State-level 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.

Reports on State-level Funding

Investing in Wildlife: State Wildlife Funding Campaigns: Executive Summary and Full Report— This report summarizes the results of a project led by a research team from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment in conjunction with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) that examined 15 case studies of State wildlife funding campaigns.

Passing the Buck— This report of the Izaak Walton League of America is a comparison of State fish and wildlife agency funding and the economic value of wildlife-associated recreation.

State Wildlife Diversity Program Funding: A 1998 Survey— This survey conducted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies assesses the current status of funding for wildlife diversity programs, compares results with the similar 1992 survey, and describes the mix of federal and state funding sources upon which states rely, and the methods states use to fund their wildlife diversity programs.