1/20/2005
REMEMBER WILDLIFE WHEN DOING YOUR STATE INCOME TAXES - Tom Keith

Lincoln, Neb. – With tax season just around the corner, Nebraskans are urged to consider donating all or a portion of their state tax refund to the Nongame and Endangered Species Fund.

“The nongame check-off is the principal source of state funding used to conserve more than 98 percent of fish and wildlife species that are considered nongame,” according to Mark Humpert Wildlife Diversity Program Manager. “Contributions to the check-off this past year funded more than two dozen conservation and education projects aimed at conserving nongame species.”

In the last few years Congress has substantially increased grant funding to states for nongame conservation. Most of these grants require a state contribution of up to 50 percent in matching funds. “The need for tax check-off funds has never been higher and their value has never been stretched further,” Humpert said. “Without sources of matching funds like the check-off, we would be unable to use some types of federal grants.”

Tax payers should look for the peregrine falcon symbol near the bottom of their state tax form in order to make a contribution. For those taxpayers who are not entitled to a state tax refund, contributions can be made via the Commissions secure web site at www.outdoornebraska.org or by sending it by mail to The Nongame and Endangered Species Fund, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.

Some of the projects funded this past year included:

-- Interpretive signs about nongame species at Lincolns Folsom Zoo, and Calamus Reservoir.

-- Interactive display on prairies at Audubon Nebraskas new Spring Creek Prairie Education Center

-- Interactive display on cranes at Crane Meadows Nature Center

-- Central Nebraska Wildlife Viewing Guide

-- Nebraska Wildlife Federation Wildlife Week packets to teachers

-- Prairie restoration projects at Spring Creek Prairie, Griffith Prairie and Ponca State Park

-- Prairie seed collection for The Nature Conservancy

-- Funding of research in the Sandhills on response of grassland birds to grazing

-- Development of a recovery plan for the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle

-- A study to assess the health and reproductive status of river otters

-- Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership

-- Surveys on a variety of nongame species including flying squirrels, river otters, swift fox, bald eagles, whooping cranes, and shorebirds.

An annual report detailing these and other projects funded through the check-off last year is available for free from the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. To obtain a copy contact Humpert at 402-471-5438 or send an email to mhumpert@ngpc.state.ne.us 



 

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