RFAs: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants (United States)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants provide matching funds to eligible U.S. state and territorial agencies for land acquisition projects that permanently conserve habitat for federally listed, candidate, and at-risk species covered by approved Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). Awards range from $10,000 to $26 million, with federal funding generally requiring a 25% non-federal cost share, reduced to 10% for eligible multi-state collaborations.

What Is the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grant?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) offers these grants to support the permanent conservation of wildlife habitat associated with approved Habitat Conservation Plans.

Funding can help state and territorial agencies acquire important habitat through:

• Fee-simple acquisition, where the agency obtains ownership of the property.
• Permanent conservation easements, which protect habitat while allowing ownership to remain with another party.

The program is intended to complement existing HCP commitments rather than replace required mitigation, minimization, or monitoring activities.

What Does the Grant Support?

Projects must focus on voluntary conservation efforts that permanently protect habitat for species addressed by an active Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.

Eligible conservation targets can include:

• Federally listed species.
• Candidate species.
• At-risk species.
• Habitat supporting species covered by an approved HCP.

At least 10% of available funding is reserved for projects associated with single-species Habitat Conservation Plans.

Why Does This Funding Matter?

Habitat loss and fragmentation can threaten species even where conservation plans are already in place.

These grants provide resources for permanently protecting important habitat through land ownership or conservation easements. The approach can create long-term conservation benefits while supporting broader HCP objectives.

The funding is particularly relevant for state-led conservation initiatives that require substantial resources for land acquisition.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Individual awards can range from:

$10,000 to $26,000,000

The standard federal cost-sharing requirement is:

• 25% minimum non-federal contribution of the total project cost.
• 10% minimum non-federal contribution for eligible multi-state collaborations.
• No required match for grants awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The non-federal contribution may consist of:

• Cash contributions.
• In-kind contributions.
• Real property contributions.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants are State and Territorial agencies in the United States that:

• Have entered into a cooperative agreement under Section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• Have provided the information required for annual renewal of that agreement.
• Are proposing eligible voluntary conservation projects within the United States.

Although only eligible State agencies can receive awards, other entities may participate as subgrantees.

Potential subgrantees include:

• Counties.
• Conservation organisations.
• Other eligible conservation partners.

What Projects Are Eligible?

A qualifying project should involve the permanent conservation of habitat through acquisition or a permanent conservation easement.

Projects should:

• Support species covered by an active Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
• Permanently conserve habitat.
• Take place within the United States.
• Represent voluntary conservation efforts.
• Complement the commitments established through the relevant HCP.

What Projects Are Not Eligible?

Grant funding cannot be used to:

• Replace HCP mitigation commitments.
• Replace minimization requirements.
• Replace required monitoring activities.
• Satisfy regulatory mitigation obligations under the ESA.
• Satisfy mitigation requirements imposed under other federal laws.
• Support conservation activities outside the United States.

The grant therefore should not be treated as a mechanism for meeting an applicant’s mandatory regulatory mitigation obligations.

How the Cost Share Works

Applicants generally must provide a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.

For example, under the standard 25% match requirement, a project costing $1 million would require at least $250,000 in non-federal contributions, with the remaining amount potentially supported through federal funding, subject to program limits and award decisions.

For qualifying multi-state collaborations, the minimum non-federal contribution can be 10%.

Contributions may be provided through cash, qualifying in-kind resources, or real property.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm State Agency Eligibility

Verify that the applicant is an eligible State or Territorial agency with the required Section 6(c) cooperative agreement and annual renewal information.

Step 2: Identify the Relevant HCP

Confirm that the proposed conservation project is connected to an approved and active Habitat Conservation Plan and Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.

Step 3: Identify the Conservation Property

Determine the land or conservation easement that should be permanently protected and explain its importance to the covered species and HCP objectives.

Step 4: Develop the Conservation Plan

Explain:

• Which species will benefit.
• What habitat will be protected.
• How the property contributes to HCP goals.
• Why permanent acquisition or an easement is appropriate.
• How the project supports long-term conservation.

Step 5: Establish the Cost Share

Document the project’s total cost and identify the required non-federal contribution.

Step 6: Identify Partners

Where appropriate, identify counties, conservation organisations, landowners, or other entities that will participate as partners or subgrantees.

Step 7: Demonstrate Voluntary Conservation

Clearly explain that the proposed acquisition is a voluntary conservation action and is not being undertaken simply to satisfy a regulatory mitigation obligation.

Step 8: Submit the Application

Complete the required USFWS application process and provide the necessary project, financial, eligibility, and conservation documentation.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

• Clearly connect the property to the relevant HCP.
• Identify the species and habitat benefits precisely.
• Explain the long-term conservation value of the acquisition.
• Provide a realistic property acquisition budget.
• Clearly document the non-federal cost share.
• Explain partner responsibilities.
• Demonstrate why permanent protection is necessary.
• Distinguish voluntary conservation from regulatory mitigation.
• Provide evidence supporting the ecological importance of the proposed property.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying without the required Section 6(c) cooperative agreement.
• Proposing habitat unrelated to an active HCP permit.
• Treating the grant as a substitute for mandatory mitigation.
• Failing to document the required cost share.
• Proposing temporary rather than permanent conservation arrangements.
• Omitting information about the species that will benefit.
• Assuming counties or conservation organisations can apply directly as primary recipients.
• Including activities outside the United States.

Key Details at a Glance

• Funder: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Program: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants
• Primary applicants: Eligible State and Territorial agencies
• Funding: $10,000–$26 million
• Standard cost share: At least 25% non-federal
• Multi-state collaboration cost share: At least 10% non-federal
• Territories with match waiver: U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands
• Funding purpose: Permanent habitat conservation
• Acquisition methods: Fee-simple acquisition or permanent conservation easements
• Species: Federally listed, candidate and at-risk species covered by an active HCP permit
• Single-species HCP reservation: At least 10% of available funding
• Subgrantees: Counties and conservation organisations may participate
• Project location: United States
• Regulatory mitigation: Not eligible as a substitute for required mitigation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of these USFWS grants?

The grants provide funding for permanent land acquisition or conservation easements that protect habitat for species covered by approved Habitat Conservation Plans.

How much can an applicant receive?

Awards range from $10,000 to $26 million, depending on the proposed project and available funding.

Who can apply?

Eligible State and Territorial agencies that have the required Section 6(c) cooperative agreement and have provided the information needed for annual renewal can apply.

Can conservation organisations apply directly?

No. The State agency is the eligible recipient, but counties and conservation organisations can participate as subgrantees.

How much matching funding is required?

Most projects require at least 25% non-federal cost share. Eligible multi-state collaborations can qualify for a 10% minimum cost share. The match requirement is waived for certain U.S. territories, including Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What types of land acquisition are supported?

Funding can support fee-simple acquisition or the establishment of permanent conservation easements that protect important habitat.

Can the grant be used to meet regulatory mitigation requirements?

No. The program supports voluntary conservation and cannot be used to satisfy regulatory mitigation requirements under the ESA or other federal laws.

Conclusion

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants provide substantial funding for state-led efforts to permanently protect important wildlife habitat. Eligible State and Territorial agencies should demonstrate a strong connection between the proposed acquisition, an active HCP, covered species, long-term habitat conservation, and the required non-federal cost share.