America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative
Forecasted
America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative supports locally led conservation partnerships, funding habitat restoration and landscape connectivity to strengthen resilience and expand access to nature.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2027 (National Programs Field Liaison Support RFQ, anticipated)
Funding Amounts: Federal and private funding
Summary: Supports locally led conservation and restoration projects that restore habitats, connect landscapes, strengthen resilience, and expand outdoor access.
Key Information: Implementation and Planning Grants are limited to states, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Tribes.
Description
America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (AERI), administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, combines federal and private funding into a single competitive program for voluntary, locally led conservation and restoration across the United States. It supports work on public, private, and Tribal lands, including fish and wildlife habitat restoration, ecosystem and community resilience, conservation workforce development, habitat connectivity, and access to nature.
The initiative encourages landscape-scale and cross-jurisdictional projects that advance existing conservation plans or draw on Indigenous Knowledge. Its priorities include restoring aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, reconnecting wildlife corridors, and addressing flooding, drought, and other climate-related threats. Projects can deliver cumulative benefits for wildlife, carbon sequestration and storage, and underserved communities through collaborative partnerships and nature-based solutions.
