Funding sources for the Division of Fish and Wildlife
by Gary Doxtater
Teaming With Wildlife
Sportsmen have been funding the management of our fish and wildlife resources for over 60 years through two Federal Excise Tax Acts, one on hunting gear and the other on fishing equipment. These were the first two legs on our three-legged stool. Over the years, not much attention has been given to our nongame species. Game animals of both fish and wildlife received most of the funding because of dedicated funds from the federal taxes. Nongame species did get some benefits from habitat restoration projects such as vegetative plantings to improve habitat for quail. This resulted in benefits to many species of nongame birds. As years passed, we became more aware of the importance of "wildlife diversity," which is the variety species of animals and plants living together in a balanced environment.
In response to this need, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and Indiana passed the Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program legislation in that same year, but with no budget. Later, funding for our Indiana program was established in 1982 from a check off on the Indiana Individual Income Tax Form, where Hoosiers can donate any portion of their refund to the Nongame Fund. This Fund is dedicated for the protection and management of nongame species. Donations can be made directly to the Fund, but most of the funding comes from the tax check off. Over the years, this fund receives an average of about $400,000 a year.
The Nongame Fund monies have been used in a variety of programs. Several popular and very successful projects have been the reintroduction of the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and River Otter. Current projects are the introduction of Osprey and a study of the status of Bobcats. Many other species are in need of help; however, adequate funding is not available. Indiana has over 700 species of animals, most being nongame species. There are 85 species on the State Endangered list and 44 listed on the Of Special Concern list. The Nongame Fund is the third leg of the stool, but it is a bit short and thus the stool is still unstable.
This is not a problem unique to Indiana. Fish and Wildlife agencies across the nation became concerned in 1998, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies proposed the concept of creating a permanent funding source for nongame species, similar to the funding for game species. Currently, Congress is being asked to provide for the permanent funding for our nongame species under a new federal program called Teaming With Wildlife (TWW). In the next issue of Hoosier Conservation, this important program will be discussed, and I will show you how you can lengthen that third leg of our stool so all our fish and wildlife will be equally managed. For more information on the Indiana Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/endangered/ .
There has been a steady source of Federal Aid for game species since 1939 (Pittman-Robertson Act) and 1950 (Dingle-Johnson Act). These two federal programs have funded much of our fish and wildlife management for all these years.
The Nongame check-off is about the only source that we have today for the Wildlife Diversity Program.
Teaming With Wildlife is a nation-wide effort by many conservation groups to get federal legislation to provide a similar federal funding for our nongame species. The effort is being coordinated by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and supported by many other groups.
The National Wildlife Federation has been a major support group for several years. The Duke Foundation has provided funds to NWF for this effort, and we have received a small grant to help build the Teaming With Wildlife coalition in Indiana.
The IWF will begin to make contact with groups throughout the state and we can use your help. Please email Gary Doxtater, TWW state coordinator or call him at 1-800-347-3445 or 317-875-9453.
Gary Doxtater, is retired director, Div. Fish and Wildlife, and is an IWF board member.
