F25AS00184 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance
Grants support states in creating/updating Habitat Conservation Plans and Conservation Benefit Agreements for endangered, candidate, and at-risk species.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
Fish and Wildlife Service has archived this opportunity.
Funder: Fish and Wildlife Service
Due Dates: March 14, 2025 (application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,000,000 per award; total program funding approximately $8.74 million for FY 2025
Summary: Provides grants to state agencies for developing and updating Habitat Conservation Plans and Conservation Benefit Agreements for endangered, candidate, and at-risk species.
Key Information: Only state governments with a Cooperative Agreement under Section 6(c) of the ESA are eligible; funding supports planning and development activities but not land acquisition or regulatory compliance costs.
Description
The FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance grant program supports state agencies in the development, renewal, or amendment of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and Conservation Benefit Agreements (CBAs, formerly Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances). This program also funds the development of HCPs that cover only candidate or at-risk species, preparing for potential future listings.
Eligible activities include:
- Document preparation for HCPs and CBAs
- Public outreach and coordination
- Baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and inventories
- Preparation of environmental compliance documents such as those required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
- Administrative costs related to the implementation of permitted CBAs
Funding cannot be used for land acquisition or to fulfill regulatory requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or other federal laws. The program emphasizes supporting conservation planning efforts that are mutually beneficial and proactive.
