R.I. receives $500K federal grant for wildlife protection

U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said Rhode Island will receive a nearly $500,000 state wildlife grant to preserve the state’s wildlife and their habitats. / PBN FILE PHOTO
U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said Rhode Island will receive a nearly $500,000 state wildlife grant to preserve the state’s wildlife and their habitats. / PBN FILE PHOTO

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island will receive a $497,265 state wildlife grant to preserve the state’s wildlife and their habitats, U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said this week.

“Rhode Island’s natural resources and wildlife are critical assets that make our state a great place to live. This federal funding will help support environmental programs that preserve open spaces and protect wildlife. In taking the long view, these funds help the state prioritize conservation and research efforts in the years ahead,” Reed said in a statement.

The grant is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; it provides federal funds to states for development, revision and implementation of wildlife conservation strategies to prevent species and habitats from becoming endangered.
Funds may also be used to update, revise or modify Rhode Island’s Wildlife Action Plan.
The R.I. Department of Environmental Management has partnered with the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the University of Rhode Island to update its Wildlife Action Plan, a press release from Reed’s office stated.
DEM developed a Wildlife Action Plan in order to become eligible for the funds. The plan identifies the state’s species with the greatest conservation needs and their key habitats, and also assesses the condition of and threats to both, along with conservation measures designed to ensure their long-term survival.
The WAP stated: “Even though it is the smallest and the second-most densely populated state in the U.S., Rhode Island’s wildlife is remarkably diverse. It includes thousands of resident and migratory species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, beetles, butterflies and moths, and other insects, freshwater mollusks, annelids, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates.”

DEM Director Janet L. Coit said the funding is important.
“Conserving our forests and other natural resources helps ensure healthier and more abundant wildlife populations, adds to the beauty of our landscape and promotes a healthier environment which benefits us all,” she said.

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