State Wildlife Grants Program

Thanks to the untiring efforts of the more than 4700 member groups of the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, Congress passed the State Wildlife Grants program in 2001. As a result, federal dollars are funneling into states to prevent species and habitats from becoming endangered. Wisconsin's State Wildlife Grant apportionments are typically $1 million to $1.5 million annually.

The State Wildlife Grants program is designed to assist states by providing federal funds for developing and implementing programs that benefit wildlife (including fish and invertebrates) and their habitats. This funding is intended to supplement, not duplicate existing fish and wildlife programs. Funding in the program is provided for species with the greatest conservation need, species indicative of the diversity and health of the state's wildlife, and low and declining populations as deemed appropriate by the state's fish and wildlife agencies. It's an opportunity to integrate management of wildlife species, build valuable partnerships, and support efforts to provide more secure, long-term funding.

How Do We Get The Dollars?

Congress required that each State fish and wildlife agency that wished to participate in the SWG program must develop a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy by October 1, 2005. Wisconsin and some other states now refer to the Strategy as a Wildlife Action Plan.

Wisconsin’s Wildlife Action Plan was approved by the Natural Resources Board in August 2005 and accepted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in September 2005. State Wildlife Grant funds will be used for projects to help implement the Plan.