The virginia department of wildlife resources (department) has utilized state wildlife grant (SWG) funds to implement conservation efforts that benefit virginias species of greatest conservation…

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, doing business as the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, received a $530,302 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the State Wildlife Grants (CFDA 15.634) program. This funding supports the department's implementation of conservation efforts to benefit Virginia's species of greatest conservation need, as part of their comprehensive wildlife action plan. Specific activities include habitat assessments, species monitoring, research to identify restoration priorities, and public outreach and coordination to support these wildlife conservation initiatives across the state through July 2025.

The virginia department of wildlife resources (department) has utilized state wildlife grant (SWG) funds to implement conservation efforts that benefit virginias species of greatest conservation need (sgcn). As a condition of the SWG program the department created a comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy that addressed eight essential elements identified by congress. These were also addressed in the 2015 wildlife action plan revision. These elements include:1) information on the distribution and abundance of species of wildlife, including low and declining populations as the state fish and wildlife agency deems appropriate, that are indicative of the diversity and health of the states wildlife AND2)descriptions of locations and relative condition of key habitats and community types essential to conservation of species identified in (1) AND3)descriptions of problems which may adversely affect species identified in (1) or their habitats, and priority research and survey efforts needed to identify factors which may assist in restoration and improved conservation of these species and habitats AND4)descriptions of conservation actions determined to be necessary to conserve the identified species and habitats and priorities for implementing such actions AND5)proposed plans for monitoring species identified in (1) and their habitats, for monitoring the effectiveness of the conservation actions proposed in (4), and for adapting these conservation actions to respond appropriately to new information or changing conditions AND6)descriptions of procedures to review the plan-strategy at intervals not to exceed ten years AND7)plans for coordinating, to the extent feasible, the development, implementation, review, and revision of the plan-strategy with federal, state, and local agencies and indian tribes that manage significant land and water areas within the state or administer programs that significantly affect the conservation of identified species and habitats.8)congress has affirmed through wcrp and SWG, that broad public participation is an essential element of developing and implementing these plans-strategies, the projects that are carried out while these plans-strategies are developed, and the species in greatest need of conservation that congress has indicated such programs and projects are intended to emphasize.