With the funding provided by this project DFW will perform maintenance tasks and necessaryrepairs to its facilities, vehicles, vessels, and other physical assets integral to the completion of wildlife…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $2,130,751 Formula Grant under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education program (CFDA 15.611) to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. The funding will enable the Division to perform maintenance and necessary repairs on its facilities, vehicles, vessels, and other physical assets integral to completing wildlife restoration objectives. The Division will also provide information and guidance to government agencies, regulatory authorities, and private landowners to sustain and enhance wildlife resources on public and private lands in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, the funding will support the Division's efforts to conserve the unique ecosystems and biodiversity of the territory's offshore cays, which serve as critical nesting habitats for endangered wildlife species. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

With the funding provided by this project DFW will perform maintenance tasks and necessaryrepairs to its facilities, vehicles, vessels, and other physical assets integral to the completion of wildlife restoration grant objectives.third, government agencies, regulatory authorities, and private landowners requireinformation and guidance to sustain or enhance wildlife resources on public and private lands. The division of fish and wildlife (DFW), department of planning and naturalresources (dpnr) has specific responsibilities set forth in the virgin islands code for theconservation and management of the natural resources of the virgin islands. The primary duty of DFW is to make recommendations regarding resource use, development, andprotection to the commissioner of dpnr and to other agencies. Additionally, a considerableamount of information needs to be provided to the public in response to their requests forguidance on natural resource issues to better protect wildlife and improve conservationoutcomes cooperation with the public is essential and the publics attitudes in the VI, withrespect to wildlife issues, and to public access, education and conservation planning efforts.fourth, more than 60 small islands collectively referred to as cays DOT the usvi andcomprise about 3% of the territory s total area all but four cays surround ST. Thomas and ST.john. The territorial government owns 33 cays and has designated some as wildlife sanctuaries and marine reserves. Many of the least disturbed cays provide nesting for a variety of endangered wildlife species and are especially important for nesting seabirds andcolumbids. Many species long ago disappeared from the main islands, victims of habitatdestruction, economic growth, and introduced predators, and exist in limited habitatincluding on the cays. DFW is responsible for conserving these unique ecosystems andbiodiversity of these offshore cays, most of which are too small to sustain humanpopulations but host large populations of nesting birds. The near shore waters of all of the virgin islands support coral reefs, sea grass pastures, mangroves and white sand beacheswhere nesting birds breed. The habitats also provide areas for the public to engage inswimming, snorkeling, diving, and fishing.