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Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative

Why create Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) created Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative in 2004 to serve the agency's long-term commitment to conserve all native wildlife and the places where they live. The momentum for this new program was Congress creating the federal State Wildlife Grants program in 2001 and requirement that states develop a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (Strategy) so that they continue to receive funding.

What is Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative?

The Initiative is the combination of (1) Florida's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, (2) partnership development for wildlife conservation, and (3) the Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program.

What is the FWC's role?

Congress designated state wildlife agencies such as FWC to receive and manage federal State Wildlife Grants funding, and to lead the development and implementation of the Strategy.

Why is Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative important for Florida?

Keep Common Species Common - The Initiative is important because it promotes pro-active efforts to conserve wildlife and habitat before they decline further.
Cost-Effective Prevention of Wildlife Declines - The Initiative saves millions of tax dollars by preventing wildlife declines before they become more rare and costly to protect. The Initiative promotes and builds partnerships. Working together partners can pool time, money and staff to more effectively address the challenges facing wildlife today.
Economic Benefits - Part of the foundation of Florida's economy is Florida's wildlife and habitat diversity. The combined revenue from hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, boating and commercial enterprises exceeds $25 billion in value annually.
Florida's Wildlife Heritage - At its heart, the Initiative is a promise to future generations of Floridians that they, too, can enjoy Florida's rich and diverse wildlife heritage and family traditions.

How is Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative different from past conservation efforts?

Money and Scope - The Initiative is a far-sighted approach that links actions and partners to a clear program of financial support. Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program supports this effort with millions of dollars of federal funding matched with state and private dollars.
A Unifying Approach - Florida's Strategy synthesizes 30 years of efforts and publications into the needs and the actions that are necessary to conserve native wildlife and habitats.

Florida's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy

Why develop a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy?

Congress created the federal State Wildlife Grants program in 2001. To receive this funding Congress required each state and territory to write a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.

Why is the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy important?

For the first time in history, the states and territories created a nationwide approach to wildlife conservation.

How does the Strategy help conserve Florida's natural resources?

The Strategy:

provides a plan for coordinating management, restoration, research, incentives, and education
defines a common vision for protecting wildlife
is non-regulatory, promoting partnerships for local actions such as land and water protection and management
targets monies and human resources to prevent native wildlife from declining
makes Florida eligible for millions of dollars of federal funding; and
creates a plan to effectively use federal, State, and matching funds

What were the federal requirements for developing the Strategy?

The requirement was that the Strategy be comprehensive and consider a wide range of views and perspectives on conservation. A document titled "Eight Requirement Elements" provided by the USFWS defined the requirements.

What does the term "species of greatest conservation need" mean in the Strategy?

Congress required the Strategy include "species of greatest conservation need." In Florida, this means native animals whose populations are of concern and are at risk or declining. It includes federal-listed, state-listed, and game species as well as many others. http://myfwc.com/wildlifelegacy/review/SGCN.pdf

How do we interpret "the full array of wildlife" used in the Strategy?

In Florida, “species of greatest conservation need” means native animals whose populations are of concern and are at risk or declining. It includes federal-listed, state-listed, and game species as well as many others. http://myfwc.com/wildlifelegacy/review/SGCN.pdf

What's completed?

Florida State Wildlife Grants Program

Who may apply?

Persons affiliated with other state agencies, local government entities, educational facilities, organizations, or individuals can apply. Applications may be submitted from other states and countries as long as the proposed projects involve or are germane to populations of wildlife that inhabit Florida. To apply for a grant, please visit this page.

What are eligible projects?

Projects must address conservation needs identified in Florida's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Projects also must comply with Congressional intent and the federal guidelines (pdf 64kb) for the State Wildlife Grants Program. {View previously Funded Projects}

What type of activities does Florida State Wildlife Grants Program fund?

Florida's grants program supports early, preventative wildlife conservation efforts, as identified in Florida's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Activities that are eligible for funding are outlined in the annual grant criteria in the Call for Applications.

Can Florida's State Wildlife Grants fund projects associated with wildlife education or wildlife law enforcement activities?

No, unless the law enforcement or education component is a minor or incidental activity which is considered critical to the success of a project which directly contributes to the conservation of wildlife species and their habitats with the greatest conservation need and is consistent with the development or implementation of the comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy. For example, a proposal might recommend some special wildlife education or wildlife law enforcement effort is needed to protect critical wildlife habitat where unauthorized all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use was endangering a natural community associated with a hiking or wildlife interpretive trail. Some law enforcement attention or educational initiative such as development of brochures and signage might be necessary to discourage ATV's in the area, and thus achieve wildlife habitat project goals. The program coordinator will need to understand and concur that these activities are essential to meeting the wildlife habitat objectives of the grant.

Can Florida State Wildlife Grants be used for projects associated with wildlife recreation?

No.

Are matching funds required?

A non-federal match requirement assures local ownership and leverages funds to support added conservation. Applicants must provide a 50:50 match.

What are the scoring criteria for submitted applications?

Submitted applications are evaluated with two reviews, one to evaluate the project's technical merits and the other to evaluate how well the project addresses the needs of Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative (grants committee review). To review the scoring criteria, please visit this page (pdf 13kb).

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