Celebrating a decade of conservation success

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News Releases
Celebrating a decade of conservation success
(Released September 3, 2010)


Minnesota’s wildlife, and the people who enjoy them, are benefiting from conservation actions made possible through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This year represents the 10-year anniversary of this program.

 
State wildlife grants are the primary source of funds for implementing a suite of conservation actions that contribute to the recovery of rare wildlife. The program has provided more than $573 million in federal funds to state fish and wildlife agencies over the past decade. Minnesota’s share of these funds is more than $12.5 million.

To receive SWG funds, each state wildlife agency is required to develop a wildlife action plan. The plans evaluate wildlife conservation needs and identifies priority conservation actions. These state plans collectively form a nationwide strategy to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered.

Minnesota’s wildlife action plan is called Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare, and was developed in collaboration with a wide range of conservation partners. The plan identifies 292 wildlife species in greatest conservation need, and the key habitat that support them. The species are native animals whose populations are rare, declining, or vulnerable to decline, and are below levels desirable to ensure their long-term health and stability.

Minnesota’s share of SWG has funded more than 50 conservation projects with 15 partner organizations, including Audubon Minnesota, National Wild Turkey Federation, Minnesota Land Trust and numerous colleges, universities, and county parks departments. More than 1,200 acres of habitat have been permanently protected through SWG.

The project sites have expanded or connected wildlife management areas, protected sites of high biological diversity as identified by the Minnesota County Biological Survey, and provided permanent protection to 366 acres of bluff prairie through a conservation easement with a private landowner.