​​Wild Resource Conservation Program

The Wild Resources Conservation Fund was created in 1982 to among other things, aid in the conservation of the Commonwealth’s flora and non-game fauna.

It set up the ability for citizens to support the management of wild resources by creating a contribution opportunity through a tax check-off and license plate program, furthering management and conservation.

Each year, these funds support the survey, research, management, and conservation of wild resources through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s Wild Resource Conservation Program.

The Wild Resource Conservation Program identifies research and conservation needs on the Commonwealth’s native flora and non-game wildlife.

The program provides grants and facilitates the flow of information between researchers, conservationists, and educators.

For more than 30 years, the program has helped to:

• Develop County Natural Heritage Inventories that locate and identify rare species and special habitats in all 67 Pennsylvania counties
• Identify species most at risk from climate change
• Reintroduce river otters and osprey to the Commonwealth
• Understand management needs for rare plants and animals, including species like American ginseng and hellbenders

Support Wild Resource Conservation Program

The Wild Resource Conservation Program relies on the generosity of people like you to carry out the important work of conserving biodiversity.

The program receives no funding from the Pennsylvania state budget.

The following are ways you can support the work of the Wild Resource Conservation Program.

Otter License Plate

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Show your support every time you drive. Purchase a river otter license plate from PennDOT and $15 will go to the Wild Resource Conservation Program.

Hellbender License Plate

Purchase a brand new hellbender license plate from PennDOT and $15 from the purchase price will help support the Wild Resource Conservation Program.

Income Tax Refund Checkoff

When filing your Pennsylvania income taxes, donate all or part of your refund to the Wild Resource Conservation Program to help protect plants and non-game wildlife.

Donate to Wild Resource Conservation Program

To contribute to the fund, mail a check payable to:

Wild Resource Conservation Program
Bureau of Forestry
400 Market Street, 6th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552

Wild Resource Conservation Board

The Wild Resource Conservation Board is made up of:

• The Pennsylvania House and Senate Energy and Environmental Resources Committee -- Senator Gene Yaw (R), Majority Chairman and 2022 Board Chair; Senator Carolyn T. Comitta (D), Minority Chairman; Representative Daryl D. Metcalfe (R), Majority Chairman and 2021 Board Chair; and Representative Greg Vitali (D), Minority Chairman

• Cindy Adams Dunn, Executive Head of DCNR

• Timothy D. Schaeffer, Executive Head of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

• Bryan Burhans, Executive Head of Pennsylvania Game Commission

The Wild Resource Conservation Board is responsible for implementing the Wild Resource Conservation Program grant timeline.

Wild Resource Conservation Program Grant Timeline

The process whereby Wild Resource Conservation Program grants are awarded is governed by the Wild Resource Conservation Program Act (PDF) and the Wild Resource Conservation Board bylaws (PDF), yielding the following:

1. Public hearing announcement is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
   

2. Public hearing is held and interested parties have the opportunity to make recommendations to the board concerning allocation of funds for grants and other projects to preserve and enhance the wild resource)
   

3. Annual board meeting (when the board makes decisions on how to allocate funding)

4. Grantee notification (the board notifies applicants after the annual board meeting)