Department of Interior and Partners Invest $24.7 Million to Conserve Migration Corridors and Winter Range
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt recently announced “over $4.4 million in grant funding for habitat conservation projects in 11 western states that conserve migration corridors and winter range for elk, mule deer and pronghorn, including $3.1 million from a public-private partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).” The government dollars will be matched by $20.3 million in contributions to support big game habitat, bringing the total habitat conservation investment to $24.7 million.
“As we continue to approach conservation of migration corridors and winter range for mule deer, elk and pronghorn in a non-regulatory and voluntary manner, we are showing how conservation succeeds in the 21st century,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “Working together with government and non-government partners, along with private landowners, we are protecting, enhancing and restoring habitat for big game and countless other species of wildlife.”
The grants are part of Secretary’s Order 3362, Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors (Western Big Game Migration Program), and funding for specific private-land projects was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife program. The 15 awarded grants will “enhance and improve habitats on winter ranges, stopover areas and migration corridors used by big game species, both on federal lands and private lands whose owners volunteer to participate in conservation efforts.” The grants fund state-identified migratory habitats of concern.
The National Deer Alliance (NDA) outlines wild deer conservation and state and federal land management as two of its key focus areas. “The recent announcement by the Department of the Interior (DOI) represents a welcomed and much-need investment in habitat conservation,” said NDA policy and outreach coordinator, Torin Miller. “We’re constantly learning more and more about the importance of migration habitat and the conservation of migration routes. Funding to specifically protect these unique and crucial habitats will go a long way in conserving populations of wild deer and other species.”
In total, 11 western states will be receiving funding to carry out various habitat conservation projects - Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The full list of the $23.4 million in 2020 grants and matching contributions made through the Western Big Game Migration Program can be viewed here, while the full list of the $1.3 million made through the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife program is available here.
