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WILD CALL
Teaming With Wildlife Coalition Update |
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Teaming with Wildlife
A coalition of more than 6,100 organizations supporting increased and dedicated funding
for wildlife conservation
education and nature based recreation. |
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Are you a Facebook user? Teaming With Wildlife has over 200 fans. Become a fan and get up to date information on the coalition.
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Welcome to the WILD CALL! You are receiving this e-newsletter as a member of the 6,100-member Teaming With Wildlife Coalition. The coalition was started in the 1990s by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies to advocate for dedicated funding for state-based wildlife conservation, education and nature-based recreation.
We've had many successes since the inception of the coalition. Congress created the State Wildlife Grants Program in 2000 to provide vital funding to states to meet the growing challenge of conserving wildlife. In 2005, each state fish and wildlife agency completed a State Wildlife Action Plan laying out a strategy to conserve the rarest species and keep common species common. And, in 2008, Senator Tim Johnson introduced the Teaming With Wildlife Act to provide vital dedicated funding for states to implement State Wildlife Action Plans. Without your support, these remarkable accomplishments could not have happened. Thank you for being part of the largest wildlife coalition of its kind!
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State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Appropriation (FY10)State and Tribal Wildlife Grants are one of the most important funding sources available to states to implement State Wildlife Action Plans. This past spring, the administration recommended a $40 million increase for State Wildlife Grants to help state fish and wildlife agencies address climate change. In June, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill that included $115 million for the State Wildlife Grants program, an increase of $40 million. The House also reduced the non-federal match requirement from 50% to 25% as a no-cost way to help states with declining budgets meet match obligations. Unfortunately, the Senate Appropriations committee markup included just a $5 million increase and no change in the match obligation. After Labor Day, the full Senate will be voting on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. How can you HELP wildlife in your state? Contact your Senators and ask them to support $115 million for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program AND ask them to decrease the required match for states from 50% to 25%. You can find contact information for your Senators at www.senate.gov. |
Senator Tim Johnson Receives the Teaming With Wildlife Award
The Teaming With Wildlife Coalition presented Senator Tim Johnson (SD) with the in August for his support of state-based wildlife funding. Senator Johnson reintroduced the Teaming With Wildlife Act (S688) in March and has secured the following six con-sponsors: Senators Stabenow (MI), Thune (SD), Tester (MT), Merkley (OR), Klobuchar (MN) and Udall (NM). The Teaming With Wildlife Act would provide state fish and wildlife agencies with $350 million annually over five years to implement State Wildlife Action Plans.
How can you HELP wildlife in your state? Contact your Senators and ask them to support state-based fish and wildlife conservation by becoming a co-sponsor of the Teaming With Wildlife Act (S688). Also consider contacting members in your state who are co-sponsors to thank them for their support for wildlife. You can find contact information for your Senators at www.senate.gov. |
Climate Change and Natural Resources Adaptation
In June, the House of Representatives passed the American Climate and Energy Security Act (HR2454). This legislation would place a cap on carbon emissions and start a trading system for carbon allotments. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these allotments would be used to fund natural resources adaptation to help safeguard wildlife from the impacts of climate change. An average of $1.7 billion annually would be distributed to state and federal agencies to help them plan for and implement actions to address climate change.
How can you HELP wildlife in your state? Contact your Senators and ask them to support natural resources adaptation funding in climate change legislation.
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Climate Change Sign-on Letter
If passing climate change legislation is an important issue to your organization, you can help by adding your organization's name to a letter (see link below) supporting funding for natural resources in climate change legislation. To sign on to the letter (or to find out who is signed on) contact Derek Brockbank, Conservation Funding Campaign Manager, National Wildlife Federation at 202-797-6666 or by email at brockbankd@nwf.org. The deadline for signing on is September 7, 2009. Click Here to View Letter
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Upcoming Events
AFWA Teaming with Wildlife Committee Meeting
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Annual Meeting
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Austin, Texas | |
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