Monday
February 5, 2007
More than $2.1 Billion
Requested by President Bush for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2008
Budget
Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service
"The Service conserves our nation's fish, wildlife and plants on behalf of the American people, using the best science and working cooperatively with government, organizations and individuals at all levels," said Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall. "The agency is committed to achieving long-range conservation goals that will ensure a future for the wild resources we all value so much. Working with conservation partners from a broad range of interests helps us better accomplish our mission."
The 2008 budget for the FWS operating account, Resource Management, is $1.0 billion, $40 million above 2007. The 2008 budget includes full funding for fixed costs, including $28.3 million, the majority of which funds pay and other anticipated costs in the Resource Management account.
The FY 2008 request provides critical support for the Service's efforts to expand fish access to stream habitat necessary for natural reproduction. The budget request includes $11.0 million for the fish passage program. This is a $6.0 million increase and will allow the FWS to participate in the Open Rivers Initiative, a multi-agency program to remove existing barriers, such as old road culverts, that prevent fish movement up streams. The budget also requests a $2.25 million increase for the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, a comprehensive, coordinated effort to increase the quality of habitat for our nation's fish.
The FY 2008 budget also funds a number of significant new efforts such as:
- An increase of $2.0 million to support work for the Healthy Lands Initiative. In conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Geological Survey, the Service will improve habitat and protect species on private lands. The FWS funds will focus on the Green River Basin of Wyoming, which encompasses both important wildlife habitat and significant energy resources. Funding will support habitat conservation, more timely candidate consultations for species eligible to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, as well as support for the Western Native Trout Initiative.
- A programmatic increase of $4.7 million for National Wildlife Refuge System wildlife and habitat management. This will allow the refuge system to restore an additional 5,102 acres of wetlands and 48,000 acres of uplands. It will also provide a $600,000 increase for the newly created Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument to protect natural resources, enhance visitation and preserve native Hawaiian culture. The monument includes the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
- A net programmatic increase of $5.7 million for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to support the recovery of species on the federal list of threatened and endangered species, as well as candidate species, and other species on private lands. This includes a portion of the funding for the Secretary's Healthy Lands Initiative. The Partner's Program will direct $750,000 to support habitat restoration and enhancement projects in Wyoming's Green River Basin. The Partners Program will continue working with all States and Territories in support of their strategic habitat conservation goals.
Other ongoing Service efforts highlighted in the President's FY 2008 budget proposal include:
- The full request for the National Wildlife Refuge system is nearly $398.4 million which is a net programmatic increase of nearly $2.8 million.
- The Fisheries program is slated to receive nearly $124.8 million, a net increase of nearly $7.3 million.
The FY 2008 President's Budget Request will be made available online in a few weeks at http://budget.fws.gov
Contact:
Joshua Winchell 202 219-7499