Provide operational and project management necessary for the state wildlife grant program

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries received a formula grant of $461,539 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program (CFDA 15.634), effective April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The grant provides funding for operational and project management activities necessary to administer Louisiana's participation in the State Wildlife Grants Program. Deliverables include personnel time, administrative procedures, and conservation activities designed to benefit Louisiana's species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) and to maintain regulatory compliance with the SWG Program requirements.

The State Wildlife Grants Program, administered by USFWS, supports state fish and wildlife agencies in designing and implementing proactive conservation initiatives that prevent species decline before endangered species protections become necessary. As the state's designated fish and wildlife agency, LDWF uses these grant funds to coordinate strategic conservation planning and implementation aligned with Louisiana's Wildlife Action Plan and SGCN priorities. The three-year funding period enables LDWF to sustain core administrative functions and management oversight that support the state's broader wildlife conservation infrastructure and federal partnership obligations.

This includes personnel time, procedures, and activities to benefit louisiana sgcn and to meet regulatory requirements to participate in the state wildlife grant program.