Endangered Species Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program (Non-traditional Section 6)
Forecasted
Endangered Species Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program (Non-traditional Section 6) supports States and Territories in buying habitat from willing sellers to advance threatened and endangered species recovery.
Funder: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (Annual application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Minimum 25% match from States and other non-Federal entities
Summary: Supports habitat acquisition from willing sellers to advance approved and draft recovery plans for threatened and endangered species.
Key Information: California projects require a CDFW grant lead and approval through the CDFW Regional Office where the project is located.
Description
The Recovery Land Acquisition (RLA) Grant Program funds States and Territories to acquire habitat for threatened and endangered species in support of approved and draft species recovery plans. It is administered nationally by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. In California, CDFW’s Wildlife Branch coordinates the program.
The program addresses habitat loss, the primary threat to most listed species. It supports purchases from willing sellers before development or other land-use changes impair or destroy habitat essential to recovery. By combining federal funding with State and other non-Federal resources, the program helps acquire lands that individual agencies may lack the resources to protect. Project priorities reflect the collective recovery priorities of the State and USFWS.
