Kansas $4.3 Million to Conserve At-Risk Wildlife

The Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks will obtain a portion of greater than $66.7 million in matching grants to be distributed throughout 16 states and Guam in assist of imperiled species.

In accordance with the state, the grant {dollars} are made attainable by the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund – grants that contribute thousands and thousands yearly to assist implementing state and territorial applications that preserve and get well federally listed and at-risk species on non-federal lands.

“This grant funding makes it attainable for us to preserve almost 1,600 acres of essential wetland habitat that won’t solely profit species most in danger, however many different species that rely on wetlands for meals, shelter and respite throughout migration,” mentioned KDWP Secretary Brad Loveless. “We all know we will’t preserve imperiled species with out first conserving their habitat, so this can be a nice ‘subsequent step’ in the direction of paving the way in which for these initiatives, in addition to future efforts to preserve essential habitat throughout our nice state.”

Approved by Part 6 of the Endangered Species Act and partly funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, $4,306,820 from the CESCF will probably be distributed to Kansas to assist habitat conservation.

Of the greater than $4.3 million in grant funding slated for the Sunflower State, $3,994,790 will probably be devoted to wetland habitat conservation in assist of Whooping Cranes and Japanese Black Rails, with the remaining $312,030 supporting Kansas’ Aquatic Secure Harbor Settlement.

“Due to decades-long partnerships just like the one we have now with Geese Limitless, we’ve been capable of restore, renovate, and defend essential habitat for a wide range of native species,” mentioned KDWP Assistant Secretary Stuart Schrag. “Now, being the recipient of this federal Restoration Land grant for the primary time ever solely elevates what KDWP and Geese Limitless can do collectively to positively affect essential landscapes and the wildlife that rely on them.”

Geese Limitless – a non-profit group devoted to the conservation of wetlands and related upland habitats for waterfowl – performed an energetic function in KDWP’s grant software course of, recognizing the very important significance of stopover habitat for the federally-endangered Whooping Crane, in addition to nesting and brood rearing habitat for the federally-threatened Japanese Black Rail.

“The partnership between KDWP, Geese Limitless, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to safe these funds is a first-rate instance of how collaboration can vastly profit imperiled species,” mentioned Matt Hough, Supervisor of Conservation Applications in Kansas for Geese Limitless. “Working collectively towards the widespread purpose of conserving wildlife are what these relationships are all about, as a result of after we defend wetlands and related habitats, each wildlife and other people profit.”

To be taught extra about threatened and endangered species in Kansas – together with the restoration plans KDWP has in place to information analysis and administration of listed species – click on HERE.

To be taught extra concerning the CESCF grant program, click on HERE