There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund known as the nongame wildlife fund. The fund may be expended subject to appropriation by the legislative assembly to the game and fish department and must be used only for the purposes of preservation, inventory, perpetuation, and conservation of nongame wildlife, natural areas, and nature preserves in this state. The game and fish department shall allocate a portion of the fund to other state agencies for the purpose stated in this section, and with approval of the director. For the purpose of this section, "nongame wildlife" means all species of native animals not commonly taken for sport or commercial purposes and does not include animals determined by the game and fish department to be harmful animals. "Natural areas" and "nature preserves" mean areas as defined in section 55-11-02.
N.D.C.C. § 20.1-02-16.2