President Obama Calls for Increased Wildlife and Climate Funding in Budget Request

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Haley McKey, 202-772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org

Washington (Tuesday, February 9)­– President Obama has released his 2017 budget request, which includes significant funding for wildlife conservation, addressing impacts from climate change and protecting wildlife habitat and natural resources across the country. Specifically, it calls for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million, $90 million for the Department of the Interior’s work to conserve the sage-grouse and its sage-steppe habitat and more than $2 billion to build climate change resilience. 

The following is a statement from Former Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark:

“This budget request prioritizes America’s vital natural heritage through increased funding for wildlife and habitat conservation and a major new commitment to climate adaptation programs. The proposal dedicates nearly a billion dollars to protecting and restoring wildlife habitat and other treasured lands through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"It also includes a significant increase for the conservation of the vast sage-steppe landscape that supports the iconic sage-grouse and 350 other sagebrush dependent species of conservation concern. The administration’s decision not to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act last year was based on commitments by multiple agencies to implement new conservation measures throughout the species’ range.  The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture now must step up to the plate to ensure that these plans are fully implemented to protect and recover this charismatic icon of the Sagebrush Sea and Congress must do its part to appropriate the necessary funding.

“The President’s budget request represents an unequivocal investment in our nation’s natural resources, wildlife and habitat. It’s time for Congress to follow President Obama’s lead and make our natural heritage a priority.”

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.