WASHINGTON –—The U.S. Department of the Interior on Tuesday announced $8.3 million in funding to New Hampshire to support state conservation and outdoor recreation projects. The money is part of $1.1 billion in annual national funding going to state wildlife agencies from revenues generated by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts.
To date, more than $20.2 billion in funds, which are authorized by Congress, have been distributed to U.S. states and territories, according to the Interior Department.
New Hampshire apportionments include $3,519,175 in Sport Fish Restoration funds and $4,785,824 in Wildlife Restoration funds.
“New Hampshire sportsmen and women are some of our best conservationists and they contribute billions of dollars toward wildlife conservation and sportsmen access every year through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts,” said Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.
“For nearly 80 years, states have been able to fund important conservation initiatives thanks to the more than $20 billion that has generated nationwide,” Zinke said ina prepared statement. “Every time a firearm, fishing pole, hook, bullet, motor boat or boat fuel is sold, part of that cost goes to fund conservation. The best way to increase funding for conservation and sportsmen access is to increase the number of hunters and anglers in our woods and waters. The American conservation model has been replicated all over the world because it works.”
The funds, which are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are derived from excise taxes paid by the hunting, shooting, boating and angling industries on firearms, bows and ammunition and sport fishing tackle, some boat engines, and small engine fuel.
“Revenues generated by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts provides funding to states to protect and conserve our nation’s fish and wildlife heritage today and for generations to come,” said Virgil Moore, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Director of Idaho Fish and Game. “This funding mechanism serves as the foundation for fish and wildlife conservation in our country.”
Nationwide, the recipient state wildlife agencies have matched these funds with approximately $6.7 billion throughout the years, primarily through hunting and fishing license revenues.
For more information about the WSFR program visit http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/.
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