishers, private landowners, ranchers, farmers, Tribes, traditional land users and everyone has a role to play in conservation to conserve America's lands and waters for future generations."
