President George W. Bushs $1.3 billion 2003 budget request for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demonstrates a strong commitment to fish and wildlife conservation through citizen-centered partnerships. Included in the budget package is an unprecedented $56.5 million increase for the National Wildlife Refuge System, which would mark the largest increase in the programs history. The Presidents budget also includes $284 million for partnership programs and an additional $18 million for the Services portion of the Department of the Interiors new Cooperative Conservation Initiative.
"This administration is committed to what I call the 4 Cs: cooperation, consultation, and communication, all in the service of conservation," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton. "The new Cooperative Conservation Initiative is an excellent example. The program will enable the Fish and Wildlife Service to provide incentives for innovative partnerships that will create tangible results to restore natural resources and enhance wildlife habitat."
Cooperative Conservation Initiative: $18 million
The Presidents budget funds challenge grants to be awarded competitively to landowners, land-user groups, environmental organizations, communities, local and State governments, and industries for conservation projects. Partners must match at least half of the Federal funds provided. The Cooperative Conservation Initiative sets aside at least $5 million for partnerships specifically geared toward benefitting the National Wildlife Refuge System. The remaining $13 million will be available to all Service programs including refuges on a competitive basis. Under the competitive program, for example, the Service could undertake a coastal marsh restoration project in partnership with a local government agency, citizen organization, or business entity. Projects are to be evaluated against national criteria and awarded at the national level.
National Wildlife Refuge System: $376 million
The Presidents budget requests $376 million for operation and maintenance of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a $56.5 million budget increase, the largest ever. The budget request focuses on improving and addressing the needs of existing lands and facilities in preparation for the National Wildlife Refuge System centennial celebration in 2003. Notably, the Presidents budget will enhance public use and wildlife protection throughout the System and continue to address the $663 million maintenance backlog. The Presidents budget requests a total of $107.7 million for refuge maintenance, representing a $30.7 million or 40 percent increase.
Funding will address critical health and safety and resource protection needs, as well as focus on projects that will enhance visitor access and enjoyment in recognition of the centennial. In addition to $18 million under the new Cooperative Conservation Initiative, the Presidents budget includes $284 million to continue funding programs that support partnership efforts by providing direct financial and technical assistance to States, local communities, tribes, private companies, non-governmental organizations, and individual landowners. These programs are listed below:
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: $91 million
The Presidents budget proposes allocating $74 million of the total amount for land acquisition and planning assistance grants to States, local governments, and private landowners seeking to protect habitat near or within areas covered by a Habitat Conservation Plan. The remaining $17 million would be allocated for grants to States to recover species that are listed as threatened or endangered, or that are candidates for listing and administration. The States, in turn, could pass the grant monies to municipalities and private landowners wishing to become involved in species recovery actions.
State and Tribal Wildlife Grants: $60 million
The Presidents budget proposes $60 million for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program. This relatively new program provides the States, federally recognized Indian Tribes, the District of Columbia, and the territories with funds to develop wildlife conservation plans and on-the-ground conservation projects for the benefit of species of conservation concern.
Landowner Incentive Program: $50 million
The budget requests an additional $10 million for the Landowner Incentive program, a Presidential initiative established in 2002 that provides grants to States, Indian Tribes, the District of Columbia, and the territories to establish or supplement existing landowner incentive programs. The program highlights innovative programs that provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in conserving natural habitat while also continuing to engage in traditional land-use practices.
North American Wetlands Conservation Fund: $43.6 million
The program provides matching grants for wetland conservation activities undertaken by private landowners, States, non-governmental conservation organizations, tribes, trusts, corporations, and other Federal agencies.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife: $29.3 million
The program provides financial and technical assistance to landowners interested in restoring habitat on their own private property.
Private Stewardship Grant program: $10 million
Established in 2002, this Presidential initiative provides grants to assist individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary land and wildlife conservation projects.
The Presidents budget includes $32.8 million for the Service for a government-wide legislative proposal to shift to agencies the full cost of the CSRS pension system and the Federal employee health benefits program for current employees. Other budget highlights include:
Endangered Species: $126 million
Funding for the Endangered Species program would remain at the 2002 enacted level of $126 million with program increases offset by eliminating unrequested adds. Resources will be focused on the recovery of listed species and on keeping species from declining to the point of requiring the protections afforded under the Endangered Species Act. Recovery activities for listed species, for instance, would be funded at the $60 million level, which includes a program increase of $2.5 million, and conservation programs for species that are candidates for listing would be funded at just under $9 million, which includes a program increase of $1.4 million. Further, the Presidents request provides $9 million for listing new species as endangered, responding to petitions, and designating critical habitat. The listing program has been affected in recent years by court-ordered critical habitat designations for species already protected under the Endangered Species Act. In 2002, Congress enacted a $6 million sub-cap on critical habitat designations for species already listed as endangered. In 2003, the President recommends reducing the sub-cap to $5 million. This should free up additional resources for listing species most at risk of extinction, including new proposed listings and final rules for currently proposed species as well as for responses to citizen petitions. The Presidents budget also provides the Endangered Species program with a $1.4 million increase, part of a $3.7 million increase for Pacific Northwest Salmonid Restoration (see below).
Pacific Northwest Salmonid Restoration: $3.7 million
The Presidents request includes a multi-program $3.7 million increase for Pacific Northwest salmon restoration. The increase will help the Service continue its work with States, other Federal agencies, tribes, and other Pacific Northwest stakeholders to implement the biological opinions in the Columbia River Basin. The ultimate goal is to stabilize populations of threatened and endangered fish species.
Fisheries: $94.8 million
The Fisheries program is to receive nearly $95 million under the Presidents budget request, which is $9 million less than the 2002 enacted level. The National Fish Hatchery System is to receive $50 million, which includes a $1 million program reduction tied to hatchery reform. Secretary Norton is committed to revitalizing the National Fish Hatchery System as part of the Administrations management reform efforts and to refocus its activities on Federal roles. The Presidents budget outlines a process by which the Service will work with all interested stakeholders to identify ways to optimize the National Fish Hatchery System. Cost-recovery and cost-sharing arrangements are among the options to be considered.
Migratory Bird Reporting Study: $550,000
The budget requests $550,000 to implement a Migratory Bird Reporting Study, a partnership between the Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Flyway Councils, the U.S. Geological Survey, and State and Provincial wildlife management agencies to improve the reporting of bird banding information, which is used to establish waterfowl harvest rates in support of hunting programs.
Land Acquisition: $70.4 million
The Presidents request includes $70.4 million for land acquisition, a net decrease of $28.7 million below 2002. The decrease focuses resources on existing lands and facilities, and consolidates land acquisition planning with other planning activities under refuge operations. The 2003 program focuses on acquisitions that use alternative and innovative conservation tools, such as easements.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visit our home page at http://www.fws.gov
