Date: 11/30/10
Contact: Aaron Meier
Phone: (775) 688-1998

NEW LICENSE PLATE TO HELP FUND PROGRAMS

An effort that started by collecting 1,400 wildlife enthusiast signatures over five years ago, achieved a major milestone on Oct. 13 when Nevada's Commission on Special License Plates approved the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) license plate for production.

The plate's design must still be finalized to meet Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety technical specifications, but it is hoped the plate will be available for sale sometime in early 2011.

Proceeds from the sale of the "Conserve Wildlife" plate, designed by Nevada wildlife artist Jani Ahlvers, will provide sorely needed funding for NDOW's wildlife education and volunteer programs.

"The approval of the first ever NDOW license plate is the result of years of team effort by NDOW staff, volunteers, and the 1,400 public petitioners that initiated this process", said Ken Mayer, director for NDOW. "The timing could not be better. With severe cutbacks to our wildlife education and volunteer programs, sales of the Conserve Wildlife plate will go directly to NDOW to support these important programs. This funding will provide critically needed state dollars to augment our very limited federal funding that is available for the education and volunteer programs."

NDOW's Preserving Our Wildlife Legacy (PrOWL) Volunteer Program was formed in 2000 to serve as a mechanism for citizen-volunteers to become more involved with wildlife projects, such as restoration programs, sage brush seed collection, and sage grouse surveys. Each year, 600-700 PrOWL volunteers donate time working on projects worth a half million dollars annually. Their contributions benefit wildlife directly, and are also applied as match to federal grants in lieu of state funding for a variety of wildlife projects.

"Ever since the beginning of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, volunteers have provided incredibly valuable services for the citizens and wildlife of the state," said Kim Toulouse, volunteer coordinator for NDOW. "This new license plate will help keep these vital programs up and running."

The Wildlife Education program supports NDOW's Trout in the Classroom program, and interpretive education programs in Reno, Verdi, Las Vegas and Elko. An estimated 18,000 school-aged children enjoy these programs each year.

"Nevada's wildlife belongs to its citizens," said Mayer. "This plate provides an opportunity for everyone in Nevada to contribute financially to wildlife education and assist in maintaining the opportunities provided our citizens through our volunteer program."

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.