Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

State Wildlife Grants Program

The State Wildlife Grants program (SWG) is the nation's core program for preventing species from becoming endangered. This federal program provides needed funds to states to develop and implement conservation actions, identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan, that benefit wildlife and their habitat, including species not hunted or fished. Created in 2000 by Congress, SWG has enabled the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission to direct conservation efforts toward species in decline or vulnerable to decline, with the goal of preventing endangered species listings. State Wildlife Grant funding to Pennsylvania has ranged from $1.5 to $2.5 million per year, split equally between the Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission.

The Game Commission is not seeking project proposals at this time.

How has Pennsylvania wildlife benefitted from State Wildlife Grant funding?

The Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan serves as the blueprint for guiding decisions on where to direct State Wildlife Grant funds for conservation actions. Grant funding has dramatically improved the Game Commission's ability to:
  • Respond to emerging issues, such as white-nose syndrome in bats
  • Implement conservation actions for species of greatest conservation need
  • Assess wildlife populations 

Since 2001, the Game Commission has supported more than 60 bird and mammal conservation projects through State Wildlife Grant funding, including wildlife research, habitat improvement, land acquisition and other efforts. Many projects are conducted through partnerships with colleges and universities, conservation organizations and natural history museums, thereby maximizing the Game Commission's use of these federal funds. To see a map and descriptions of select projects, click on the map below.

State Wildlife Grants Program Map image

In 2020, the Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission celebrate 20-years of the State Wildlife Grants Program with a retrospective of accomplishments. These successes are shared nationwide, as detailed in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 20 Years of Conservation Success report.

20 years of State Wildlife Grants Program

Additionally, 2020 Wildlife Diversity Program highlights can be found through the link below.

2019 Wildlife Diversity highlights

Contact

If you have questions about the State Wildlife Grants program, please contact the PGC Wildlife Diversity Conservation Planning Coordinator, PGCSWAP@pa.gov.pa

Help support wildlife! 

Learn about the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and how you can help.