WCS Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund Portal

Build a diverse coalition of fish and wildlife stakeholder groups that works in partnership with citizens, local officials, non-traditional allies, and state legislators to redirect 1/8 of 1% of Vermont’s state sales tax to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department to support timely, comprehensive implementation of the Vermont Wildlife Action Plan.

Volunteers

We help w/membership gatherings, tabling at fairs and conferences, administrative tasks, driving our "outdoor heritage" roving testimonial truck throughout the state, and more

Funding

We need help w/the cost of polling research, our public relations contract, and the "outdoor heritage" roving testimonial truck

Primary motivations:

Public Benefit

Conservation Mission

Financial Incentive

Personal Interest

Primary goals:

Allocation of 1/8 of a 1 cent of the state Sales Tax to Vermont's Department of Fish and Wildlife to help implement the State;'s Wildlife Action Plan and otherwise protect the future of our fish and wildlife legacy.

Progress:

Legislative session is ongoing. A dedicated source of funding for Vermont's Department of Fish and Wildlife remains under discussion.

Consistent with plans:

State Wildlife Action Plan

Targeted habitats:

• Aquatic
  • Estuarine
  • Lakes and Ponds
  • Marine
  • Rivers and Streams
• Forests and Woodlands
  • Conifer Forests
  • Deciduous Forests and Woodlands
  • Mixed Hardwoods and Conifer
• Wetlands and Riparian Habitats
  • Forested or Shrub Wetlands and Swamps
  • Lowland Riparian Forests and Shrublands
  • Marshes, Bogs and Emergent Wetlands

Targeted species were not provided for this project.

Is the success of this project's actions being monitored?   Yes

Please describe your monitoring activity.

Our partnership steering committee meets regularly and assess progress in acheiving our goal and related subgoals. Additionally, we are in regular, almost daily contact with our legislative champions, key legislative leadership, grassroots and grasstop partners, and partnership member groups.

What lessons have been learned and/or what suggestions do you have for similar activities?

Progress in any funding campaign that requires legislative action is closely tied to the fiscal health of the state in which the campaign operates. However, contrary to intuition, budgets that are strained due to revenue shortfalls may provide opportunity because of an associated momentum to increase taxes.

What additional information would you like to share?

The "inside" game is as important as pressure from the "outside" grassroots. Work hard to advance both without compromising contacts and energies within either.