NCEL Policy Options S TAT E W I L D

Through license sales, hunters and anglers have disproportionately footed much of the bill for state wildlife agencies, and their ongoing contributions are essential to the conservation of hundreds of species. [...] Even if more federal funding is made available from the proposed Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, state wildlife agencies need additional, broad-based public funding to conserve all biodiversity within state borders and provide all people with opportunities to enjoy and benefit from wildlife conservation. [...] Allocating Money From A Tax Increase: Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2010 that created a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund to be funded with revenue from the next state sales tax increase. [...] Cannabis Tax: Montana voters approved an initiative in 2020 to allocate a portion of the state sales tax on marijuana to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to the General Habitat Program and Nongame Fund. [...] Other Resources US Fish and Wildlife Service: Overview of the history/funding of state wildlife agencies National Wildlife Federation: (1) Mechanisms and case studies for state-level wildlife funding and (2) toolkit on securing wildlife funding NCEL: State Wildlife Agency Authority and Mission Fulfillment NCEL: State Wildlife Commission Appointments and Governance NCEL & Center for America.