The golden-cheeked warbler has been considered endangered since 1990. Scientific research and conservation work on Ft. Hood has improved its lot. USFWS photo.
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November is Manatee Awareness Month; but no matter what time of year it is, manatees deserve to be celebrated. These amazing creatures fulfill a unique niche by serving as indicator species for ecosystems across the United States. Because of their reliance on the health of their habitat, manatees often act as a signal of their environment’s well-being. NOAA photo by Michael Buchanan.
Spring is coming early in 3/4 of national parks, according to a new study. Awesome? Not so much. As flowers bloom earlier every year, it’s disrupting the link between the wildflowers and the arrival of birds, bees, and butterflies that feed on and pollinate the flowers. In Shenandoah, an earlier spring is giving invasive plants a head start, and they’re displacing native wildflowers, leading to costly management issues.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the first national monument to preserve the landscape and honor the history and culture of Maine’s North Woods. Photo courtesy of Scot Miller.
Before the 1960s almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) person was illegal. New York City laws against homosexual activities were particularly harsh. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for LGBT civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.
$3.9B
state grants
40,000+
state projects
2.37M
acres protected
Land & Water Conservation Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Federal program supports the protection of federal public lands and waters – including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and recreation areas – and voluntary conservation on private land. LWCF investments secure public access, improve recreational opportunities and preserve ecosystem benefits for local communities.
LWCF State Grants program
Provides matching grants to state and tribal governments for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation sites. Grants have funded projects in every county in the country, over 40,000 projects since 1965. Number of projects = 41,999. Funding provided = $3.9 billion.
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
Grants provide funds to states and territories to work with private landowners, conservation organizations and other partners to protect and conserve the habitat of threatened and endangered species. Number of grants = 246. Funding provided = $394 million.
Forest Legacy Program
Provides grants through state partners to protect environmentally sensitive forest lands while maintaining private ownership and working forests. Total acres protected = 2.37 million. Funding provided =$1.4 billion.
Budget
The Land and Water Conservation Fund FY2017 Budget Request: View Summary
FY2017 Budget Map, pdf version
Five Amazing Places Protected By the Land and Water Conservation Fund
California Coastal National MonumentBob Wick, BLMConnecting the Pacific Ocean with the land, the California Coastal National Monument provides unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation on more than 20,000 rocks, islands, exposed reefs, and pinnacles along the California coastline. Along its length, this spectacular interplay of land and sea is an experience that creates lasting connections between people and nature. Starting with a donation of 1,711 acres, the California Coastal National Monument at Point Arena was expanded thanks to money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Everglades National ParkG. GardnerEverglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile and the elusive Florida panther. One of the largest wetlands in the world, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of subtropical wilderness in South Florida.
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife RefugeGeorge Jordan, USFWSRed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a place where creeks flow freely, wildlife thrives and visitors can find solitude and astounding natural beauty. Located in southwest Montana, the refuge is bounded by high mountains, wildflower filled meadows, grasslands, marshes and forests. This rich system nurtures many mammals, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds and a wide variety of fish.
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military ParkBuddy Secor, National Park Service VolunteerAn amazing view of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. During battles spread out over years, the Civil War raged on Virginia’s forests and fields. More than a 150 years after the guns fell silent, these battlefields -- preserved for their historical importance -- now serve as critical natural landscapes and habitat for wildlife.
Petrified Forest National ParkNational Park ServiceThe colorful hills, flat-topped mesas and sculptured buttes of the Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park are primarily made up of river sediment deposited over 200 million years ago. Erosion has shaped intriguing landforms and the rocks reveal an enthralling chronicle of time that is unfolding and ever-changing.
