Policy Briefs

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act criminalizes the the take of the two species. Learn how this act has helped the Bald Eagle population rebound.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides a federal program for the conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the ecosystems upon which they depend.

Title II of the Farm Bill authorizes it’s agricultural and working lands conservation programs. These conservation programs help build public-private partnerships by providing technical assistance and cost-sharing options for landowners wishing to voluntarily improve habitats for fish and wildlife, reduce erosion, and/or address other natural resource concerns on their land.

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly known at the Pittman-Robertson Act, directs several million dollars to state wildlife agencies each year. Learn how this act operates and what it has contributed to wildlife conservation and wildlife professionals since being enacted in 1937.

The Lacey Act is the oldest national wildlife protection law in the U.S. Learn how this act regulates the sale of any species protected by international or domestic law and prevents the spread of invasive species.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is the primary source of money used by federal, state, and local governments to acquire lands for conservation and public access to natural areas. Learn how this program has been used to conserve over 7 million acres across the U.S.

The Duck Stamp Act, as it is more commonly known, requires hunters to purchase a stamp each year in order to legally hunt migratory birds. Learn how the revenue from this program benefits wildlife and wetland habitats.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) allows the United States to give effect to promises made in international treaties for the protection of migratory birds by serving as an authorizing device for implementing and amending regulations in the U.S. deemed necessary to protect migratory birds covered by the treaties.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) establishes a procedural framework that obligates all federal agencies to consider environmental impacts prior to taking any “major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act establishes a grant program that directs funds to population and habitat conservation for neotropical migrants throughout the western hemisphere. Learn how this program has helped wildlife professionals in their conservation efforts.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funds projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetlands in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Learn how the appropriations from this act conserve wetlands.

The Species At Risk Act is the Canadian federal program aimed at preventing wildlife species from becoming extinct and aiding in the recovery of at risk species.

State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program is the only federal program with the explicit goal of preventing endangered species listing by supporting state wildlife agencies. Learn how these crucial funds support State Wildlife Action Plans and help conserve over 12,000 public trust wildlife species.

Discretionary spending, which funds most government operations – including federal agency budgets – is set on an annual basis through 12 appropriations bills, in what’s often referred to as the congressional appropriations process.

The Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System to designate and preserve pristine undeveloped lands in the U.S. Learn how wilderness areas benefit wildlife professionals.