Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (Recovering) (HR 2773, S 2372) will dedicate $97.5 million to Tribal Nations and $1.3 billion to state-level conservation efforts for on-the-ground conservation projects — helping prevent wildlife from becoming endangered in the first place.

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This funding would allow tribes to build their capacity and develop viable fish, wildlife, conservation and enforcement programs. It would help tribes collect data and work to sustain threatened, endangered and culturally relevant species.
Elveda MartinezPresident of the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society

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The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is monumental legislation for Tribes to protect these species and our cultural ties to them along with promoting tribal self-governance. With the support of this legislation, the Tribes stand ready and committed to ensure that wildlife endures for all of our future generations.
Elveda MartinezPresident of the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society

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For Tribes, RAWA isn’t just about an increase to their base funding, it’s a game changer in the way they operate, manage, participate and assert self-governance and sovereignty.
Julie ThorstensonExecutive Director of the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society

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With its broad range of support, including mutual support from states and Tribes, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act can foster improved coordination and collaboration and elevate wildlife management across the nation – with the goal of more abundant fish, flora and fauna for both Tribal and non-Tribal members for many future generations to come.
Gloria TomDirector of the Navajo Nation’s Department of Fish and Wildlife

TRIBAL IMPACT

If passed, the Tribal title of Recovering will secure the first ever, secured annual federal funding dedicated to supporting Tribal fish and wildlife management. The funds can be used to develop, carry out, or enhance wildlife conservation and restoration programs, threatened and endangered species recovery, wildlife conservation education and recreation, conservation law enforcement, and program staff.

Funds will be distributed through a noncompetitive application process with no matching funds requirement. The guidelines and criteria will be determined by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through BIA in consultation with Tribes.

NAFWS ACTION

NAFWS recognizes the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act as an opportunity to begin addressing the historical inequities, exclusion, and perpetual underfunding of Tribal wildlife management. NAFWS supports Recovering through the following actions:

Active members of the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife and the Tribal Alliance
Act as clearinghouse for Tribal Letters of Support
Passed a resolution in support of dedicated federal funding to recover fish and wildlife

NAFWS Resources

Tribal Fact Sheet

Letter of Support to advance RAWA

NAFWS Resolution

Congressional Briefing Video

Additional Resources

HR 2773

S 2372

Blue Ribbon Panel Report

State Wildlife Action Plans

IN THE NEWS

Tribes doing vital conservation work can’t access federal funds to support it: NPR

May 24, 2023

Initiatives