The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $48.4 million in grants to 19 states and Guam to support land acquisition and conservation planning projects on over 23,000 acres of habitat for 80 listed and at-risk species through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF). The grants will be matched by more than $27.75 million in partner funds.
“Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, this critical funding will help in conserving our nation’s most imperiled wildlife and vital habitat while fostering partnerships between federal, state and local governments, private landowners and communities,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “These grants support the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative goal to conserve, connect and restore 30 percent of the Nation’s lands and waters by protecting biodiversity, slowing extinction rates and facilitating collaborative restoration efforts.”
Authorized by Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act and partly funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, CESCF grants contribute millions annually to support the implementation of state and territorial programs that conserve and recover federally listed and at-risk species on non-federal lands. This approach to conservation, done in cooperation with states, territories, willing landowners and local partners, furthers species conservation and facilitates compatible economic development.
CESCF land acquisition funding to states is awarded through two nationally competitive grant programs: the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program, which provides funds for the acquisition of habitat in support of Service-approved recovery plans, and the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grant Program, which provides funds to acquire habitat for listed and at-risk species to complement conservation strategies of approved HCPs. This year’s awards, totaling more than $41.4 million, will fund the acquisition and permanent protection for 21 projects over 23,000 acres of habitat across 16 states for the benefit of 40 listed and at-risk species, including the Indiana bat, wood stork, gopher tortoise, Oregon silverspot butterfly and speckled pocketbook mussel.
Southeast Region Recovery Land Acquisition Grants:
Arkansas Land Acquisition for the Recovery of Yellowcheek Darter, Speckled Pocketbook, and Northern Long-Eared Bat - $2,169,800.00
Florida Conservation Easement on 50 Acres in Liberty County Florida to Benefit Imperiled Species - $97,349.00
Georgia Conservation Easement in Thomas County to Benefit the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Gopher Tortoise and Wood Stork Phase II - $1,597,890.00
Georgia Upatoi Ravines Recovery Land Acquisition - $947,387.25 (partial funding award)
Tennessee Acquisition of the 176-Acre Cedar Forest Tract for the Recovery of the Federally Endangered Leafy Prairie Clover and Indiana Bat in Lebanon - $1,000,000.00
Southeast Region Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants:
Alabama Red Hills- Scratch Ankle - $8,804,150
The Service also approved more than $6.9 million in grant awards to five states and Guam under the Conservation Planning Assistance Grant Program. Funding awarded through this program may be used to support the development, renewal or amendment of voluntary landowner agreements, i.e., HCPs and conservation benefit agreements. Eligible activities include document preparation, public outreach, baseline
species surveys, habitat assessments, inventories and environmental compliance. This year’s awards will support nine conservation planning efforts covering 51 listed, candidate and at-risk species, such as the western snowy plover, Mariana fruit bat, San Joaquin kit fox and Everglade snail kite.
Southeast Region Conservation Planning Assistance Grants:
Florida - Duke Energy Bat Habitat Conservation Plan - $1,000,000
Florida - South Florida Water Management District Conservation Plan - $1,000,000
South Carolina - Bat Conservation Planning for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Properties - $425,000
For a full list of awards and to learn more about the CESCF grant programs, please visit the Service’s program page.
The ESA provides a critical safety net for North America’s native fish, wildlife and plants. The Service is working to actively engage conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species. Learn more online about our endangered species efforts.
