ARKANSAS, USA — According to a statement by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), the state has been able to award over $530,000 to schools across Arkansas thanks to wildlife fines from poachers.
The AGFC said they do not use any of the money from fines on themselves, instead putting it toward efforts to increase conservation education. The grants were made by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Division of Rural Services.
“The best way to prevent future violations is to instill a love of the resource in our future hunters, anglers, and outdoors enthusiasts while teaching them why it’s important to follow the rules,” AGFC Director Austin Booth said. “Every hunter is faced with the decision to follow the rules or cheat the system every time they put on a pair of waders or an orange vest.
"The things they learn today ... could be the very thing that molds them into the ethical sportsmen and sportswomen our wildlife resources deserve," said Booth.
Schools in 67 counties were awarded grants, and 240 awards were made, according to Becca Caldwell, Director of Rural Services for the AEDC.
“Outdoor recreation is a vital part of Arkansas’s quality of life, and it is an important draw for people looking at The Natural State as a place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the AEDC..”
JJ Gladden, AGFC assistant chief of education, said the fine money grant partnership has been a huge success for many schools, particularly those in rural areas with limited budgets.
All schools in the state are eligible to participate in the program, but only money collected in the county where the violation occurred may be used as grant funds for that county.
The funding has helped schools create and maintain archery, fishing, and competitive shooting sports programs. Schools also have used the money to help improve wildlife education by purchasing educational materials, materials for the creation of indoor and outdoor habitats, lab supplies, and field trips to AGFC nature and education centers.
Conservation districts have used the funding to help promote wildlife conservation awareness in the communities by hosting environmental education days and fishing derbies for children of all ages.
“Budgets are so tight in some districts, they’re barely able to cover the cost of core classes,” Gladden said. “The fine money grant program enables us to help shoulder some of the load and bring all sorts of great education programs to the kids. Many of these children will be the future of conservation and we can’t let money get in the way of their future.”
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