US Fish and Wildlife Service Incentive Programs

Landowner Incentive Program

Type of Program: Direct funding; Technical assistance

Purpose: To support on-the-ground projects that enhance, protect, or restore habitats that benefit "species-at-risk" on privately owned lands.

Who Can Participate: Private landowners, individually or as a group, can submit project proposals. Groups (e.g. land conservancies or trusts, watershed councils, community organizations, or conservation organizations) working with private landowners or on trust lands are also eligible. In their proposal, these groups need to identify landowners who have confirmed their intent to participate.

How it Works: This program is a competitive grant program that establishes partnerships between federal and state governments and private landowners. States review landowner applications and submit a package of proposals to for federal funding. The state provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners. Landowners or partners provide a 25% non-federal match or in-kind contribution.

Agency Offering Program: This program is funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and administered by state wildlife agencies.

Website: http://federalaid.fws.gov/lip/lipguidelines.html

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants Program

Type of Program: Direct financial assistance

Purpose: To support the long-term protection of wetlands and associated uplands habitats needed by waterfowl and other migratory birds in North America. Projects must support long-term wetlands acquisition, restoration, and/or enhancement.

Who Can Participate: Organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects

How it Works: A standard grant proposal is a 4-year plan of action supported by a NAWCA grant and partner funds to conserve wetlands and wetlands-dependent fish and wildlife through acquisition (including easements and land title donations), restoration and/or enhancement, with a grant request between $51,000 and $1,000,000. Small grants (up to $50,000) are administered separately. Partners must provide at least a 1:1 non-federal match to the grant. Match is eligible up to 2 years prior to the year the proposal is submitted and through the project period.

Agency Offering Program: US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Website: http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/index.shtm

Contact Information: Standard Grants proposals: david_buie@fws.gov. Small Grants proposals: keith_morehouse@fws.gov, (703) 358-1888. General office number: (703) 358-1784.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Type of Program: Direct funding; Technical assistance

Purpose: To support voluntary restoration of wetlands and other fish and wildlife habitats on private land through public-private partnerships. Projects are designed to restore native habitat to as near a natural state as possible.

Who Can Participate: Private land (any land not in state or federal ownership)

How it Works: Landowners must provide a 1:1 non federal match (including in-kind). Landowners agree to retain the restoration projects for at least 10 years, and otherwise retain full control of their land. High priority projects address one of more of these criteria: benefit migratory birds, migratory fish, or threatened and endangered species; high priority areas identified by state fish and wildlife agencies and other partners; are located near National Wildlife Refuges; reduce habitat fragmentation.

Agency Offering Program: US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Website:
http://ecos.fws.gov/partners/viewContent.do?viewPage=home

Contact Information: For a contact in your area, go to
http://www.fws.gov/partners/HowToPartner/altcont.html

Private Stewardship Program

Type of Program: Direct funding

Purpose: To provide grants and other assistance on a competitive basis to individuals and groups for voluntary conservation efforts to benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on private lands.

Who Can Participate: Private landowners and groups and organizations that partner with landowners. Lands owned or leased by organizations may be eligible if the conservation actions go beyond measures and plans already in place or otherwise required.

How it Works: A proposal needs to describe the conservation efforts to be undertaken, provide a plan for how and by whom the work will be implemented, describe the land where the work will be done, and explain the benefits for the targeted at-risk species. A 10% non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is required.

Agency Offering Program: US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Website: http://endangered.fws.gov/grants/private%5Fstewardship/

Contact Information: privatestewardship@fws.gov, 503-231-6241