Many of our state's most beautiful and fragile creatures, like bald eagles, manatees and red-cockaded woodpeckers, are threatened as their habitat vanishes. For these animals, as well as other nongame wildlife, management and habitat conservation are a key to their survival. In an effort to conserve nongame species for future generations of Georgians, the General Assembly created the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Conservation Fund in 1985. Then, in 1988, the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program was established, designed to be supported through private contributions to the Wildlife Conservation Fund. Since that time, the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program has been charged with the management and protection of all nongame species in our state.

Unlike other state agencies, the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program is dependent on voluntary contributions through direct donations and fundraising initiatives like the State Income Tax Checkoff and the Wildlife License Plates. In fact, the Nongame Program receives only 0.7 percent of the Wildlife Resources Division's annual state appropriation, leaving the majority of funds for critical conservation projects to be raised from private donations. Over $575,000 must be raised each year to meet the needs for current wildlife conservation projects. Our mission in the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program is to conserve, manage and protect nongame wildlife effectively in our state, while providing opportunities for Georgians to enjoy wildlife from the mountains in North Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean on our east coast and even in our own backyards.

The Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program depends heavily on private contributions, which means we exist because Georgians want us to exist. Concerned Georgians may donate to the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program directly or through one of our annual fundraisers. By supporting the Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program you help ensure the vast diversity of wildlife in our state will continue to grow and will be enjoyed by Georgians well into the 21st century.