On February 27, 2008, NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Dave Chanda and Federal Aid Coordinator Paulette Nelson joined a coalition of state wildlife agencies and conservation groups for Fly-In Days. Approximately 150 people from 41 states gathered in Washington, DC to meet with their Congressional delegations and support funding for the State Wildlife Grants program.

Fly-in Days is an effort led by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA.) Its purpose is to have representatives from conservation groups from all 50 states meet with their congressional delegations to ask for more funding for the State Wildlife Grants program. This year the states were asked to also ask their Congressmen and Senators to include funding for wildlife in any climate change legislation and to support the Teaming With Wildlife Act that had been introduced in the Senate. Wildlife agencies provided information regarding important conservation projects funded by program in each of their respective states.

The State of New Jersey annually receives approximately $1.2 million from this program to manage wildlife species of greatest conservation need and their habitat. Awards for supporting the program were presented to three NJ congressmen who participated in Fly-In Days.