Environment DEC
From the February 2007 issue
DEC Accepting Applications for State Wildlife Grants
Cooper's hawks have learned to adapt to suburban and urban environments
DEC recently announced that it is accepting applications for projects aimed at securing New York's wildlife populations and their key habitats, thereby preventing future listings of species as threatened or endangered. These projects will be funded through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program. The SWG Program is the nation's core program to conserve biodiversity and prevent new listings of threatened and endangered species.
Almost $3 Million Available
Approximately $2.94 million in funding is available for projects that implement the recommendations outlined in the New York State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS). The CWCS was authorized and required as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Assistance program (see link below) and developed with input from interested parties across New York State.
Under the SWG Program, New York State agencies, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for grants to fund projects which address one or more of the recommendations in the CWCS and correspond to one of the following categories:
- Inventory and Research: Eligible projects are those that investigate the status, natural history and distribution of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and their critical habitats as identified in the CWCS. Species of greatest conservation need include those species deemed most at risk for decline and possible extirpation in the state. Projects in this category require a minimum of 25 percent non-federal matching funds.
- Planning and Administration: Eligible projects are those that involve planning, analysis and coordination of programs to conserve, protect and restore SGCN and their critical habitats as identified in the CWCS. Projects in this category require a minimum of 25 percent non-federal matching funds.
- Management and Restoration: Eligible projects are those that physically implement plans to conserve, protect and restore SGCN and their critical habitats as identified in the CWCS. Projects in this category require a minimum of 50 percent non-federal matching funds.
- Performance Monitoring: Eligible projects are those that evaluate the effectiveness of prior State Wildlife Grants funded management and restoration projects. Funds may also be used to evaluate other projects, completed between 2001 and the present, that are consistent with management and restoration recommendations in the CWCS, regardless of the original project's funding source. Goals of this project category are to document the progress in the improvement of the status of SGCN and their critical habitats, document the long-term success of specific management and restoration techniques, and improve the efficiency and recovery success of SGCN and their critical habitats. Projects in this category require a minimum of 50 percent non-federal matching funds.
These projects will assist DEC in implementing the recommendations to conserve fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as described in the CWCS. Funding for these projects is provided by the SWG Program and administered through the U.S. Department of Interior.
Informational Meetings
Informational meetings will be held across the state from February 12 through 23 to provide potential applicants with an overview of the grant program, and answer questions regarding application procedures and project requirements. Please contact your local SWG biologist to register to attend one of the informational meetings. SWG biologists are assigned across the state by watershed.
A schedule of meeting times and locations are listed in the full press release which can be accessed at the link below. To obtain an application or additional information on the grants, including a map of the watersheds and list of SWG Program biologists who are available to assist interested applicants with questions about the application and project proposals, please go to the State Wildlife Grants web page on the DEC website using the link below, or call DEC's Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources at 518-402-8924. Applications must be postmarked by March 31.
More Information
For additional information on the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and animals listed as species of greatest conservation need, please see the link below to the CWCS web page on the DEC website.
