The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced over $40 million in funding to support collaborative partnerships aimed at protecting endangered species in the United States. These grants, provided through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF), will assist state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies in their efforts to conserve imperiled species and their habitats. The funding will be used for land acquisition and conservation planning projects covering more than 7,200 acres of habitat for 65 listed and at-risk species.
The grants are distributed through two competitive grant programs: the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program and the Conservation Planning Assistance Grant Program. This year, a total of $36.6 million will be allocated to the Recovery Land Acquisition grants, which will fund the acquisition and permanent protection of 10 projects across six states and one territory. These projects will benefit 32 listed and at-risk species.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland expressed the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to collaborative and inclusive approaches to voluntary conservation. The funding announcement aligns with the administration's goal of conserving and restoring America's lands and waters for the benefit of all. Haaland also praised the efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in working closely with states and private landowners to preserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
The funded projects include Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants, Recovery Land Acquisition Grants, and Conservation Planning Assistance Grants. Notable grants include the White Salmon Watershed HCP Phase 2 project in Washington, which received over $6.6 million, and the Davis County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition project in Iowa, which received $1.7 million. In total, four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $12.6 million in Recovery Land Acquisition Grants, while five states will receive $4 million in Conservation Planning Assistance Grants.
These grants demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support collaborative partnerships in conservation efforts. As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, Service Director Martha Williams expressed her satisfaction with the continued support for these partnerships. The funding provided through the CESCF will play a crucial role in protecting endangered species and their habitats for generations to come.
To learn more about the funded projects and funding sources, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's website at https://www.fws.gov/page/cooperative-endangered-species-conservation-fund-grants-award-summary-fiscal-year-2023.
