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the State of Montana continue to engage a diverse advisory citizen's group to collaborate on the management of 

 wolves. The Department, after reviewing input from the public, wildlife professionals, coordinating states, other 

 state and federal agencies, etc., will modify and adapt the wolf management program in the future to maintain a 

 viable wolf population within a complex environment. 



FUNDING 



Throughout its 100-year history. Mf^WP has actively restored, perpetuated, and managed the fish and wildlife 

 resources of the state. Fees generated through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and matching federal monies 

 have funded these activities. As MFWP moves towards assuming the management responsibility for the gray wolf, 

 we acknowledge our commitment to use MFWP and matching federal funds to conserve and manage this native 

 species on equal standing with other carnivore species such as mountain lions and black bears. We also 

 acknowledge that existing financial resources are not adequate to fully implement all aspects of this plan. 

 Additional funding will be required to implement the wolf management element (and related activities) and the 

 compensation program element. While the monies and administrative procedures for these parallel elements may or 

 may not originate from the same source, adequate funds for each element are necessary to implement the plan. We 

 will seek additional funding from a diversity of sources, including special state or federal appropriations, private 

 foundations, or other private sources. 



A program being pursued by the Governors of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming is called the Northern Rocky 

 Mountain Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf National Management Trust. Tlie purpose of the Trust is to generate 

 sustainable funding for the long-term conservation of grizzly bear and gray wolf populations in the northern 

 Rockies. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a charitable non-profit corporation dedicated to the 

 conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants and the habitats on which they depend, would financially administer the 

 Trust. An endowment would be established, the annual interest earnings of which would fund actions necessary for 

 species recovery or the implementation of state conservation and management plans. 



More specifically, the Trust would identify, support, and fund initiatives which address grizzly and gray wolf 

 management, monitoring, and other conservation needs, including habitat protection, species protection, scientific 

 research, conflict resolution, compensation for damage, and education and outreach activities. The establishment of 

 the Trust will be made with the understanding that state agencies will continue to seek necessary state appropriations 

 and spending authority for the management and recovery of the species, consistent with their statutory mandates. 

 The Trust will build coalitions among local, state, regional, federal, and international entities to leverage support and 

 guide policies for grizzly bear and gray wolf conservation. 



When the Trust prospectus is finalized, it will be forwarded to the respective Congressional delegations of the three 

 states for their consideration. It is hoped that the tri-state Congressional delegation will recognize the need for 

 secure, long term funding to address the unique challenges associated with the conservation and management of 

 these species of significant national interest. The timing of any special federal appropriation to establish the Trust is 

 uncertain, given other national priorities before Congress. However, the Governors hope that the fund could be 

 developed and appropriated by the year 2003, with an initial balance of at least $40 million. 



Another potential source of long-term funding for the Montana wolf conservation and management program is the 

 Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), a piece of conservation legislation introduced in February 2001 before 

 the lO?'*" Congress. CARA directs appropriations from the income generated by federal offshore oil and natural gas 

 leases to state, federal and local con,servation programs. Examples include fish and wildlife restoration, parks and 

 outdoor recreation, coastal conservation, and historic preservation. The underlying premise is that revenues derived 

 from the exploitation of the nation's non-renewable oil and gas resources should be reinvested in the protection and 

 restoration of renewable natural resources such as fish and wildlife, public lands, and coastlines. Title III would 

 provide annual appropriations to the states specifically for fish and wildlife programs, outdoor recreation, and 

 con.servation education. These funds are intended to fulfill a need for funding of less traditional management 

 programs for species that are typically not hunted or fished. MFWP could use these funds for the wolf management 

 element (and related activities), but not for the compensation program element. Those funds would still need to be 

 secured elsewhere. CARA has garnered broad bi-partisan support. The National Governors' Association and the 



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