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Wildlife Needs Funding
The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife holds a great responsibility for the state’s fish, wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. Significant funding and staffing shortages is impeding the Division's mandate to protect rare and endangered species, manage freshwater and marine fisheries, educate the public, manage 313,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas and oversee the protection of 7,000 miles of streams and 400 lakes. It’s time that state legislators acknowledge their responsibility to protect wildlife and habitat by providing critical funding in the state budget. Timing is crucial -- elected officials need to hear from you now. Please tell your legislators that New Jersey’s budget must include full funding for the Division of Fish and Wildlife. It’s up to us to urge our representatives to provide essential fish and wildlife funding in the budget. Look at the impact our voices had in keeping open the nine state parks targeted for closure.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I am extremely concerned that the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will not receive full-funding in the state budget. Budget cuts and staffing shortages threaten our wildlife-related recreation opportunities, our rare and endangered wildlife, our freshwater and marine fisheries, and our Wildlife Management Areas. Please make sure that New Jersey provides $9.27 million in annual appropriations in the State?s budget for the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish & Wildlife including waiver of fringe benefits. This could be accomplished through amending S2043/A2806 to allow up to $4 million from the Shore and Recreation Resource Protection Fund to be used for the Division of Fish and Wildlife in FY2009. These funds will close the nearly $3.8 million gap in the proposed budget and ensure the Division's ability to meet essential obligations to manage New Jersey's fish and wildlife. This legislation would need to pass prior to Summer Recess. I am urging you to champion this important measure. In Fiscal Year 2009, New Jersey must provide a total of $9.27 million in annual appropriations for the Division of Fish and Wildlife, including $3.4 million for marine fisheries program, $850,000 black bear program, $823,815 for State Wildlife Grants program and $4.2 million for inland fish and wildlife programs. Yet, these programs are only budgeted to receive $1 million, $665,000, $376,000 and $3.44 million, respectively. The anticipated underfunding of the Division in the state's budget could lead to the loss of millions of dollars of federal matching grants to other states. Wildlife-related recreational and educational opportunities for the public have already been reduced, which impacts the state's thriving $3.9 billion wildlife-dependent tourism industry. I urge you to take action at this time to ensure that the Division of Fish and Wildlife is fully funded for FY09. Thanks for your consideration.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife holds a great responsibility for the state’s fish, wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. Significant funding and staffing shortages is impeding the Division's mandate to protect rare and endangered species, manage freshwater and marine fisheries, educate the public, manage 313,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas and oversee the protection of 7,000 miles of streams and 400 lakes.
It’s time that state legislators acknowledge their responsibility to protect these natural resources by providing critical funding in the state budget.
There is too much at stake. First, fish and wildlife resources provide significant economic benefits to our residents. In return for investing less than $10 million, the state receives nearly $4 billion in revenue from wildlife-related recreation inc;uding wildlife watching. Each year, these activities create more than 37,000 jobs and generate over $150 million in sales tax revenue. Second, state money leverages millions of dollars in federal grants for the state’s marine and freshwater fisheries and endangered and nongame species programs that could be lost to other states. Third, under-funding will reduce recreational opportunities for the public and harm the state’s ability to care for wildlife species.
Timing is crucial -- legislators need to hear from you now.
It’s up to us to urge our representatives to provide essential fish and wildlife funding in the budget. Look at the impact our voices had in keeping open the nine state parks targeted for closure. Unfortunately, fish and wildlife funding is more vulnerable than ever since the money for the parks has to come from somewhere.
Please tell your legislators that New Jersey’s budget must include full funding for the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
