WILD CALL-TWW Coalition Update #3

State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Receives Record Funding for FY10
The FY10 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies budget signed by the president on October 30th included $90 million for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program. This is the highest funding for the program since it's inception in 2001. This was due in large part to the work of you and other members of the Teaming With Wildlife coalition. The bill included a highly sought after reduction in the non-federal match requirement that will help cash-strapped states during this economic downturn. The increased funding is a recognition by Congress that funding to implement State Wildlife Action Plans in every state and territory is a priority. The bill included $12 million for state and tribal grants leaving $78 million available to state fish and wildlife agencies in formula-based funding. The state and tribal wildlife grants program is a principle source of funding for implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans in every state and territory.

Climate Change Legislation Advances Out of Committee
In early November, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced S1733, a comprehensive bill to address climate change. Like HR2454 which passed in the House of Representatives in June, the bill sponsored by Senators Kerry and Boxer in the Senate includes substantial funding for state and federal agencies to plan for and address the impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife and their habitats. Passage of S1733 out of committee was yet another milestone in our efforts to secure dedicated funding for fish and wildlife conservation. Negotiations on comprehensive climate change are proceeding with Senators John Kerry (MA), Joe Lieberman (CT) and Lindsey Graham (SC) taking lead roles in trying to craft a bill that can secure 60 votes in the senate.

Stand-alone "Natural Resources Climate Adaptation Act" (S. 1933)
In late October Senators Jeff Bingaman (NM), Max Baucus (MT), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Tom Udall (NM) introduced S1933, a stand alone bill to safeguard natural resources from climate change. Senator Michael Bennet (CO) has also signed on. The bill is similar to the natural resource adaptation section in the Boxer-Kerry climate bill, but has streamlined language. Like the Boxer-Kerry bill, S1933 would require a national adaptation strategy and authorize a dedicated fund to help protect fish and wildlife from climate change, however actual dollars for the fund must still come from new revenue from a clean energy and climate bill. An effort is underway to secure additional co-sponsors to this bill to show there is broad bi-partisan support for natural resources adaptation funding in climate change legislation.

How can you help wildlife in your state: Consider contacting offices of the U.S. Senators in your state and request that they co-sponsor S1933 to help ensure climate change legislation addresses the needs of wildlife and natural resources. You can also help by thanking members in your state who have sponsored or co-sponsored S1933. Contact information for your US Senator is available at www.senate.gov.

Support for Increased Conservation Funding Remains High
The Nature Conservancy, a member of the Teaming With Wildlife Steering Committee, used a Democratic and Republican polling firm to conduct a telephone poll of 800 voters in September 2009. A major finding was that despite the economic downturn there has been no change in public support (65% supportive; 31% opposed) for increased funding for state and local land conservation. Seventy-six percent of those polled supported paying an extra $10 per year for conservation, 72% an extra $20, 67% an extra $50. Even a majority (59%) supported an extra $100 per year for conservation. If the Teaming With Wildlife Act were to pass, the cost to taxpayers would average less than $3 per taxpayef/year. A pretty good return on investment for sustaining fish and wildlife.