Individual landowners and conservation organizations in Michigan will receive grants totaling more than $117,000 to restore and conserve habitat.
President Bush originally proposed the creation of the Private Stewardship Grant program during a speech in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in June 2000. The grants announced today, the first ever awarded under the program, will benefit species ranging from the whooping crane in Nebraska to the bald eagle in the state of Washington. Each grant must be matched by at least 10 percent of the total project cost either in non-federal dollars or in-kind contributions.
"Conservation, and especially the conservation of imperiled species, must be a partnership between the American people and their government," said Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton. "By making these grants, we are empowering citizens to restore habitat on their land and take other steps to protect and recover endangered, threatened and at-risk species."
"Judging from the number of truly innovative grant proposals we reviewed, landowners across the U.S. are eager to work with us to conserve at-risk species," said Service Director Steve Williams. "We anticipate this public/private partnership will result in significant conservation achievements for wildlife and wildlife habitat."
The Private Stewardship Grants Program provides federal grants on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in voluntary conservation efforts on private lands that benefit federally listed endangered or threatened species, candidate species or other at-risk species. Under this program, private landowners as well as groups working with private landowners are able to submit proposals directly to the Service for funding to support these efforts. President Bush has requested funding of $10 million for this program in 2004.
Private Stewardship Grants funded in Michigan are:
The Nature Conservancy Michigan Chapter: Stewardship and Training to Advance Conservation of Imperiled Species in Southern Michigan Fens ($80,415)
This project will advance the stewardship of fens and associated natural communities on privately owned lands at 20 sites across southern Michigan. The project will accomplish the abatement of the threats of invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species and fire suppression, increase the stewardship capacity numerous partners, and train conservation partners for effective fen stewardship implementation. Stewardship activities will benefit more than 70 at-risk species, including the endangered Mitchells satyr.
The Nature Conservancy Michigan Chapter: Stewardship to Advance Conservation of Imperiled Species in Michigan Grassland and Great Lakes Shoreline Communities ($36,632)
This project will advance the stewardship of native grassland communities and Great Lakes shoreline communities on privately owned lands at seven sites within Michigan. Accomplishments will be made through direct implementation of stewardship, education and training of private landowners and a variety of other partners. There are at least 83 at-risk species identified from these sites including piping plover, Karner blue butterfly, Pitchers thistle, Houghtons goldenrod and dwarf lake iris.
For a complete list of Private Partnership Stewardship grant awards, please visit:
