In the News
News articles and events on WLFW and Target Species sites.
OSM Announces More Than $300 Million Available to Clean Up Abandoned Coal Mines
The U. S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today announced the availability of more than $305 million in Abandoned Mine Land (AML) grants to states and tribes—90 percent of the more than $339.4 million available for distribution—to eliminate environmental hazards caused by past coal mining. OSM administers the grants in accordance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), which requires OSM to make AML funding available to eligible states and tribes.
Gov. Deal Honors Three Companies as 2012 Forestry for Wildlife Partners
Gov. Nathan Deal recognized three corporate forest landowners today for their stewardship in land management and practices benefiting the state’s wildlife.
DEC Adopts Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations in Response to Pennsylvania Discovery
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted changes to its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations that prohibit people from importing into New York state certain parts of white-tailed deer or elk taken in the state of Pennsylvania, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. This revision finalizes the emergency rule implemented last October.
Generational changes will have a big impact on natural resource jobs
A “perfect storm” describes a rare combination of circumstances coming together to aggravate a situation drastically. Steve McMullin, associate professor of fisheries and wildlife in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, predicts a perfect storm ahead for natural resource agencies, which will lose over 40 percent of their personnel in the next decade as baby boomers retire.
Southeastarn CSC Revamps Website
The Department of the Interior Southeastern Climate Science Center has recently revamped its website to include sections on funded projects, partner LCCs, partner resources, and much more.
Initiative Heals Rare Forest and Recovers Squirrel
Fortunately for the West Virginia northern flying squirrel and the Cheat Mountain salamander, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is supported by a number of partners, through the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI), in efforts to protect and restore historic red spruce-northern hardwood ecosystems across the high elevation landscapes of central Appalachia. The CASRI is a partnership of diverse interests with a common goal of protecting the remaining red spruce stands and restore red spruce ecosystems where they have disappeared.
USGS-NOAA: Climate Change Impacts to U.S. Coasts Threaten Public Health, Safety and Economy
According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of U.S. coastal communities' social, economic and natural systems.
Federal/private partnership brings in 4-to-1 taxpayer returns for conservation
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation partnership created $40.5 million out of an initial $10.3 million taxpayer investment in 2011 for on-the-ground conservation efforts throughout the United States.
New Website Highlights the 40th Anniversary of Endangered Species Act
In 1972, President Nixon declared that conservation efforts in the United States aimed toward preventing the extinction of species were inadequate and called on the 93rd Congress to develop comprehensive endangered species legislation. Congress responded, and on December 28th, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 was signed into law.
Cerulean Warbler to Benefit from Acquisition of Key Colombian Habitat
The Cerulean Warbler, a bird whose population has declined by about 70 percent in the last 40 years, and 25 other neotropical migrating birds are the key beneficiaries of a successful two-year-effort by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Fundación ProAves to purchase and protect key wintering habitat for the birds in Colombia, South America.
78th Conference Special Session to Look at Landscape Conservation in North America
The last decade has seen significant advancements in the nature and number of science-management partnerships that address landscape-level conservation throughout North America. Numerous federal and state agencies, as well as conservation NGO’s, have joined forces through these partnerships to advance conservation that is holistic, collaborative, adaptive and grounded in science to ensure the sustainability of our lands, waters, wildlife and cultural resources.
Landmark Publication Celebrates 75 Years of Conservation and Partnership Success Through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has released a landmark publication celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, the cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation in North America. This vital program provides more than $700 million each year through the sale of hunting and fishing equipment to support habitat conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the nation.
Call for Science Needs Portfolio Reviewers
The Appalachian LCC is currently conducting the first annual review of the Science Needs Portfolio.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Comments on Draft Summer Survey Guidelines for Indiana Bats
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting input on draft guidelines and protocols for determining whether endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) are present or likely absent at a given site during the summer, from May 15 to August 15. Deadline for comments is February 8, 2013.
RISA Program Federal Funding Opportunity
The NOAA Climate Program Office is pleased to announce that its Federal Funding Opportunity for the RISA program is now available at grants.gov.
2012 was Warmest and Second Most Extreme Year on Record for the Contiguous U.S.
2012 marked the warmest year on record for the contiguous United States with the year consisting of a record warm spring, second warmest summer, fourth warmest winter and a warmer-than-average autumn.
National Park Service Announces Nearly $23 million in Historic Preservation Grants to States
National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today announced $22.9 million in historic preservation grants. The grants will enable states and territories to preserve and protect our nation’s historic sites utilizing revenues from federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Partnership Celebrates Successful Conservation of Rugged West Virginia Forest
More than 400 acres of mountain forest along Mount Porte Crayon is protected for future generations through a partnership involving The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Highly anticipated down-scaled climate data to be released this winter
Global climate models project that Earth’s temperature will warm by about 2°-4°C (about 3°-7°F) in the coming century. But what does that mean for communities, natural resource managers, and other local interests?
Service Releases Annual List of Candidates for Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced its Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals considered candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
