News Release 02/26/07

Teaming with Wildlife Coalition Reaches 5,000
Groups rally to find long-term funding for wildlife conservation.

WASHINGTON, DC (February 26, 2007) - Teaming with Wildlife, a national coalition of conservation-minded organizations and businesses working to support robust programs of wildlife conservation, education and recreation in every state, has reached an important milestone of 5,000 groups. Through increased funding, the coalition's mission is to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered and includes conservation groups, wildlife biologists, state wildlife agencies, hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, nature-based businesses and many others who support the goal of restoring and conserving our nation's wildlife.

"This is the largest and most diverse coalition for conservation ever," said Naomi Edelson, Teaming with Wildlife director for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which leads the coalition's Steering Committee. "Its size and strength are a reflection of the passion Americans have for saving wildlife and their habitats. People are enthusiastic to take action, especially since it is a proactive effort to find the funding needed to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered."

For two years, Teaming with Wildlife's existing members traveled far and wide, inspiring others to join the cause. In 2006, 21 states added more than 100 groups each to the coalition. In Montana , coalition leaders traveled some 12,000 miles to encourage new organizations to join the cause. In some states, such as Ohio , Georgia , Arizona , Wisconsin and Nebraska between 200 - 500 organizations joined in less than a year. The Freemont Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, based in Ames , Nebraska is the official 5,000 th group for the coalition.

Although a national coalition, Teaming with Wildlife is organized in each state, usually under the leadership of their state fish and wildlife agency and a statewide conservation organization. Affiliates or chapters of Teaming with Wildlife Steering Committee members like the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society often take the lead. Conservation is big business; from nature-based organizations and businesses to sportsmen's groups and outfitters, Teaming with Wildlife works across political and state boundaries to secure wildlife conservation, along with related recreation and education funding that will inspire the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts.

To boost coalition members in Connecticut , Montana , New York and Nebraska , organizers focused on land and resources users, working with land trusts, ranchers and forest stewards and others who make their living from the land. In Georgia and Oregon , existing coalition members reached out to sportsmen's groups. In North Dakota , organizers reached out to bed and breakfasts on birding trails, while Arizona worked with outdoor retailers and outfitters.

Last month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave final approval of the state wildlife action plans. Completed in 2006, each state wildlife action plan contain information on low and declining populations of wildlife, their habitats and the conservation actions they require to prevent them from becoming endangered. Individually, they establish a set of conservation actions for each state, but together they represent a blueprint for national conservation action.

The action plans allow states and territories to continue receiving federal funding under the annual State Wildlife Grant Program. The President's Budget is calling for $69.5 million in 2008, an increase from last year's final appropriation of $67.5 million, but the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition feels this number remains well below the amount it will take to conserve the nation's wildlife and their habitats. The coalition has called for $85 million, recognizing that this also is too low. Already, the coalition is working to help wildlife agencies secure additional funding through several recently-introduced climate change bills. These bills would, in part, fund the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program of the Pittman-Robertson Act.

To learn more about an individual state wildlife action plans, visit www.wildlifeactionplans.org .

To view the entire list of Teaming with Wildlife Coalition members, visit http://www.teaming.com/pdf/full_supporters_list.pdf .

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The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies -the organization that represents all of North America's fish and wildlife agencies-promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues. Found on the web at www.fishwildlife.org . The Association is a Teaming with Wildlife Steering Committee leader.

Association: us, 202/624-7890