Teaming With Wildlife: State Level Funding Initiatives

State-Level Wildlife Funding Initiatives

State fish and wildlife agencies have traditionally relied on funding related to game species conservation, through hunting and fishing licenses, federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, and motor boat fuel. This funding was responsible for the recovery of many critically imperiled fish and wildlife species during the 20th century and continues to form the core of agency budgets. Unfortunately, relatively little funding has been available for the thousands of species of fish and wildlife that are not hunted or fished. To address this funding gap, states have developed a variety of alternative funding sources for wildlife diversity conservation.

General Resources

• Introduction to State-Level Wildlife Funding Initiatives (.pdf, 149 KB)
• Wildlife Funding Mechanisms Handout (.pdf, 190 KB)
  A look at the pros and cons of 4 popular mechanisms and excerpts from legislative text.
• Investing in Wildlife: State Wildlife Funding Campaigns (.pdf, 1.5 MB)
  Report summarizing the results of an 18 month project that examined 15 case studies of state wildlife funding campaigns.
• Odyssey of Survival (.pdf, 640 KB)
  A history of the Arkansas Conservation Sales Tax, passed in 1996, providing more than $21M/yr.
• Want tools to launch your own initiative? Visit the State Funding Tools page.

In Action

Montana's Legislature Provides $1 Million for Wildlife

On May 15, in the last hour of their special session, the Montana State Legislature voted to provide $1 million in General Funds to match State Wildlife Grants for the biennium starting July 1st ($500,000 each year, half to Wildlife projects and half to Fisheries projects). With this unprecedented influx of state funds, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks should now be able to fund all 15 of its initial State Wildlife Grants projects.

This legislative victory is the result of a concerted campaign by Montana’s Teaming with Wildlife Coalition. The idea of seeking general funds to match State Wildlife Grants was first hatched at the 2006 Teaming with Wildlife Fly-In Day and was propelled to success this spring with support from Governor Brian Schweitzer. This victory is particularly exciting because it’s the first time Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has EVER received general funds for wildlife management; hunting and fishing license dollars have been used exclusively until now. (more...)

In Action

Iowa Funding Study Committee to Develop Legislative Proposal

Polling demonstrates strong support/IDNR

In January, Iowa's Sustainable Natural Resource Funding Advisory Committee submitted a report to the legislature proposing an additional $150 million annually to fund Iowa's Natural Resources. Unfortunately, only small gain of $4.5 M was subsequently realized in the state's Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) funding, without any dedicated protection. The committee was reauthorized for another year and may now focus upon formulating bill language to appropriate and dedicate full funding. Multiple funding sources will be examined in more detail, including a fractional percentage of state sales tax, increased lottery or gaming (casino) revenues, and other ideas suggested in the first report.