In the United States, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved 16 wetland conservation projects in 16 states at its March 22 meeting in Washington D.C., committing more than $13.1 million in matching grants to private and public organizations involved in habitat conservation and restoration. The commission also approved an additional $1 million for nine projects in seven states in Mexico, projects that will protect habitat for migratory birds that spend part of their year in the U.S.
The $13.2 million in grants for U.S. projects will be augmented by more than $51.8 million raised by project partners. The U.S. projects will protect and enhance almost 188,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats critical to wildlife. Project partners will add more than $1.27 million to the $1 million in Act grants for projects in Mexico.
Since its passage in 1989, projects funded under the Act have been supported by more than 1000 partners from federal, state and local agencies; private organizations, including environmental groups, small businesses, and farmers and ranchers; and private citizens.
"As these grant awards demonstrate, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act is fostering partnerships that are making a difference for wetland-dependent wildlife across the continent. These projects have strong local support and will significantly aid our efforts to increase waterfowl and other migratory bird populations," said Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act, provides matching grants to private and public organizations and to individuals to carry out wetland conservation projects. For every grant dollar spent on U.S. projects, project partners will add four dollars raised from other sources. Grant funding comes from Congressional appropriations, moneys received from fines, penalties, and forfeitures under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918; and from interest accrued on the fund established under Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937. Amendments to the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 directed that a portion of the funds collected from Federal fuel excise taxes on small gasoline engines be allocated for use under the Act for coastal ecosystem projects. Over the last four years of the program, an average of about $44 million has been available annually from all sources.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission meets three times each year to approve proposals for funding. Members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission are Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, who serves as chairman; Senators John Breaux and Thad Cochran; Congressmen John Dingell and Curt Weldon; Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; and the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner.
United States projects include:
