![](media/image1.png){width="0.875in" height="0.875in"}PRESERVING
LANDSCAPES AND HABITAT

FOR WILDLIFE

THROUGH COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION

-   ![](media/image2.png){width="1.4583333333333333in"
    height="1.2027777777777777in"}**Achieve record amounts of
    conservation funding**

-   **Expand the number of cooperative conservation partnerships**

-   **Improve habitat on millions of acres of public and private lands**

-   **Strengthen the relationship with America\'s hunters and
    sportsmen**

-   **Promote best management practices in managing multi-use public
    lands**

-   **Achieve local environmental successes that are nationally
    significant**

## 

## These are the results that the Department is achieving under the leadership of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, both avid hunters and fishermen. Under Secretary Gale Norton, the Department is expanding cooperative conservation funding and partnerships, implementing the Healthy Forests Initiative, expanding hunting and fishing access, and promoting best management practices.

> As one example of his personal commitment to conservation, last
> December President Bush met with leaders of the nation's top hunting
> and conservation groups. President Bush listened closely to their
> concerns about the importance of protecting isolated wetlands, ponds
> and lakes that provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.
> In response to those concerns, the Bush Administration reaffirmed its
> commitment to the continued protection of isolated wetlands.

# Achieve Record Conservation Funding Levels and Increase Partnerships

-   During the past three years, the Interior Department has provided
    **\$1.3 billion** in grants to states, private landowners,
    sportsmen, hunting and fishing groups, and conservation groups to
    preserve open space, restore habitat and conserve species.

-   In FY 2005, DOI's budget proposes \$507 million in cooperative
    conservation programs, an increase of over \$371 million since
    2000**. This is a 270% increase**. This funding is used for:

-   **The Cooperative Conservation Challenge Cost Share (CCI): President
    Bush proposes to spend \$129 million in FY 2005 on this program.**
    In its first year, FY 2003, **CCI funded 256 projects in 40 states**
    **with more than 740 partners**, including Ducks Unlimited and the
    Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Projects include removal of invasive
    species removal that compete with native species and wetlands
    restoration on more than 50,000 acres.

-   **North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants:** These dollars
    are used as matching funds to establish or enhance habitat
    benefiting waterfowl and many other wildlife species. This year,
    **\$54 million has been requested, an increase of \$16.5 million
    over FY 2004.** In the past three years, these grants were matched
    with more than \$676,000 in total partners' contributions to
    conserve, restore or enhance more than **14 million acres of
    wetlands**.

-   **State and Tribal Wildlife Grants**: Funding for this program is
    proposed at a record \$80 million, an increase of \$10.9 million
    over FY 2004; these grants help States and Tribes protect wildlife.

-   **Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund:** The President
    has proposed **\$90 million for this fund, an increase of \$8.4
    million from FY 2004.** Other programs are the **Landowner Incentive
    Program**, which has a **\$50 million request in FY 2005**, an
    increase of \$20 million over the FY 2004 request, and **Private
    Stewardship Grants**, with a \$10 million FY 2005 request -- nearly
    a \$3 million increase over FY 2004.

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-   **Land and Water Conservation Fund State Grants:** Interior's budget
    includes \$93.8 million for the state grant program, equal to FY
    2004.

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-   **Fish and Wildlife Refuges, celebrating their 100^th^ anniversary
    in 2003, have received record levels of funding** in the last two
    years. The 542 refuges are vital in preserving vital migratory bird
    and wildlife and fisheries habitat and are important destinations
    for wildlife dependent recreation, including hunting and fishing. In
    the **past three** **years, 5 new refuges have been created. In
    total, the Refuge System has been expanded by over 241,000 acres.**

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-   **Full funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund**: Interior's
    budget includes \$660.6 million for the Land and Water Conservation
    Fund for 2005, including \$153.3 million for land acquisition and
    \$93.8 million for the state grant program (counted as part of the
    \$507 million mentioned above). The Department's request, combined
    with the request for the U.S. Forest Service, fully funds the LWCF
    at \$900 million.

# Improve Habitat on Millions of Acres of Public and Private Lands

The Bush Administration is committed to continuing and expanding its
non-regulatory, incentive-based programs that protect and restore
wetlands, forested areas and rangelands.

-   **Healthy forests and rangelands:** A key element of the
    Administration's land management efforts is improving the health of
    forests, woodlands, and rangelands, as well as benefits to wildlife
    by the lessening of hazardous brush and woody fuels. **Under the
    Bush Administration, nearly 11 million acres have been treated by
    the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior.** These
    Fuels reduction projects completed in the past two years reduce the
    threat of catastrophic fires while also improving habitat for elk,
    deer, antelope, turkey, sage grouse, ruffed grouse, and woodcock.
    They have also benefited threatened and endangered species,
    including spotted owls, red cockaded woodpeckers, and Florida scrub
    jays.

> The Healthy Forests Initiative gives land managers new tools to
> restore the health of forests and rangelands. Under the initiative,
> the Bureau of Land Management will reestablish native vegetation,
> restore riparian stream channels, and improve threatened and
> endangered wildlife and fisheries habitats.

-   **Coastal protection:** The Bush Administration has used the
    **Coastal Program to** lead conservation efforts in bays, estuaries,
    and watersheds around the U.S. coastline. From 2001-2005, this
    program has, or will have, worked in partnership to: restore over
    **57,700 acres of wetlands and native grasslands**, and over **450
    miles of streamside habitat** to their former healthy, functioning
    state; and assisted communities and non-government organizations to
    protect over **967,000 acres of wetlands and uplands** and **2,900
    miles of stream and streamside habitat**.

**Partners for Fish and Wildlife:** This program works in partnership
**with over** **17,500 private landowners to restore over 1,778,000
acres of wetlands and uplands and over 4,500 miles of stream and
streamside habitat.**

> **The Bush Administration has funded more than \$30 million dollars of
> partnership programs managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
> and is seeking over \$10 million in FY 2005.** These creative
> partnerships among federal, state, and local governments,
> corporations, private foundations, individuals, and non-profit
> organizations conserve habitat for fish and wildlife species.

-   **Migratory bird habitat:** Chaired by Secretary Norton, the
    Migratory Bird Commission has approved the **acquisition of, or
    conservation easements on, almost 250,000 acres**. Over the past
    three years, at an estimated cost of \$142 million, these lands
    enhance or establish migratory bird habitat.

***Strengthen the Relationship with America\'s Hunters and Sportsmen***

\"*In a civilized and cultivated country wild animals only continue to
exist at all when preserved by sportsmen. The excellent people who
protest against all hunting, and consider sportsmen as enemies of wild
life, are ignorant of the fact that in reality the genuine sportsmen is
by all odds the most important factor in keeping the larger and more
valuable wild creatures from total extermination.\"* -**President
Theodore Roosevelt**

The Bush Administration implements what President Roosevelt preached by
working with sportsmen in wildlife and habitat management. These efforts
include:

-   **Expanding hunting and fishing access at more than 50 National
    Wildlife Refuges:** Today, 316 refuges are open to hunting and 275
    are open to fishing.

-   **Improving access to public lands for sportsmen:** The Fish and
    Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest
    Service have signed an agreement with 17 sportsmen organizations to
    improve hunting and fishing access to federal lands.

-   **Supporting the statutorily established right to hunt and fish
    within the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge
    System:** Hunting and fishing, expressly authorized by Congress, are
    necessary resource management and conservation tools when conducted
    in cooperation with state wildlife management agencies and
    consistent with biological data and goals. Both the National Park
    Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service have successfully defended
    legal challenges to hunting activities. **The Fish and Wildlife
    Service is currently defending a lawsuit brought by animal rights
    activists challenging public hunting programs on 37 national
    wildlife refuges. Over 30 of our hunting and conservation partners
    have voiced their opposition to this lawsuit on our behalf*.***

-   **Consulting with state agencies, sportsmen and conservation groups
    on policies:** The Fish and Wildlife Service has listened to state
    agencies, sportsmen and conservation organizations as it has worked
    on policies governing the operation of the refuge system, migratory
    birds, fish hatcheries, chronic wasting disease in deer and other
    issues. This puts Secretary Norton's communication, cooperation and
    consultation in the service of conservation philosophy in action.

-   **Encouraging hunters, anglers and others to volunteer to help on
    public lands:** The newly launched Take Pride in America program
    increases awareness of public lands and natural and cultural
    resources, and encourages volunteers to care for such lands and
    resources to preserve open space and restore habitat. Take Pride is
    supported by the American Sportfishing Association, Bass Pro Shops,
    Bowhunting Preservation Alliance, Congressional Sportsmen's
    Foundation, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies,
    Izaak Walton League of America, National Shooting Sports Foundation,
    National Wild Turkey Federation, National Wildlife Refuge
    Association, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and
    the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

-   **Increasing services at national parks:** President Bush has
    proposed \$3.9 billion through FY 2005 toward improving maintenance
    and service at National Parks. In FY 2004 alone, \$1 billion was
    provided, an increase of \$341 million since FY 2000. **This is a
    50% increase.** The funds are producing tangible benefits for
    visitors, including hunters and anglers, by improving boat ramps,
    docks, and marine facilities.

-   **Ensuring that hunting and fishing excise taxes are appropriately
    administered to States:** In 2004 more than \$464 million in excise
    taxes were apportioned to States.

-   **Improving Fish Passage:** The Bush Administration is addressing 20
    high priority fish passage barriers in Washington State using one
    Fish Passage Program. These projects will open 53 stream miles and
    438 acres of rearing and spawning habitat for the Pacific Coast
    salmon and trout. During the Bush Administration, the Fish Passage
    Program has, or will have, removed or bypassed 10 barriers to fish
    migration, opening up 17 miles and 1,742 acres of historic habitat
    in the state.

***Promote Best Management Practices in Managing Multi-Use Lands and
Welcome Full Public Participation in Developing Land Use Plans that Have
Energy Components***

The Interior Department manages public lands through its multiple-use
mission, including managing lands and waters that supply 30% of the
Nation\'s critical energy production. The President's National Energy
Plan calls for increasing domestic energy production through
environmentally responsible means. Energy development occurs when
appropriate environmental safeguards are in place.

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for most onshore land use
plans that have an energy component. BLM manages 261 million acres of
surface lands and 680 million acres of subsurface minerals. Currently,
only 8% of the mineral land is leased and 2.2% is actually producing.

BLM lands are managed through 162 resource management plans. Since 2001,
BLM has completed three land use management plans focused on energy: the
San Juan River Basin plan, the Farmington, New Mexico area, the Powder
River Basin in Wyoming, and the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska
(Northwest). Each plan utilizes adaptive management for wildlife that
allows field managers to modify activities based on wildlife needs. All
of these plans were developed after extensive environmental review and
after seeking, receiving and analyzing comments made in public meetings
and in writing.

-   The Farmington Resource Management Plan includes seasonal
    restrictions to protect big game winter habitat, migration routes
    and calving areas. **The plan sets aside 400,000 acres (30% of the
    planning area) as Specially Designated Areas to protect wildlife.
    Each Specially Designated Area has a set of management rules that
    minimize habitat loss and human disturbances during critical
    periods. There is no drilling, pipeline construction, seismic
    exploration or well pad construction during spring fawning and
    calving and bald eagle and raptor roosting periods.**

-   The Powder River Basin final decision, for example, **affects less
    than 1% of winter habitat** for resident pronghorn, white-tail deer,
    mule deer and elk. The plan imposes seasonal closures, adaptive
    management, mitigation measures and special conditions of approval
    to protect wildlife.

-   Of the 8.8 million acres of BLM land in the NPR-A (NW) planning
    area, 7.3 million acres would be available for leasing, but under
    very strict guidelines. The NPR-A (NW) plan would impose seasonal
    restrictions to protect birds and other sensitive species. It also
    imposes strict study requirements for caribou and water fowl that
    must be satisfied prior to development. Other stipulations and
    required operating procedures will establish restrictions designed
    to prevent waste spills, unnecessary water use and pollution and
    help us to manage winter overland moves of equipment, seismic
    activity, exploratory drilling and aircraft use. **Leasing is
    prohibited in the 102,000 acres designated as the Kasegaluk Lagoon
    Area, a sensitive marine habitat** that is important to migratory
    bird and marine mammals featuring marine tidal flats rare to the
    North Slope. **Leasing is also prohibited on 1.5 million acres along
    rivers, lakes, ponds, and the coast to protect riparian habitat,
    nesting areas and subsistence resources for North Slope residents.**

**BLM has developed Best Management Practices (BMPs) for land use plans
and energy permits to protect wildlife, air and water quality, cultural
and visual resources, and to improve reclamation and restoration.**

-   BMPs are guided by the principle of least intrusion on the land.
    This includes minimizing the "footprint" during the exploration and
    drilling process to return the land to its original state when
    development is complete. Examples include the use of multiple wells
    drilled from the same pad and intermediate reclamation of roads and
    surrounding areas with re-planting to mitigate habitat loss.

-   BMPs seek to minimize wildlife habitat fragmentation. Burying power
    lines and flow-lines, eliminating hazards to wildlife, reducing
    noise, and remote production monitoring are all examples of efforts
    the BLM promote to lessen the footprint of oil and gas development
    on public lands.

***Achieve Local Environmental Successes that Are Nationally
Significant***

## 

Conservation funding, partnerships and best management practices produce
results one acre, one stream, one project at a time. Cumulatively, these
projects are building blocks for national conservation achievements.
Here are just a few local environmental success stories in the making
that are nationally significant:

-   In response to increasing wolf numbers, the Department **downlisted
    the gray wolf** from endangered to threatened in Idaho, Montana,
    Wyoming, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and proposed greater
    state management of wolves in Idaho and Montana.

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-   **The High Plains Partnership** proactively conserves declining
    habitats on private lands in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana,
    Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas,
    and Wyoming. Its goals are to restore, protect, or enhance 2 million
    acres of High Plains habitat in 10 years to reduce threats to the
    lesser prairie-chicken and the black-tailed prairie dog and avoid
    listing under the ESA. The Department is proposing to fund this
    partnership at \$5 million in new funding in the FY 2005 budget.

-   **Restoring and preserving bottomland hardwood forests at the
    Bushley Bayou unit in Louisiana** with the acquisition of 18,000
    acres for the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge. The Fish and
    Wildlife Service purchased 8,000 acres and American Electric Power
    donated 10,000 acres. Of the 18,000, almost 10,000 will be restored
    to the original hardwood forest and wetland ecosystem.

-   **The Aleutian Canada Goose** is no longer an endangered species,
    thanks to an effort to remove introduced foxes from nesting islands,
    establish new breeding areas by translocating family groups of
    birds, provide protection throughout its range, and manage wintering
    habitat in California and Oregon.

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-   **The Leon River Restoration Project** is a broad based, grassroots
    public-private initiative directed at improving the quality and
    quantity of water, and vigor of native plant communities, through
    the treatment of Ashe juniper, an invasive plant of central Texas.
    Such activities are also intended to assist in the recovery of the
    endangered black-capped vireo and provide additional benefits to the
    endangered golden-cheeked warbler.

    -   **The Bureau of Reclamation and the State of Idaho** have worked
        in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, local
        Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and private landowners to
        consolidate water diversion structures, install screens, and
        improve fish passage along approximately 60 miles of the Lemhi
        River to facilitate salmon migration.

    -   Examples of projects under the Department's newly funded
        Cooperative Conservation Challenge Cost Share Program include:

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-   The Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona Desert Bighorn
    Sheep Society, and the Yuma Valley Rod & Gun Club have partnered
    with FWS to **rehabilitate watering areas for desert bighorn sheep**
    in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona.

-   The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Arkansas Game and Fish
    Foundation, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the National
    Wild Turkey Federation have partnered with the National Park Service
    to establish and **restore elk habitat** at Buffalo National River,
    Arkansas.

-   Trout Unlimited, the University of Tennessee Student Conservation
    Association, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,
    Tennessee Brookies, and Little River Outfitters, have partnered with
    National Park Service to **restore native brook trout** at Great
    Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina.