NFWF Announces More Than $500,000 in Grants from the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 15, 2024) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $504,800 in grants to improve fish and wildlife habitat and population management in Alaska. The grants will generate $504,800 in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $1.2 million.

The grants were awarded through the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund, a partnership between NFWF and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service. 

“Alaska faces critical environmental challenges, and declining fish and wildlife populations across the state are threatening the resilience of communities and ecosystems alike,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “This slate of projects we announce today continues NFWF's more than 15-year investment in Alaska through NFWF’s Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund to support co-stewardship among federal agencies, Tribes and communities to improve ecosystem health and resilience.” 

The projects in this grant slate will establish tribally-led monitoring programs in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta to support Pacific salmon conservation and facilitate communication and participation between tribal leaders and federal agency partners.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to work with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in setting priorities for the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund,” said Michael Daigneault, regional habitat restoration and partnerships coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “This year’s suite of projects addresses some of Alaska’s highest priority conservation needs, such as restoring important salmon habitat, and understanding trends of threatened species. These projects will positively change the trajectory for Alaska’s fish and wildlife, leaving a lasting conservation legacy.”

In addition, grants will restore forest and riparian habitat by employing and training local indigenous work crews, collect fish species presence data in Controller Bay streams and lakes to support nominating eligible water bodies to Alaska’s Anadromous Waters Catalog, and conduct critical shorebird population surveys to inform management decisions on species recovery efforts.

“This is an excellent example of how our partners are so vital to building the capacity we need to conserve and manage the abundant natural resources of Alaska’s National Forests,” said Alaska Regional Forester Chad VanOrmer.

The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund aims to achieve measurable on-the-ground conservation outcomes and fill key information gaps through assessments and strategic monitoring that result in improved habitat or population management actions. The program also works to conduct outreach to Native Alaskan communities to broaden engagement and conservation stewardship of natural resources, and to foster traditional ecological knowledge sharing that develops proactive management strategies.

A complete list of the 2024 grants made through the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund is available here.    

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

About the U.S. Forest Service
Established in 1905, the Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains one of the largest forestry research organizations in the world. Public lands managed by the Forest Service provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply and contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. The agency also supports sustainable management on about 500 million acres of private, state and tribal forests including forests in urban areas. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

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Contact:

Rob Blumenthal, 202-857-0166, rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org