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May 18, 2009
(JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri) – The Conservation Federation of Missouri has awarded $10,800 to conservation organizations in its first year of Missouri Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grants.The nine grants will empower citizen conservation efforts within Conservation Opportunity Areas around the state.
The Teaming With Wildlife Coalition includes nearly 250 Missouri organizations and businesses that support additional funding for fish, forest and wildlife conservation and related education and outdoor recreation. The coalition also supports implementation of Missouri’s Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy – a statewide strategy that focuses on partnerships to increase habitat work in priority places – Conservation Opportunity Areas.
“It’s wonderful to see citizen conservation groups get involved and take ownership of local conservation efforts,” said Dave Murphy, CFM Executive Director. “Our organization is made of citizen conservationists, and we’re pleased to offer a program that supports their efforts.”
The Mini Grant program provides funds for a combination of partnership meetings and on-the-ground habitat restoration. “We’ve learned that partnerships are really key to increasing conservation activities,” said Amy Buechler, Teaming With Wildlife Coordinator. “In many cases, hosting a partnership meeting is the first needed step to jumpstart coordinated activities. In other cases, start-up money is needed to help accomplish a healthy habitat goal.”
The Conservation Federation of Missouri is the largest and oldest statewide citizen conservation organization in Missouri, working to conserve natural resources and protect Missouri’s natural heritage. Funding for the 2009 Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grant Program was provided by CFM, as well as through donations from Teaming With Wildlife partner organizations including the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Prairie Foundation, Audubon Missouri, The Nature Conservancy, and Audubon Society of Missouri. To learn more or to make a donation, please visit www.confedmo.org.
2009 Missouri Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grant Awards
 Audubon Missouri
Iatan/Weston Missouri River Corridor Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) Stakeholder Development
Audubon Missouri will host a stakeholder forum focused on the Iatan/Weston Missouri River Corridor COA, resulting in the development of an action plan for future collaborative activities.
Audubon Missouri
Chert Glade Master Naturalists
Canoes for Conservation
Funds will be used to purchase two canoes and related equipment to aid in water quality education programs, creek cleanups and riparian restoration in the Shoal Creek and Spring River Conservation Opportunity Areas.
Chert Glade Master Naturalists
 Kansas City WildLands
Conservation Opportunity Area Volunteer Stewards Training Academy
Kansas City WildLands will develop a Training Academy to engage more citizen volunteers in restoring and conserving limestone glades, riparian forest, remnant prairies and woodlands within the Upper Blue River Conservation Opportunity Area in urban Kansas City.
Dylan Lehrbaum, KC WildLands
Longboat Outfitters
Re-invigorating the Bryant Creek and North Fork Conservation Opportunity Areas
Longboat Outfitters and Ozark Regional Land Trust will partner to host a stakeholder meeting for the Bryant Creek and North Fork COAs. The meeting will serve to reconnect conservation partners and develop coordinated activities for the future.
Longboat Outfitters
 Missouri River Relief
Manitou Bluffs Conservation Opportunity Area Stakeholders Sharing on the River
As part of a larger River Camp 2009 event, Missouri River Relief will host a River Managers’ Forum and River Camp Sandbar Hootenanny to share current activities within the Manitou Bluffs COA and sow seeds for future collaborations.
Melanie Cheney, MO River Relief
The Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region
Outreach, Education and Engagement in the LaBarque Creek COA
Funds will be used to engage the people who live within the LaBarque Creek Watershed COA by hosting trail building workshops, watershed gatherings, and developing educational materials.
Ron Coleman, Open Space Council
 Southwest Missouri Chapter of Quail Unlimited
Roaring River State Park Glade Restoration
The Southwest Chapter of Quail Unlimited will restore four acres of glade habitat in the Roaring River Conservation Opportunity Area by removing Eastern Red Cedars.
Southwest MO Chapt - Quail Unlimited
Stream Team 3481
Big Piney River Riparian Restoration
Stream Team 3481 will work to establish a 100-foot riparian buffer along the Big Piney River to conserve habitat for declining fish, mussels and hellbenders.
 Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center
Conservation Opportunity Area Committee Development
Wildcat Glades will host quarterly partnership meetings for the Shoal Creek COA near Joplin and expand community restoration workdays.
Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center
Click here to view press release (.doc)
"Mini Grants Assist Citizen Conservation Efforts" - Joplin Independent, May 18, 2009
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