The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced more than $2 million for partnerships to engage local communities, advance wildlife conservation, and reach the next generation of conservation leaders.
The partnerships are collaborative efforts to provide residents of demographically diverse cities with fresh opportunities to get outdoors and experience nature within the urban environment. The partnerships encourage and nurture an appreciation of wildlife conservation among new audiences.
Programs were made possible by the 2016 Five Star grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which generated over $2 million in direct contributions and matching funds from local partners.
Twin Cities, MN; Cincinnati, OH; Elizabeth, NJ; and West Palm Beach, FL now join 17 others with Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships.
Funding will also support existing urban partnerships in Baltimore, MD; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Jamaica Bay, NY; New Haven, CT; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Providence, RI; Seattle, WA; Yonkers, NY; and Washington, D.C.
Since 1999, the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program has supported more than 820 projects in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
More than $9.8 million in federal funds and $7.9 million in private and corporate contributions have been leveraged with $67 million in matching funds at the local level.
USFWS contributed $360,000 to this year’s projects. Other funding partners in the 2016 Five Star grant program include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, FedEx, Southern Company, Bank of America and Alcoa.
For more information, visit www.nfwf.org.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service