Bipartisan wildlife bill backed by Nevada Legislature, NDOW being considered by Congress
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 07/29/2019 - 11:40am
A wildlife bill supported by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and endorsed by resolution at the Nevada Legislature earlier this year has been introduced in Congress.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is bipartisan legislation that would dedicate $1.3 billion in existing revenue annually from the U.S. Treasury to State Fish and Wildlife Agencies to implement their State Wildlife Action Plans and an additional $97.5 million for tribal fish and wildlife managers to conserve fish and wildlife on tribal lands and waters.
RAWA has been endorsed in the Silver State with the Nevada Legislature passing a joint resolution in support of this during the last session. Additionally, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners passed a resolution in support of the effort.
If this bill passes, it could mean as much as $35 million a year for NDOW to fund certain aspects of law enforcement activities, conservation education, recreation, as well as the full implementation of the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan and the 256 species and 22 key habitats the plan prioritizes in a proactive, non-regulatory manner.
“This would be a game changer for wildlife management in Nevada,” said Tony Wasley, Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, in a news release. “The funding would allow us to more effectively implement our State Wildlife Action Plan, which serves as a blueprint for restoring and managing some of Nevada’s most important species.”
State Wildlife Action Plans are congressionally mandated plans that outline proactive solutions to conserve those species in greatest need and prevent wildlife from becoming threatened or endangered.
“Our existing funding model can no longer keep up with the needs of the full array of fish and wildlife in this country,” said Executive Director of Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Ron Regan. “This bill will allow all Americans to become investors in conserving our nation’s fish and wildlife heritage.”
NDOW urges Nevadans to visit OurNatureUSA.com and to ask Nevada's Congressional legislators to support passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
