For more information contact: Tim Patronski, Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 612-713-5108
The Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest Region is pleased to announce funding for four Tribal fish and wildlife conservation projects totaling $794,797 through the Service’s Fiscal Year 2011 Tribal Wildlife Grant Program. The following Tribes received funding this year: the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota; the Menominee Indian Tribe; the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians; and the Forest County Potawatomi in Wisconsin.
Tribal Wildlife Grants provide assistance to Tribes for development and implementation of programs that benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitat. Activities funded through the program may include: planning for wildlife and habitat conservation, fish and wildlife conservation and management actions, fish and wildlife related research, habitat mapping, field surveys and population monitoring, habitat protection, and public education that is relevant to the project.
Since 2003, 70 projects totaling over $11 million have been funded in the Service’s Midwest Region through the Tribal Wildlife Grant Program and the Tribal Landowner Incentive Program. These projects have made a big difference on the ground and have helped build capacity for Tribal management of culturally important fish and wildlife species.
The following projects were funded this year:
Movement Patterns, Habitat Use and Factors Affecting Survival of Gray Wolves on Red Lake Lands, Phase 1—Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians ($200,000). This project will lead to a better understanding of gray wolf territorial boundaries, habitat use and requirements, movement patterns and mortality factors on Red Lake lands. Activities supported through the project will also promote communication with federal and state wildlife management authorities and further enhance relationships to facilitate cooperative wolf management efforts.
Menominee Wildlife Research Project Proposal: Lake Sturgeon Restoration Project, Timber Wolf Restoration Project, and Black Bear Research Management Project— Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin ($197,863). This project will continue on-going monitoring, research, and cooperative management activities with three culturally important species – lake sturgeon, gray wolf, and black bear – focused on restoring and maintaining healthy populations of these species on the Menominee Reservation.
Development of a Comprehensive Climate Change Monitoring Plan for the Kakagon-Bad River Sloughs—Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians ($199,855). This project will support development of a comprehensive climate change monitoring plan for the Kakagon-Bad River Sloughs area in northern Wisconsin, a vital cultural and ecological resource. Activities will establish baseline data on current environmental conditions, actively manage habitat to promote watershed resilience, and develop the capacity of the Bad River Band to proactively address climate change impacts.
Biodiversity Inventory on Potawatomi Lands—Forest County Potawatomi ($197,079). Through support of a biodiversity inventory of plants and animals, this project will build capacity for the Forest County Potawatomi to effectively monitor, conserve, and manage its wildlife resources. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) on culturally important plants will be gathered from tribal historical documents and tribal elders. A spatial database of resources, as well as a map of priority conservation areas on reservation lands will also be developed.
The Service received 141 proposals requesting over $24.6 million in project funding this year. The proposals were reviewed by regional and national scoring panels and 38 projects totaling $7,105,098 were funded. The national news release and more information on the projects funded are available at: http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspxSiteName=fws&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=127233&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True
Also attached is a list of projects funded nationally.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at http://www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq
