Recovering America's Wildlife Act
Nationwide, experts have identified more than 12,000 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including over 1,300 here in Texas. The majority of these are at-risk fish and wildlife — like many grassland birds, bees and butterflies, and freshwater species.
Unfortunately, America lacks a dedicated funding stream to conserve vulnerable wildlife and help prevent thousands of species from becoming endangered. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would be the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in a generation — it would fund proactive, voluntary efforts to address the nation’s looming wildlife crisis and conserve our natural heritage for future generations.
The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would provide $1.3 billion per year to states, and $97.5 million to tribal nations, from existing revenues to fund wildlife conservation, habitat management and restoration, outdoor recreation, and education programs. Of this, Texas would be eligible for more than $50 million per year to implement the Texas Conservation Action Plan and help stabilize the at-risk species in our state.
Slideshow of a few Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Texas.
There are 12,000 SGCN's across the country, including over 1,300 in Texas.
Texas-sized benefits
Each state has completed a Wildlife Action Plan designed to help recover species in decline and prevent the need for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Once a species becomes threatened or endangered, recovery becomes significantly more uncertain, more difficult, and more expensive. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would provide the funding needed to effectively implement these strategic conservation plans. As such, it is supported by a wide range of business and conservation interests.
The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would also fuel our outdoor recreation economy, and protect nature’s benefits, such as clean rivers, pest control, and pollination services. In Texas, outdoor recreation directly contributes to 327,000 jobs, generates $14.4 billion in salaries and wages, and $3.5 billion in state and local tax revenue. The over $50 million per year in federal funds that Texas would be eligible to receive, coupled with a 25% non-federal match, would translate into new jobs, increased funding for conservation, support for habitat restoration, and numerous other benefits to Texas fish and wildlife.
What kind of conservation activities could be funded?
The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would be a game-changer for wildlife conservation in Texas. It would fund research, habitat restoration and management, setting up voluntary conservation easements, landowner cost-share programs and technical assistance, captive-breeding and reintroduction programs, nature education, outdoor recreation, community-engagement projects -- and much more.
