Teaming With Wildlife is a coalition of businesses and organizations that support additional dedicated funding for fish, forest and wildlife conservation and related education and outdoor recreation.
Spread the word! Encourage other organizations and businesses to join the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition by filling out the form at www.teaming.com/action. |
|
 MO Teaming With Wildlife Leaders visit Washington, D.C., Share the Need for Increased Conservation Funding!
As part of the 9th Annual Teaming With Wildlife Fly-in Days, more than 80 conservation leaders representing 30 states met with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of new and greater funding to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered. Missouri was represented by Amy Buechler (Conservation Federation of Missouri), Gene Gardner (Missouri Department of Conservation), Rick Thom (Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation), Carol Davit and Laura Church (both with Missouri Prairie Foundation). We are pictured above with Congressman Ike Skelton and his Legislative Director, Dana O'Brien.
We held scheduled meetings with the offices of all 11 congressional leaders from Missouri. It was wonderful to hear the ongoing support that nearly all Missouri Congressional Leaders show toward conservation funding, especially the State Wildlife Grants program. While there, we urged our Members of Congress to:
1) Sign on to a "Dear Colleague" letter supporting $100 million in FY11 for the State Wildlife Grants Program and a continued reduction in the match requirement from 50% to 35%.
- The State Wildlife Grants Program provides federal money to every state and territory for cost-effective conservation aimed at preventing wildlife from becoming endangered. Because this funding is annually appropriated, the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition must work each year to ensure that it remains in the budget.
- Missouri has very strong bipartisan support for the State Wildlife Grants Program. We expect that most, if not all, of our Missouri Members of Congress will sign on to this letter by the deadline (March 12 for Senate letter, March 19 for House letter). Stay tuned, we may ask that you help by contacting your Members of Congress, encouraging them to sign on to this letter of support for the State Wildlife Grants Program.
2) Support wildlife adaptation funding in comprehensive energy and climate change legislation.
- We urge that any clean energy/climate change legislation should include funding for wildlife and natural resources conservation.
3) Co-sponsor the Teaming With Wildlife Act (S655) to provide increased and dedicated funding for wildlife conservation.- The Teaming With Wildlife Act would provide $350 million annually for five years through the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program to provide funding not only for fish, forest and wildlife conservation, but also related education and recreation. If passed, these funds would replace the State Wildlife Grants program and bring significantly more funds to Missouri.
|
|
State Wildlife Grants in Missouri: Want more information?
In Missouri, State Wildlife Grants bring approximately $1.2 million each year. These funds make the Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Diversity Fund and Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative (MoBCI) Grants possible each year.
For more details, view some of the information we provided to our Congressional leaders.
|
Funding Reminder: Missouri Teaming With Wildlife Mini-Grant Program
Deadline: March 31, 2010
Maximum Grant Amount: $2,500
The Conservation Federation of Missouri seeks to involve more conservation organizations and businesses in implementing Missouri's Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy. Funds may be used for a variety of projects that promote the conservation of healthy habitats within Conservation Opportunity Areas.
Click here to learn more.
|
Funding Alert: DNR 319 Nonpoint Source Minigrants
Deadline: April 1, 2010 or October 1, 2010Maximum Grant Amount: $10,000
Do you have water quality issues in the area where you
live? If so, then you realize that protecting surface water and
groundwater from sources of pollution is an ongoing struggle. Nonpoint
source pollution can degrade Missouri streams, rivers, reservoirs and
groundwater. Nonpoint source pollution enters our surface waters as
runoff (water that has flowed over the surface of a yard, feedlot,
construction site, or parking lot carrying nutrients, sediment,
pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, waste and other products into our
surface water and groundwater). If there is a nonpoint source pollution
problem in a water body near you, a minigrant may be a way for you to
address the problem.
Minigrants are available to a variety of groups and
non-profit organizations. Even state and local government agencies may
be eligible and are encouraged to apply. Minigrants are a good way to
begin addressing local issues. They allow citizens to organize and
build capacity. Small grants help local citizen groups become familiar
with the grant process and requirements, preparing them for future
grants.
For more details, click here.
|
Enter Your Child in the Endangered Species Day Art Contest!
Deadline: March 26
Do you know a
child who loves to play outside and learn about nature? Do your kids draw
amazing pictures of animals, birds, fish or plants? Enter them into the
Endangered Species Day Contest!
The National Endangered Species Day Art
Contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered
Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Ogden Museum
of Southern Art/University of New Orleans.
This contest provides young
people with an opportunity to learn about endangered species and express their
knowledge and support through their artwork.
Winners will be chosen in four categories: K-Grade 2, Grades
3-6, Grades 7-9, and Grades 10-12. From these, one national winner will be
chosen who will be honored with a special trophy, designed by a gifted young
artist. The national winner will also be flown to and recognized at a reception
in Washington, DC in May.
Contest Page
|
Welcome New TWW Coalition Members!
We've had several new members join in the past month. If you know of an organization or business that would like to join (it's free!), fill out the brief form at www.teaming.com/action.
James River Basin Partnership - is a grass roots, not-for-profit
organization formed in 1997 to improve water quality in the James River Basin, near Springfield, MO.
Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Association - The mission of this 110 member organization based in the St Louis is to advance waterfowl conservation practices that would benefit man and waterfowl alike.
Ozark Koala Ecosystem Services - offers consulting services to agencies, companies, private landowners and conservation groups, including surveys, inventories and reports, land management advice and consultation, organization analysis and workplace assistance, and teaching and training. For more details, contact Andy West at 573-820-1822.
Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc. - Formed in 2009, the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, Inc™ (QUWF),
based in Buffalo, Missouri, was organized to better
focus efforts, donated dollars and partnerships on immediate and
positive habitat projects for upland wildlife. View their press release about joining the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition.
Show-me Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society - As a professional society, the Show-me Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society fosters the science and
the art of soil, water, and related natural resource management to achieve
sustainability.
|
|
|
