The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation received $100,000 in grant funding to permanently protect more than 12,000 acres of ungulate winter range on the Buffalo Horn Ranch in northwestern Colorado. The grant leverages an additional $4,050,839 in matching funds. The conservation easement will secure habitat connectivity across public and private lands for wildlife movement and migration.
The U.S. Department of the Interior awarded more than $4.4 million dollars in grant funding for habitat conservation projects in 11 different western states that conserve migration corridors and winter range for elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. That amount includes $3.1 million from a public-private partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The grants will generate an additional $20.3 million in matching contributions to support big game species habitat conservation for a total conservation impact of $24.7 million.
“As we continue to approach conservation of migration corridors and winter range for mule deer, elk and pronghorn in a non-regulatory and voluntary manner, we are showing how conservation succeeds in the 21st century,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “Working together with government and non-government partners, along with private landowners, we are protecting, enhancing and restoring habitat for big game and countless other species of wildlife.”
Funding partners include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, ConocoPhillips and BNSF Railways.
Go here to view the projects.
(Photo source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation)