Renewed funding for the California Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program has been CCA’s prime funds precedence this yr.
Governor Newsom introduced that an settlement had been reached relating to the 2024-25 State Finances; a “Budget Bill Junior” amending the Finances Act of 2024 appeared in print that very same day. Particularly, part 102 of the Act earmarks $600,000 from CDFW’s Biodiversity Conservation Program for wolf compensation.
“Funding for the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program has been CCA’s hardest-fought battle this yr, and I’m elated to see renewed funding for the Program practically throughout the end line,” CCA Vice President of Authorities Affairs Kirk Wilbur mentioned.
CCA has aggressively sought renewed funding for this system since December of 2023, when members prioritized the problem on the Affiliation’s Annual Conference. Whereas $600,000 is lower than CCA had searched for the Program, any renewed funding for the Program is a big victory for the Affiliation on this difficult fiscal local weather, and the funding will allow the Division to prioritize essentially the most essential parts of the compensation program, reminiscent of direct loss compensation.
“I’d wish to thank our companions at Defenders of Wildlife and California Farm Bureau for preventing alongside us to assist the viability of ranchers in wolf nation, and I’d like to acknowledge the quite a few legislative champions who’ve prioritized wolf compensation funding, particularly Sen. Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson), Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), Asm. Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) and Asm. James Gallagher (R-Yuba Metropolis), every of whom championed this Program inside their caucuses,” Wilbur mentioned.
Along with funding for the Program within the revised funds, the public resources budget trailer bill additionally contains new statutory language authorizing CDFW to “allocate federal funds and any moneys acquired as donations for functions of the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program.”
Legislators will vote on the revised funds and funds trailer payments later this week; whereas the funding measures haven’t but been signed into regulation, CCA is assured wolf compensation funding will probably be included within the ultimate bundle. For extra info on the funds settlement, see the Governor’s abstract, here.
Trending Merchandise
