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Grant to help IDFG inventory rare species
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August 23, 2012 |
Idaho Fish and Game has received a $950,000
competitive State Wildlife Grant from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife service to launch the
Multi-Species Baseline Initiative, a coalition
of more than 20 partner organizations.
A portion of the initiative study area lies in
Boundary County.
These congressionally authorized funds will be
matched by nearly $1,216,000 from state partners
and nongovernmental organizations, for a total
of nearly $2.2 million. Fish and Game
contributions include $45,000 in nongame trust
funds and a $155,000 volunteer match.
Fish and Game will lead the initiative that
involves surveying the Idaho Panhandle and
northeastern Washington for 20 “Species of
Greatest Conservation Need” identified in either
Idaho’s or Washington’s State Wildlife Action
Plans. Biologists will collect location data for
these species, as well as baseline information
on their microclimate requirements.
All 20 species are described as “lacking
essential information” on their status –
something the initiative hopes to change.
Specifically, this project will provide
important distribution and abundance information
for these species which will help wildlife
managers develop more specific conservation
actions designed to improve their status.
Survey and inventory information on rare or
poorly understood species are invaluable to
managers when they make decisions about a
species’ status or classification. For example,
in 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
determined that the pygmy rabbit did not warrant
protection under the Endangered Species Act. In
part, that decision was based on new information
generated by Fish and Game – work that was also
funded by a State Wildlife Grant.
For more information on the initiative, please
visit the project website at
https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/baseline. For
information on Idaho’s State Wildlife Action
Plan and Species of Greatest Conservation Need,
visit the Fish and Game website at
https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/cwcs/. |
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