Citizen Advisory Committees to Meet to Recommend Habitat Stamp Projects

Citizen Advisory Committees to Meet to Recommend Habitat Stamp Projects SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has scheduled statewide Habitat Stamp Program Citizens Advisory Committee meetings for 2016. Citizen advisors will prioritize Habitat Stamp-funded projects for 2017 and 2018. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the following regional Citizen Advisory Committee meetings: • Central: 9 a.m. April 28, Cibola National Forest office, 2118 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque. • Northeast: 9 a.m. May 2, Carson National Forest office, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos. • Southeast: 10 a.m. May 7, Bureau of Land Management office, 2909 W. Second St., Roswell. • Northwest: 9 a.m. May 11, Bureau of Land Management office, 6251 College Blvd., Farmington. • Southwest: 10 a.m. May 14, Gila National Forest office, 3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City. The Habitat Stamp Program has an annual budget of $742,300 with the support of hunters, anglers and trappers who purchase a $5 stamp each year to participate in their sports on Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service managed lands. In the 30-year life of the program, 2,312 wildlife and habitat enhancement projects have been funded at a level of almost $46 million. Through this effort, the Habitat Stamp Program has contributed $19.7 million; federal agencies have reported contributing an additional $22.8 million in matching funds in the form of labor, materials, planning, fiscal tracking, National Environmental Policy Act compliance, and obtaining archeological/cultural clearances. Additional organizational and volunteer partners reported contributing another $3.4 million. Overall, the program has improved approximately 837,143 acres of terrestrial habitat; enhanced approximately 11,191 acres of riparian habitat; built 789 places for wildlife to obtain water; completed 801 wildlife population and/or habitat surveys; completed 17 wildlife transplants; improved 87 aquatic habitat/fishing areas; installed approximately 805 erosion control structures for watershed improvement; maintained and/or monitored previously built infrastructure; provided habitat and shelter for wildlife; reduced human impacts on wildlife; and improved overall public enjoyment of wildlife. Since its inception, citizens have been involved in every aspect of the program, advising which habitats are most in need of improvement. Appointed by the State Game Commission, citizens representing sporting, conservation, and public-land permittee interests meet each spring to prioritize local habitat projects. For more information about the Habitat Stamp Program, please contact Reuben Teran, (505) 476-8130, reubens.teran@state.nm.us or visit the Habitat Stamp Program website, http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/habitat-information/habitat-stamp/