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<br /> Office of the Secretary Page 1 of 2 <br /> t~,~s+? afi ry <br /> ~4A~H ~~9''~ I~epa.rtment of the Interier <br /> Office of the Secretary <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Hugh Vickery <br /> January 31, 2002 202-501-4633 <br /> Questions and Answers on the <br /> Cooperative Conservation Initiative <br /> Q. What is the Cooperative Conservation Initiative? <br /> A. The Cooperative Conservation Initiative is a new initiative in the President's 2003 budget request to <br /> Congress to remove barriers to citizen participation in the stewardship of our natural resources and to help them <br /> take conservation into their own hands by undertaking projects at the local level. To fund this initiative, the <br /> President is proposing $100 million in challenge grants by Department of Interior agencies to landowners, <br /> land-user groups, environmental organizations, communities, local and state governments and industries for <br /> conservation projects that advance the health of the land and benefit people. <br /> Q. How will the money be distributed? <br /> I$alf of the new money, or $50 million, will be distributed to states to fund cost-share grants for innovative <br /> conservation projects. This will allow states to work within their communities to come up with innovative <br /> „solutions to our conservation challenges. The other half will be used by the National Park Service, the Fish and <br /> Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management to fund cost-share grants. <br /> Q. How would a citizen or private organization obtain a grant? <br /> A. Citizens could apply for a grant either from their state government or from the National Park Service, the <br /> Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Bureau of Land Management. The grants will be awarded competitively. <br /> Q. How much matching funding would be required? <br /> A. The citizen or organization applying for the grant would be required to contribute at least 50 percent of the <br /> cost of the project. In-kind contributions such as supplies and labor would count towards the 50 percent. <br /> Q. What kinds of projects would be funded? <br /> A. Projects would have to restore or conserve natural resources such as wetlands, streams and other habitat for <br /> the benefit of wildlife and people. Restoration of cultural resources or recreation facilities are funded through <br /> cjther programs. <br /> Q. Does the Interior Department's budget include an increase in funding for conservation programs? <br /> A. Yes, spending on conservation programs would increase in FY 2003 under the President's budget request. <br /> As part of its priorities, the administration is shifting funds to take care of existing Interior Department lands <br /> and facilities and increasing cooperative conservation efforts. <br /> http://www.doi.gov/news/confaq.html 6/2/03 <br /> <br />