Since 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (Service) Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (PFW) has worked in cooperation with thousands of landowners and conservation partners to restore over one million acres of privately owned fish and wildlife habitats.
Originally a pilot project in western Minnesota, PFW was first offered to local landowners to restore "prairie potholes." Since then, more than 24,000 landowners throughout the U.S. have voluntarily participated. Approximately 526,000 acres of important wetlands, 550,000 acres of associated uplands and 3,200 miles of riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian (stream-side) and in-stream aquatic habitat have been restored through the program.
In 2000, this popular Service program continued to assist private landowners who are interested in voluntarily restoring important fish and wildlife habitats. Voluntary participation allows landowners to retain all previous ownership rights and responsibilities, including the right to limit public access, on their restored habitats.
To complete these cooperative projects on the local level, the Services fish and wildlife biologists have been supported by state and local agencies, conservation organizations and individuals. Their generous contributions of financial and in-kind services, including labor, materials and equipment, have cost-shared construction of many of the restored habitats.
"The Partners program doesnt always receive the credit it should for the important assistance and funding it provides for private landowners. It is, however, an innovative and unique program for restoring habitats that are critical to trust species, including migratory birds," acknowledged Bill Hartwig, Regional director of the Services Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region.
"Once these important habitats are restored, they are protected for no less than 10 years through agreements between the Service and the respective landowners. These agreements maintain and protect the restored habitats, provide maximum benefits for fish and wildlife, and guarantee the public tax dollars that have been invested into this cooperative program."
Objectives of the PFW program are:
- Private landowners are the stewards of more than two-thirds of our nations land and their participation in conservation is essential to the long-term health of our fish and wildlife resources,
