The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, recently introduced to Congress, would bring $18 million per year to Louisiana to conserve more than 700 nongame fish and wildlife species and their habitats in our state.
 
U.S. Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced House Bill 4647 (HR 4647), or the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, on Dec. 14.  The legislation proposes to provide state fish and wildlife agencies with $1.3 billion annually to implement State Wildlife Action Plans. The source of funding is royalties and revenues collected from energy and mineral development on federal lands and waters. The bill would not require taxpayers or businesses to pay more but instead allows all Americans to become investors in fish and wildlife conservation.
 
“This legislation would bolster our Wildlife Action Plan which seeks to conserve our wildlife and its habitat,’’ LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet said. “Going from $600,000 to $18 million annually would give us the capacity to fully implement that plan for nongame and threatened species and habitat in our state. We’ll be able to achieve some major conservation plans and objectives.”
 
It currently costs the American public hundreds of millions of dollars each year to restore threatened and endangered species, costs that could be avoided or greatly reduced if proactive conservation measures were implemented. Proactive conservation is good for wildlife, good for taxpayers, good for business and good for our communities. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, supported by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, would provide the needed resources for proactive conservation nationwide.
 
“Our state Wildlife Action Plan outlines conservation strategies to help address the decline of Louisiana species and habitats,’’ said Amity Bass, LDWF Assistant Chief for Coastal and Nongame Resources Division. “This funding will allow states to address wildlife conservation issues and keep species off the Endangered Species List.’’
 
These critical efforts are supported by the Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife, whose purpose is to create a 21st-century funding model for critically needed conservation of our nation’s most precious natural resources, our fish and wildlife. This effort was built upon the strong partnership created by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources, consisting of members representing the outdoor recreation, retail and manufacturing sector, the energy and automotive industries, private landowners, educational institutions, conservation organizations, sportsmen’s groups and state and federal fish and wildlife agencies.
 
For more information, go to OurNatureUSA.com . For more information on Louisiana’s State Wildlife Action Plan, go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wildlife/wildlife-action-plan or contact Sam Holcomb at sholcomb@wlf.la.gov .
 
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.