This grant serves to secure the core mission of the cnmi division of fish and wildlife s wildlife section, whichwill be managing 12 wildlife restoration projects in FY2026

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife received $651,031.83 in formula grant funding from the U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award supports core operations of the Wildlife Section, enabling management of 12 wildlife restoration projects through essential administrative and operational functions including staff recruitment and training, grant objective completion, timely reporting and proposal submission, and maintenance of vehicles and equipment necessary for daily project operations.

The grant funding further supports critical public-facing services and environmental stewardship activities. The Wildlife Section conducts public outreach to inform the community about ongoing projects and their benefits to the Commonwealth, while also providing technical guidance and environmental reviews to minimize impacts to wildlife and habitats from proposed development initiatives. Additionally, the funding supports the agency's capacity to respond to wildlife emergencies, including natural disasters and biological invasions, ensuring the Division maintains readiness to address urgent conservation and resource management needs across the Northern Mariana Islands.

Management activities include ensuring thecompletion of grant objectives, the punctual submission of reports and proposals, the maintenance of staffingcapacity through recruitment and training, and preparing the office to respond to wildlife needs in the eventof a natural disaster or biological invasion. Physical and logistical support, including vehicles and equipment, is provided so that all projects continue to run daily. Additionally, the wildlife section interfaces with thepublic in two important ways: 1) performing outreach to keep the public informed of ongoing projects and theirbenefit to the cnmi, and 2) providing technical guidance and environmental reviews to avoid or minimize impactsco wildlife and habitats from proposed development, plans, and projects.