Have you kayaked on Virginia’s beautiful waters? Or enjoyed fishing or hunting? Perhaps you simply enjoy seeing wildlife in nature and not near your trash cans! Whether you know it or not, you have likely benefited from the work of our state wildlife agency, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
DWR conserves and restores wildlife habitat and connects people to the outdoors by providing access and education on boating, paddling, hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related activities. DWR also enforces laws to protect natural resources and public safety and manages human-wildlife conflict.
Across Virginia, DWR manages:
- 250,000 acres of public lands
- 25,000 miles of cold- and warm-water streams
- 235 public boat launches
- Fishing and boating access to more than 175,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs
Despite this broad mandate, DWR receives no funding from the General Assembly. Instead, the agency relies on revenue from hunting and fishing licenses, federal dollars, and a portion of the sales tax collected on outdoor equipment and watercraft sold in Virginia.
Over the past decade, rising costs, added responsibilities, and increased staffing expenses have created significant budget pressure. Without additional state funding, DWR will be forced to reduce staff, cut programs, and scale back the services available to Virginians.
Without increased funding, the Department’s ability to carry out its mission is at risk.
Whether you are nature lover or birder, hunter, or fisher, signing this pledge is a powerful way to show state legislators people like you support our state wildlife agency and the wild places they protect for the benefit of all Virginians now—and for generations to come.