The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting nominations for its biennial Transportation Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award. The award recognizes FWS employees or offices that use partnership-based approaches to help streamline state and federal transportation agencies' project planning and environmental review efforts while enhancing protections of natural resources. Nominations are due Jan. 15, 2009. For more information, link to the FWS transportation website. (9-4-08)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its updated Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the candidate species list detailing those plants or animals that may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Four species have been removed from the candidate list and five species have been added to the list since the last review in September 2006. There now are 280 species currently recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection. The Service is soliciting public comment and additional information for candidate species, as well as information about species that should be included in future candidate updates. For more information link to the December 2007 Candidate Notice of Review; Proposed Rule. (12-6-07)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting proposals from states and U.S. territories for approximately $80 million in fiscal year 2008 grants to support conservation planning activities and habitat acquisition for federally protected species. The service is soliciting proposals for three categories of grants under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: recovery land acquisition grants, habitat conservation planning (HCP) assistance grants, and HCP land acquisition grants. Proposals must be submitted to FWS regional offices by Aug. 24, 2007. For more information, link to the request for proposals and the FWS Endangered Species Program Grants website. (6-25-07)

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services announced the availability of a draft revised recovery plan for the endangered Indiana bat on April 16, 2007. The agency solicited comments on recommended recovery measures for the species, including conservation and management of the caves and other underground areas where bats hibernate, known as hibernacula. The recovery measures also include an increased focus on the species’ summer habitat. In addition, the revised plan describes criteria for reclassifying the Indiana bat to ``threatened’’ status under the Endangered Species Act and for its recovery and removal from the endangered species list. Comments are due July 16, 2007. For more information, link to the announcement.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting nominations for its 2007 Transportation Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award. The award recognizes FWS employees or offices that use partnership-based approaches to help streamline state and federal transportation agencies' project planning and environmental review efforts while enhancing protections of natural resources. For more information, link to the FWS transportation website at http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/transportation.html.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Sept. 12 released its updated Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the candidate species list detailing those plants or animals that may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Ten species have been removed from the candidate list and seven species have been added to the list since the last review in May 2005. There are now 279 species currently recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection. The Service is soliciting public comment and additional information for candidate species, as well as information about species that should be included in future candidate updates. For more information link to Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants—Proposed Critical Habitat Designations; Proposed Rule.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on March 31 announced $60 million in state wildlife grants to state and territorial wildlife agencies. According to FWS, State Wildlife Grants are designed to assist state-specific programs that benefit declining wildlife and their habitat, including non-game wildlife. To be eligible for State Wildlife Grant funds, each state completed a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan or Strategy. FWS said the state plans were created in a collaborative effort that included biologists, conservationists, landowners, sportsmen, and the general public. The plans were reviewed by a national team that included the Fish and Wildlife Service and directors from state wildlife agencies, according to the agency.  To learn more about a particular state's plan, please see http://www.teaming.com/wildlife_state.htm.  To see a state-by-state funding table, please see http://federalaid.fws.gov.

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Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced June 22 that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved nearly $18 million for habitat conservation in the United States and Canada through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The  funds will be used to provide grants to states and other partners. The Commission also approved the acquisition of more than 600 acres of  migratory bird habitat to be added to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuge System. Read about the grants.

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The Fish and Wildlife Service announces designation of 18 new National Recreation Trails on National Wildlife Refuge and National Fish Hatchery lands in 12 states, increasing the number of NRTs administered by the FWS to 35. Read about the designations. Get information on National Recreation Trails.

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Interior Secretary Gale Norton commemorated the 12th International Migratory Bird Day on May 17, 2005, by signing the North American Bird Conservation Initiative Declaration of Intent to "conserve North American birds throughout their ranges and habitats, and ultimately to collaborate with all participant nations regarding bird cooperation." Norton also announced $3.9 million in grants to conserve birds throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Read the News Release on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

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More than $18 million in grants for wetlands habitat conservation in the United States and Mexico were approved March 16 by the the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission through the  North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). Get more information on NAWCA and see summaries of funded projects for 2005.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on March 7 announced more than $62 million in state wildlife grants to state and territorial wildlife agencies. According to FWS, State Wildlife Grants are designed to assist state-specific programs that benefit declining wildlife and their habitat, including non-game wildlife. The grants are funded under the 2005 Interior Department Appropriations Act. To be further eligible in fiscal year 2006 for State Wildlife Grant funds, each State must complete a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy by October 1, 2005. Read about the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program.

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President Bush's 2006 budget would provide more than $1.3 billion-a $30.9 million increase-for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the service announces. FWS says a key feature of the budget request is increased funding for a suite of grant and cost sharing programs that emphasize local initiative and partnerships. Get more information on the FWS budget.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun the process to de-list the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse from the Endangered Species List. FWS said the decision is based on new research that indicates the Preble's should not be designated as a separate sub-species of meadow jumping mouse. Read the News Release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the availability of more than $8 million in grants to federally recognized Tribes for conservation and recovery of threatened or endangered species on Tribal lands. The funds are available under two separate programs - the Tribal Landowner Incentive (TLIP) program and the Tribal Wildlife Grant program. Applications are due April 4. Get more information about the Natural Resource Assistance Grant Programs for Federally-recognized Indian Tribal Governments.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that about $6.5 million is available fiscal year 2005 for private lands conservation funding through its Private Stewardship Grants Program. The program provides grants and other assistance on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary conservation efforts that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species. Review the 2006 Private Stewardship Grants Program.

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The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed its status review of the greater sage-grouse throughout its range and determined that the species does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act at this time. For more information, visit the following links: News Release; Learn More; Funding Opportunities for Sage-grouse Conservation [PDF 29kb]; Sage-grouse Q&A's [PDF 14kb].

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