AZHunter
Iowa Boy At Heart
The Federal Hatch Act prevents me from lobbying for or against ANY kind of Federal legislation. I am, however, obligated to pass this on to the public I work for, so I am forwarding the information and will let you all make up your own minds as how to act and act accordingly.
Forwarded from a colleague at AZGFD:
"U.S. House budget resolution proposes cuts to critical programs that help states manage and conserve wildlife
Feb. 16, 2011
You are receiving this communication because you are subscribed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Working for Wildlife e-mail list that provides information on ongoing efforts to secure or maintain funding for wildlife conservation. This information is being provided for your evaluation and response as you deem appropriate.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department would like to make you aware of funding cuts included in the currently proposed House Budget Continuing Resolution HR1, which is being debated this week in the U.S. House of Representatives. These cuts could have a significant negative impact on wildlife management in Arizona.
The reductions would eliminate funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 for State Wildlife Grants (SWG) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). This same resolution would also severely limit the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Land Acquisition Fund. Here is why this is important:
The SWG program is one of the nation’s core programs for helping states take proactive and collaborative conservation measures to preclude future endangered species listings by implementing voluntary actions to stabilize declining fish and wildlife populations. SWG is the principal source of funding for implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans (formerly known as Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies). Arizona's plan was built in collaboration with many conservation partners.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act) provides grants to states to participate in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for candidate, proposed and listed species. The program provides funding for species and habitat conservation actions on non-federal land.
NAWCA provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife.
The department’s review of this resolution has revealed a perhaps unintended bolstering of recent trends to federalize wildlife conservation while marginalizing the historically critical role of the states’ conservation efforts. The targeted grant programs were specifically designed to ensure the state’s involvement in federal processes that are otherwise regulated by federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Loss of this funding would result in a shift in the balance of management of all species managed under these Acts to the federal government. Both of these Acts, but specifically the ESA, can and do have a financial impact to the state. This balance shift could not only affect the future management of those species, but also directly result in impacts to the state’s economy due initially to the loss of the funding, and in the long-term, due to the state not having a voice related to their management.
Without these funds, the state will not be able to maintain a seat at the management table for such species as the Mexican wolf, Gunnison’s and black-tailed prairie dog, and black-footed ferret, just to name a few. Arizona will be less able to gather biological data and knowledge that is critical in making informed, science-based decisions that affect wildlife conservation, land and water policy.
It is anticipated the House could vote on this measure soon, perhaps as early as tomorrow. If you wish to contact your representative in Congress about this measure, contact information can be found at http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html."
The original email had the following as hyperlinks to the intended documents. You can go to the AZGFD website and track them down through the above information (AZHunter).
"Fact sheet on the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (SWG)
Fact sheet on the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grants (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act)
Fact sheet on the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)
Department’s letter to Arizona’s Congressional representatives
For more information on State Wildlife Grants and State Wildlife Action Plans, see the Teaming with Wildlife website at www.teaming.com. Teaming with Wildlife is a coalition of more than 6,000 public, private and nonprofit organizations supporting sufficient public funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above."
Forwarded from a colleague at AZGFD:
"U.S. House budget resolution proposes cuts to critical programs that help states manage and conserve wildlife
Feb. 16, 2011
You are receiving this communication because you are subscribed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Working for Wildlife e-mail list that provides information on ongoing efforts to secure or maintain funding for wildlife conservation. This information is being provided for your evaluation and response as you deem appropriate.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department would like to make you aware of funding cuts included in the currently proposed House Budget Continuing Resolution HR1, which is being debated this week in the U.S. House of Representatives. These cuts could have a significant negative impact on wildlife management in Arizona.
The reductions would eliminate funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 for State Wildlife Grants (SWG) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). This same resolution would also severely limit the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Land Acquisition Fund. Here is why this is important:
The SWG program is one of the nation’s core programs for helping states take proactive and collaborative conservation measures to preclude future endangered species listings by implementing voluntary actions to stabilize declining fish and wildlife populations. SWG is the principal source of funding for implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans (formerly known as Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies). Arizona's plan was built in collaboration with many conservation partners.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act) provides grants to states to participate in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for candidate, proposed and listed species. The program provides funding for species and habitat conservation actions on non-federal land.
NAWCA provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife.
The department’s review of this resolution has revealed a perhaps unintended bolstering of recent trends to federalize wildlife conservation while marginalizing the historically critical role of the states’ conservation efforts. The targeted grant programs were specifically designed to ensure the state’s involvement in federal processes that are otherwise regulated by federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Loss of this funding would result in a shift in the balance of management of all species managed under these Acts to the federal government. Both of these Acts, but specifically the ESA, can and do have a financial impact to the state. This balance shift could not only affect the future management of those species, but also directly result in impacts to the state’s economy due initially to the loss of the funding, and in the long-term, due to the state not having a voice related to their management.
Without these funds, the state will not be able to maintain a seat at the management table for such species as the Mexican wolf, Gunnison’s and black-tailed prairie dog, and black-footed ferret, just to name a few. Arizona will be less able to gather biological data and knowledge that is critical in making informed, science-based decisions that affect wildlife conservation, land and water policy.
It is anticipated the House could vote on this measure soon, perhaps as early as tomorrow. If you wish to contact your representative in Congress about this measure, contact information can be found at http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html."
The original email had the following as hyperlinks to the intended documents. You can go to the AZGFD website and track them down through the above information (AZHunter).
"Fact sheet on the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (SWG)
Fact sheet on the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grants (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act)
Fact sheet on the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)
Department’s letter to Arizona’s Congressional representatives
For more information on State Wildlife Grants and State Wildlife Action Plans, see the Teaming with Wildlife website at www.teaming.com. Teaming with Wildlife is a coalition of more than 6,000 public, private and nonprofit organizations supporting sufficient public funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above."