State Wildlife Grants (SWG)

Federal Funding for Fish and Wildlife Conservation

In fall 2001, federal legislation established a new State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program that provided funds to state wildlife agencies for conservation of fish and wildlife species in greatest need of conservation. This funding was a direct result of "Teaming with Wildlife" efforts sustained for more than a decade by fish and wildlife conservation interests across the country.

The first year of the program (SWG '02) provided $3.7 million for projects in New York State, the second year provided $2.8 million (SWG '03), and the third year provided $2.9 million (SWG '04). The apportionment for New York for the fourth year (SWG '05) is also $2.9 million.

During fall 2002, DEC invited public input to help plan for the use of SWG '02 funds and to develop a list of "species of greatest conservation need." Those species were the focus of our SWG projects and a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) that was developed and submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by October 1, 2005. Twenty-eight projects were approved for funding in the first year (SWG '02) and in the second year (SWG '03), 18 projects received funding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the third year (SWG '04), all funding was dedicated to the hiring of new staff members. The projects for year four (SWG '05) will be determined based on recommendations from the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS).

The proposed projects are diverse, covering all animal groups, all areas of the state, and ranging in scale from ecosystems to subspecies. The projects vary in length from one to five years, and include baseline surveys, research, conservation planning, and habitat protection.

In developing our grant applications, we relied on staff and public input, including more than 100 experts in agencies, academia and non-governmental organizations. Our goal was to develop a program that reflected the needs of fish and wildlife and the desires of key constituent groups, partners and staff. Although we could not address every important need in the first four years of the program, we look forward to developing additional projects for SWG funding in the future.

If you have any comments or questions about the State Wildlife Grants program in New York, please send them to swgidea@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

Thanks for your continued support of fish and wildlife conservation in New York.

More about State Wildlife Grants (SWG):

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) - State Wildlife Grants - Species of Greatest Conservation Need
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) Background - New York's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) Plan - New York Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
SWG (State Wildlife Grants) Implementation Guidance - Federal guidelines for administering State Wildlife Grants.
Habitats of New York State - Habitat information regarding the New York's State Wildlife Grants Program.
State Wildlife Grants Project Summaries - Examples of some of the projects funded in New York State under the State Wildlife Grants Program.
Teaming with Wildlife - Information about Teaming with Wildlife, the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, and the State Wildlife Action Plans.
Lower Hudson Long Island Bays and Atlantic Ocean Watersheds - Description of Basins