The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)
House passes NAWCA enhancement bill
A bill to enhance the funding sources for NAWCA has passed the House of Representatives. Congressman Rob Wittman (Va.), one of the members of Migratory Bird Conservation Commission introduced the bill, HR 3433, and Director of Governmental Affairs Scott Sutherland testified in favor of it on September 22, 2009 in fornt of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Read more about Director of Governmental Affairs Scott Sutherland's testimony here
Read the bill here
Billionth Dollar in Grants Allocated
NAWCA passed a huge milestone recently, as the grants allocated through the program now top $1 billion. The announcement was made at the September Migratory Bird Conservation Commission meeting, where a slate of 43 projects pushed the program over the cusp.
Read more...
$10 million increase recommended for NAWCA!
The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee has followed the President's request and has recommended a $10 million increase to NAWCA for fiscal year 2010—to a record $52 million! Congress is still considering the final budget for FY 2010, but this is a very good first step!
DU members and supporters recruited the support of more than 150 Members of Congress to support NAWCA funding.
See if your members of Congress have signed on!
History
NAWCA was enacted in 1989 and provides Federal cost-share funding to support the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. NAWCA is a non-regulatory, incentive-based, voluntary wildlife conservation program. Both Houses unanimously reauthorized NAWCA in September 2006. The appropriation authorization for NAWCA was increased to $75 million for FY 2007 through FY 2012.
NAWCA stimulates public-private partnerships to protect, restore, and manage wetland habitats for a diversity of migratory birds and other wildlife. NAWCA partnership grants play an important role in meeting the DU mission, from restoring wetlands that have been altered, and enhancing water availability, to reducing soil erosion and the likelihood of floods. In addition, many projects provide outstanding recreational opportunities, from bird watching to hunting.
NAWCA provides challenge grants for wetlands conservation projects in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Every $1 of federal money allotted to NAWCA must be matched by $1 or more from non-federal sources like Ducks Unlimited, or state fish and wildlife agencies. Because this program is so effective, funds are often tripled or quadrupled at the local level.
In Washington, D.C., the Ducks Unlimited Governmental Affairs staff works with Congress in support of annual funding for NAWCA so we can keep building on the Act's waterfowl conservation success.
To date, NAWCA has helped fund over 1,800 projects on over 24 million acres in all 50 states, areas of Canada and areas of Mexico. More than 3,000 partners, including private landowners, industry and state governments have worked together to conserve wildlife habitat through NAWCA grants.
See Also:
NAWCA Fact Sheet
NAWCA Application Materials:
More Information