Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) published a press release stating that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission had approved funds nearing $67 million that will support wetland conservation projects and help acquire additional acreage for three national wildlife refuges.
Of the $67M approved, $44.79 million in North American Wetlands Conservation Act funding will go towards 16 projects across 16 states. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is a federal law that provides grants for projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetland habitats critical for migratory birds across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to the approved $44.79M, these funds will be matched by more than $88.98 million in partner funds to support these projects. The remaining $22.6 million comes from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and will go towards acquiring and conserving 5,245 acres across three different national wildlife refuges. These include the Moody National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, and Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois. Below is the cost and acreage breakdown provided by the DOI for these acquisitions.
- Moody National Wildlife Refuge, Texas – $9,686,500 for 3,535 acres
- Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia – $12,103,300 for 1,643 acres
- Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois – $815,000 for 76 acres
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum is quoted in the press release saying, “The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is among our most successful tools for the conservation of migratory birds throughout the United States. These grants support public-private partnerships that help ensure healthy, productive wetland ecosystems that benefit wildlife and people. These projects will enhance or establish areas for hunting, fishing and birdwatching, uplift local economies and improve access to outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands for all Americans.”
As a federal grant program, NAWCA has provided nearly $7.2 billion in federal funds for conservation of wetland habitats across tens of millions of acres in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In contrast to this program, the majority of the funding that will support the acquisition of the 5k+ acres for the three national wildlife refuges stems from the sale of Migratory Bird Hunting & Conservation Stamps, also known as Duck Stamps, as well as import duties on firearms and ammunition. The excise tax on firearms and ammunition that is used to fund projects such as this is more commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. This funding mechanism has supported wildlife restoration, hunter safety, and education projects since 1937.