National Wildlife Refuge System Awards $440,000 in Wildlife Related Grants in Alaska

National Wildlife Refuge System Alaska Chief Todd Logan announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will award approximately $440,000 in Challenge Cost Share grants in 2007 to National Wildlife Refuge projects in Alaska. Challenge Cost Share grants are congressionally appropriated funds designated for the protection and conservation of wildlife resources. This is a federal matching grant program which leverages federal dollars with non-federal sources.

Combined grants and matching funds will result in more than one million dollars worth of projects on 14 of our Alaskan national wildlife refuges. These federal dollars will be matched with contributions from the State of Alaska, local governments, regional Native corporations, the University of Alaska, and other Universities, private business enterprises, and non-profit organizations.

This year, 38 grants, ranging from $2,000 to $40,000, will be implemented in more than two dozen Alaskan communities, with some projects reaching out to dozens more through outreach efforts. These Fish and Wildlife Service grants will help to fund projects throughout Alaska, from the northern interior of Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge (funding an education project to improve villager's knowledge of subsistence regulations) to the southern Kenai Peninsula in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (funding a trail rehabilitation to improve safety and wildlife viewing.) Each selected project provides an opportunity to increase the impact of the Fish and Wildlife Service's wildlife conservation efforts through the strength of partnerships.

Selected projects range from biological research studies to community outreach efforts. On Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, biologists will study the pre-migratory movements and physiology of shorebirds gathering on the coastal plain. In a project spanning four southern coastal refuges (Kodiak, Izembek, Alaska Peninsula, and Alaska Maritime) the Alaska Natural History Association will offer a natural and cultural history course on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry. On Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, the Service will work with local teachers to help students use satellite links to track the migration of local caribou. On Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, biologists will monitor changes in the America's westernmost glaciers.

Challenge Cost Share grants help National Wildlife Refuges all across Alaska to meet their mission of working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.More information is available at: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/visitor/grants.htm.