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What Is the Maryland CWRP and How Do We Work?
The Maryland Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP) is an innovative private-public initiative aimed at preserving, restoring, enhancing and protecting aquatic habitats, including wetlands, throughout the state of Maryland. By bringing together corporations, federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations and academia, the Maryland CWRP allows members the opportunity to contribute to crucial projects involving coastal and inland waterways and ecosystem educational programs. In addition, the Maryland CWRP builds positive working relationships among private and public organizations by fostering an environment that allows a better understanding of one another’s perspectives.
The CWRP is a standing committee of the Coastal America Foundation (CAF), a 501(C) 3 Public Charity, that provides corporations and individuals a vehicle by which they can provide tax-deductible support to improve the environment. CAF is also the vehicle through which federal matching funds flow.
All CWRP work is done in cooperation with Coastal America, a partnership among federal, state, local and tribal governments working with private alliances to address environmental problems along our nation’s coast and inland waterways. (Coastal America's federal partners)
Nationally, more than 300 corporate partners have contributed time, materials and money to facilitate selected projects. Since its inception in 1999, the CWRP has received more than $4 million in contributions from its corporate and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners. These contributions have been used to leverage more than $14 million in federal, state and NGO matching funds for the preservation, restoration, enhancement and protection of more than 20,000 acres of wetlands and 7,000 stream miles. Contributions have also supported educational programs through the Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC).
Participation in the CWRP is voluntary and flexible. Companies or organizations can contribute financial support to a general fund that will be combined with other donations to address the most critical areas of wetland and aquatic habitat protection and restoration. CWRP members may also contribute in-kind materials or services and have the option of targeting their support to a specific approved project or program. Monetary contributions are used to match federal grant awards at an average ratio of 3:1.
The National CWRP Management Subcommittee (CWRPMS) serves as a facilitating body to support regional and state CWRP Chapters. Their function includes setting policy, convening meetings with Federal and State agencies, distributing educational materials and assisting in the recruitment of new partners. The National CWRPMS also manages select national projects and programs.
Regional and state CWRP Chapters are autonomous organizations. They work with Coastal America to identify appropriate projects and programs and coordinate their efforts with Coastal America Regional Implementation Teams (RIT’s). Regional and state CWRP Chapters may also nominate their own projects, and submit them to Coastal America for approval.
Projects are implemented and administered by the regional and state CWRP Chapters. This includes the authorization and disbursement of funds from their respective CWRP accounts to complete projects.
The National CWRPMS, Regional CWRP Advisory Councils and State CWRP Advisory Boards are composed of representatives of corporate partners, academia partners, non-profit groups and federal/state agencies.