In December 2002 the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began developing Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan with input from public and private research institutes, conservation organizations, sportsman's groups, environmental educators, landowners and land managers throughout Georgia. Fourteen public meetings were held across the state to gather input, review and revise the plan. In late summer of 2005 the plan was complete and the Board of DNR unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (State Wildlife Action Plan) and urging DNR to implement the plan for the benefit of the wildlife and citizens of Georgia.

To advocate for increased federal funding and to assist in the implementation of the plan, the Teaming with Wildlife (TWW) Coalition is being revitalized. The Georgia Wildlife Federation is actively working with WRD to rebuild the Coalition that was formed in the 1990's and was instrumental in obtaining increased federal funding in order to develop the State Wildlife Action Plan. Members of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition will advocate for increased funding for wildlife through state wildlife grants and will assist the DNR in implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan. We now have 310 conservation organizations, sportsman groups, hunting and fishing clubs, and businesses signed on as members of TWW.

Historically, funding for wildlife restoration and wildlife habitat improvement has come from sportsmen in the form of license sales and excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment through the Pittman-Robertson Act, created in 1937. In 1950 a similar act, the Dingell-Johnson Act, was created to provide funds for the management, conservation and restoration of fishery resources from the sale of fishing tackle and other fishing equipment. The TWW Coalition presents an opportunity for groups other than sportsmen to work towards an increase in funding for wildlife through an increase in State Wildlife Grants.

Sportsman's Connection, July 2007