Marine Protected Areas Initiative

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The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is uniquely qualified to receive $25,000 from the National Wildlife Refuge System's Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning to help fund conservation and stewardship projects to benefit Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). NFWF efficiently and accountably directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches these investments with private funds. NFWF has worked with the MPA Center since 2009 to award ten grants worth nearly $350,000 to partners of the national system of MPAs. A primary concern with distributing funds for marine conservation is that the recipients' projects are often not properly aligned with the objectives of the granter. NFWF has a history of awarding funds to recipients who focus on working with MPA managers to help achieve the stated marine conservation objectives of the national system of MPAs. The primary objective of the national system is to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the nation's vital natural and cultural marine resources. The national system of MPAs: enhances protection of U.S. marine resources by providing new opportunities for regional and national cooperation; supports the national economy by helping to sustain fisheries and maintain healthy marine ecosystems for tourism and recreation businesses; and promotes public participation in MPA decision-making by improving access to scientific and public policy information.

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