Sacramento, CA, June 5, 2012, noon – At its last quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved $29.4 million to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat in California. The 30 funded projects will provide benefits to fish and wildlife species, including some endangered species, and others will provide public access opportunities to natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, the landowner and the local community. One of the funded projects is a $10,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Habitat Conservation Planning Grant that will be passed on to the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission to acquire about 1,342 acres of land for the protection of bighorn sheep habitat, and to provide future wildlife oriented public use opportunities. Another funded project is a $400,000 grant to the State Coastal Conservancy for a cooperative project with the Earth Island Institute to assist with the implementation of the Community Wetland Restoration Grant Program that provides funding for community-based restoration projects in coastal wetlands and watersheds in Southern California. Projects are located in the five coastal counties from Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico border. The funds for all of these projects and others come from recent bond initiatives approved by the voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources.
[audio:https://kbhr933.com/wp-content/uploads/SP31539.mp3|titles=Wildlife Conservation Board Funds Projects – Mike Evans Reporting]