Deadline: 2-Mar-23
The Fish and Wildlife Service has launched the Conservation Planning Assistance Grant Program under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund to support the development of new Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs), and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs).
Purpose
- Funding may also be used to support the renewal or amendment of existing HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs. The development of HCPs that include only candidate or at-risk species (i.e., no Federally listed species covered by the HCP), such that the HCP would be in place if the species is listed, is also supported through this program.
- Funding may be used to support development and planning activities such as document preparation, public outreach, baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and inventories. The preparation of environmental compliance review documents, such as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), is also an eligible use of grant funds.
- Conservation planning efforts, especially when covering large areas or multiple species, can require a significant investment of time and money. Providing Federal financial assistance, in the form of competitive grants, is an added incentive for entering into the conservation planning process beyond the regulatory assurances these plans and agreements provide.
- These plans and agreements can significantly reduce the burden of the ESA on small landowners by providing efficient mechanisms for compliance, distributing the economic and logistical impacts of species conservation among the community, and bringing a broad range of landowner activities under the legal protections of the plans and agreements. Planning efforts with the greatest potential contribution to species conservation will be prioritized.
- The Service recognizes that, in the exercise of their general governmental powers, States possess broad trustee and police powers over fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats within their borders. Unless preempted by Federal authority, States possess primary authority and responsibility for protection and management of fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats.
- These grants encourage the cooperative implementation of the ESA by leveraging Federal investment in species recovery and demonstrate the Service’s commitment to cooperative conservation at the local level. This opportunity will help to support the Administration’s priorities of the Build Back Better framework, Justice40 Initiative, as well as the America the Beautiful initiative.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding $8,362,000
- Maximum Award $1,000,000
- Minimum Award $10,000
- Expected Award Date June 30, 2023
- The maximum period of performance (PoP) for a grant awarded through this opportunity is three years, beginning on the effective date established at the time of grant approval or the date of award obligation, whichever is earlier.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants: State governments
- Only State agencies that have entered into a Cooperative Agreement of the ESA and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their Cooperative Agreement are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants that have not fulfilled both criteria will not be considered.
- While funding may only be awarded to States, individuals or groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee.
- Projects must involve voluntary conservation efforts within the United States.
- If a proposal involves the collaboration of two or more States, the minimum non-Federal cost share decreases to 10 percent of the total project cost. The project proposal and budget must reflect the work and responsibilities to be carried out by each of the cooperating States. The source(s) of the non-Federal cost share is up to the applicants and may come from more than one source.
- Applications must include a commitment to funding for, and implementation of, management of the land in perpetuity consistent with the conservation needs of the species.
- State administrative costs must either be assumed by the State or included in the application in accordance with Federal requirements. Applications may not be submitted to cover administrative costs alone.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.