The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced more than $66.7 million in grant funding for states to collaborate on conservation efforts to protect the most endangered species.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund will provide these grants to 16 states and Guam to assist with land acquisition and conservation planning initiatives on about 13,500 acres of habitat for 162 endangered and threatened species, according to an Oct. 19 news release. Additionally, the grants will be matched by partner funding totaling more than $35,1 million.
“These grants will enable state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies and their partners to advance the stewardship of our nation’s most imperiled species and the habitats upon which they depend," Service Director Martha Williams said in the release. "This cooperative approach to conservation demonstrates a shared commitment to the Endangered Species Act’s purpose of protecting biodiversity."
California will receive approximately $4.4 million through the HCP Property Acquisition Grant Program to acquire and permanently preserve approximately 737 acres of property to fulfill Western Riverside Multiple Species HCP's mitigation goals in Riverside County, according to the release.
The proposed sites are located in high-priority conservation areas that are home to ESA-listed species such as the San Jacinto Valley crownscale, spreading navarretia, coastal California gnatcatcher, thread-leaved brodiaea, Stephens’ kangaroo rat and western spadefoot toad, the release reported.
Additionally, the Recovery Land Purchase Grant Program will grant the state of Alabama approximately $2.57 million to assist in the purchase of 1,728 acres of Red Hills salamander habitat in Monroe County, according to the release. The project seeks to support Alabama's continuing efforts to permanently conserve and recover a portion of the species' surviving habitat throughout its region and will culminate in the permanent protection of nearly 13,800 continuous acres of habitat for the species.
The CESCF fund may be used for a variety of projects, including land purchase, conservation planning and recovery land acquisition, according to the release.
