What is Teaming With Wildlife?

Teaming With Wildlife is a national coalition of more than 5,500 conservation organizations and businesses working together to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered. The coalition supports dedicated funding for fish, forest and wildlife conservation, education and outdoor recreation. The Teaming With Wildlife coalition includes conservation leaders, hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, hikers, educators, conservation-supportive business owners and other wildlife enthusiasts who support the goal of restoring and conserving our nation’s wildlife.

Teaming With Wildlife Fact Sheet

What are State Wildlife Grants? How can my Organization Receive Funding?

In 2000, at the urging of the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, Congress created the State Wildlife Grants Program. This funding source provides federal money to every state for wildlife conservation efforts. Missouri has received $8.5 million in State Wildlife Grants since 2000 (around $1.2 million each year). This funding has been matched by over $5 million in state and partner funds to equal over $13.5 million in funding for conservation, research and habitat restoration.

State Wildlife Grant funds are available to conservation partners through several programs. The Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative offers grants each year to private and public organizations or to individuals who have partnerships that carry out bird habitat conservation projects in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation offers Wildlife Diversity Fund grants to conservation partners that submit a habitat, research or inventory project through a Department employee. For more information about the Wildlife Diversity Fund, contact your local MDC Natural History Biologist. Both of these funding sources are made possible through State Wildlife Grant funding.

While much has been accomplished through State Wildlife Grants, it's future is uncertain. Each year, the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition must speak up and fight for this annually appropriated funding source. Now, with each state in the nation having a Wildlife Action Plan, additional dedicated funding is needed more than ever before. Click here to learn more about potential future dedicated funding sources.

What are State Wildlife Action Plans?

To make the best use of State Wildlife Grants, Congress charged each state with developing a State Wildlife Action Plan. In Missouri, this is known as Missouri's Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy. Missouri's Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy was completed with the input and participation of many conservation partners throughout the state. It identifies Conservation Opportunity Areas (click here for a map) - the best places to work together to conserve all wildlife in Missouri. Many Conservation Opportunity Areas have teams of conservation partners working together to increase conservation actions in these areas. Teaming With Wildlife is helping to implement Missouri's Strategy by working to secure increased funding for wildlife and habitat protection. Find a Conservation Opportunity Area near you and get involved by contacting dennis.figg@mdc.mo.gov.

Join the Coalition!

Joining Teaming with Wildlife is easy, free and vital to our efforts! Simply fill out and return the endorsement form or join online. You will be joining over 200 organizations and businesses in Missouri and over 5,500 nationwide that support additional funding for wildlife conservation, education and outdoor recreation.

Frequently Asked Questions about joining the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition

Missouri's Teaming With Wildlife Coalition