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 the Texas horned lizard, Guadalupe bass, and Red-headed woodpecker.

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Unfortunately, America lacks a dedicated funding stream to conserve vulnerable fish and wildlife. We are in danger of losing the ecological benefits of these species and the tremendous economic value of healthy ecosystems. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act, H.R.3742, offers an incredible opportunity to protect these species and their habitats throughout the country.

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The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would provide $1.3 billion per year from existing revenues to wildlife conservation programs in the various states, and $97.5 million to tribal nations. It could fund land conservation, research, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation, education programs, and much more. 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 fish and wildlife 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. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would provide the funding needed to effectively implement these plans.

This legislation is supported by a wide range of business and conservation interests. Investing in preventative conservation helps avoid regulatory road blocks to development and industry, and the high costs of recovery when species become endangered.

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 results in $52.6 billion in annual consumer spending and generates 411,000 jobs.  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.

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