DEC Accepting Applications for State Wildlife Grants - Series of Statewide Informational Meetings Scheduled to Begin February 12, 2007

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that DEC is accepting applications for projects aimed at securing New York's wildlife populations and their key habitats, thereby preventing future listings of species as threatened or endangered. These projects will be funded through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program.

Approximately $2.94 million in funding is available for projects that implement the recommendations outlined in the New York State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS). Funding for these projects is provided by the SWG Program, administered through the U.S. Department of Interior.

Under the SWG Program, New York State agencies, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for grants to fund projects which address one or more of the recommendations in the CWCS and correspond to one of the following categories:

These projects will assist DEC in implementing the recommendations to conserve fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as described in the CWCS. Species of greatest conservation need include those species deemed most at risk for decline and possible extirpation in the State. The CWCS was authorized and required as part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Assistance program and developed with input from interested parties across New York State. The SWG Program is the nation's core program to conserve biodiversity and prevent new listings of threatened and endangered species.

Informational meetings will be held across the State from February 12, 2007 to February 23, 2007 to provide potential applicants with an overview of the grant program, and answer questions regarding application procedures and project requirements. Please contact your local SWG biologist to register to attend one of the informational meetings. SWG biologists are assigned across the State by watershed.

A schedule of meeting times and locations are as listed below:

To obtain an application or additional information on the grants, including a map of the watersheds and list of SWG Program biologists who are available to assist interested applicants with questions about the application and project proposals, please go to: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/swg/ on the DEC website or call DEC's Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources at (518) 402-8924. Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2007.

For additional information on the CWCS and species of greatest conservation please www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/swg/cwcsmainpg.html on the DEC website.