Tribal Wildlife Grants

The TWG program is part of the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program, which provides wildlife conservation grants to States, Commonwealths, and to the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and Tribes under provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. In 2002, Congress first authorized the Service to use a portion of SWG funding to establish a competitive grant program for federally recognized Tribes to engage in fish and wildlife conservation efforts on their lands, many of which are located adjacent to those managed by the Department of the Interior. Eligible projects include those that initiate, develop or implement activities or programs that benefit wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished. Many TWG-funded projects increase fish and wildlife populations, providing hunting and fishing opportunities on and off Tribal lands. TWG-funded projects also align with and support Service Endangered Species Act (ESA) efforts, including downlisting, delisting, and preventing new listings.