Congress Looks To Fund Wildlife Programs

State wildlife conservation appears to be on track for increased financial support from Congress.

Bills with bipartisan support have been introduced to dedicate a percentage of federal offshore oil and gas revenues to a fund for states for wildlife programs and related recreation.

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), chairman of the House Committee on Resources, said the Conservation and Reinvestment Act is a priority for the panel this session.

It would benefit wildlife and land conservation efforts in all 50 states.

It earmarks 10 percent of the fund (about $459 million) for annual wildlife conservation, recreation and education allocations to states.

Hunters’ fees have helped wildlife managers design recovery for species such as wood ducks, striped bass and pronghorns.

The new legislation would help secure reliable funding to boost programs for non-game wildlife such as songbirds.

Long-term bird surveys are making it clear that in every part of the continent and in most every habitat, there are wild bird species suffering significant losses, according to the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA).

In the last 30 years, cerulean warblers have declined by 75 percent, painted buntings by 60 percent, black terns by 60 percent and American bitterns by 50 percent, the association reports.

Even a popular visitor to birdfeeders, the American goldfinch, has declined by 20 percent.

“Not only will this conservation trust fund assure a future for America’s wildlife, it will help millions of people appreciate nature from back yards to the backwoods,” said Naomi Edelson, Teaming With Wildlife director for IAFWA. “States desperately need funding to sustain the skyrocketing growth in wildlife-related recreation and tourism.”

More than 3,000 organizations and businesses backed efforts in recent years to bring the Teaming With Wildlife national campaign to the attention of Congress.

The campaign proposed a surcharge on some outdoor equipment for state wildlife programs.

This initiative was opposed by some retail companies, including Recreational Equipment, Inc.

The new proposal backed by Young generally addresses the same needs as Teaming With Wildlife using a different funding source.