Funding intended for protection of non-game species

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced request for proposals for projects that protect and manage non-game species in Illinois. Groups and organizations submitting project proposals must do so by April 14, 2006

The State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program, funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, provides funds specifically for the protection and management of non-game species in the greatest need of conservation, as identified in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.

“This grant program helps Illinois put federal dollars to work now to conserve wildlife and vital natural areas for future generations,” said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. “The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan outlines specific steps, developed by scientists, sportsmen, conservationists and members of the community to conserve wildlife before species become more rare and more costly to protect.”

The program provides funding to every state and territory to support cost effective conservation aimed at keeping wildlife from becoming endangered, and is administered by the IDNR Office of Resource Conservation. Illinois’ allocations of these federal funds are expected to be approximately $2 million. Approval of project proposals will be subject to the final allocation of available federal funding.

Annual SWG funds given to each state and territory are disbursed according to population and land area, and are contingent upon annual funding appropriated by Congress. The grant program will fund projects such as wildlife protection and stewardship projects and those that improve land and water resources. Planning projects such as applied wildlife research, monitoring, evaluation and data management may also qualify.

The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan and information on the pre-application for the State
Wildlife Grant program are available on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/Wildliferesources/theplan/ or by contacting the IDNR Watershed Protection Section: One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/524-2544, e-mail jcross@dnrmail.state.il.us. The deadline for submitting project pre-proposals for the State Wildlife Grants is April 14, 2006.

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