Beyond Roads: Funding Opportunities to Improve Large Landscape Scale Connectivity

Beyond Roads: Funding Opportunities to Improve Large Landscape Scale Connectivity *This is a non-exhaustive list of mostly reoccurring funding opportunities. New and expanded funding opportunities are increasingly becoming available as states pass legislation and land management agencies make budget requests for increased connectivity project funding. For updates, active links, and other nationwide funding opportunities, follow this QR code to our website at wildlandsnetwork.org.

Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) The LWCF receives $900 million each year to create “nationwide high-quality conservation areas.” State-specific formulas determine the annual state grants, which are distributed through a state grantmaking process (requiring a non-federal 50% match). Additionally, our 4 federal land management agencies utilize the LWCF for land acquisitions, and other projects that improve habitat connectivity, including: · The Forest Legacy Program - identifies and conserves environmentally important forest areas threatened by conversion to non-forest uses by purchasing private land from willing sellers and funding voluntary conservation easements. The USFS project scoring guidance factors in an applicant parcel’s climate resilience and connectivity contributions. · The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (“Section 6”) – provides funding for listed species and their habitat conservation on non-federal lands. If a listed species needs improved habitat connectivity to recover, then this program could potentially be utilized to acquire and conserve land crucial for that species’ movement.

The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Programs America the Beautiful Challenge Requests for grant proposals will be released in the spring over the next 4 years to fund projects that “expand habitat connectivity.” States, US territories, and Indian Tribes are eligible for all 4 grant categories, and NGOs, local governments, academic institutions, and municipal governments can apply to 2 of the 4 categories. This grant program is funded by federal dollars made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. There are matching requirements for most applicants.

Acres for America NFWF’s premier land conservation program. Since 2005, this funding has been used to “connect more than 10 million acres of public and private conservation lands across the country.” One of the four key considerations given to proposals is whether the project would “Connect existing protected lands to unify wild places and protect critical migration routes.” $3 million was available to project applicants in 2020. There is a 50% non-federal match required and NGOs, state, tribal, local, and municipal government agencies, and educational institutions can apply.

Other NFWF grants that can improve habitat connectivity include the Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund, the Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program, the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, the New England Forests and Rivers Fund, and the National Coastal Resilience Fund. NFWF has historically funded projects to improve connectivity. In the Northeast, in 2021 alone, NFWF helped restore aquatic connectivity for Eastern Brook Trout, study bird migration on the Atlantic coast, and restore riparian corridors in Pennsylvania. To track NFWF opportunities check the grant Announcement and Due Date notices often.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Programs Landscape Scale Restoration Program This Farm Bill program encourages “collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes” on state, tribal, private, or local government-managed forest lands. Project proposals that improve wildlife habitat are eligible, and previous projects awarded funds have improved “connectivity to adjacent forestlands.” State forestry agencies, local governments, Indian Tribes, NGOs, universities, and Alaska Native Corporations are eligible to submit projects.

The project must be located in a rural area (all areas outside the red zones on this map), and there is a 50% non-federal matching requirement. Awards range from approximately $25,000 to $600,000. This year (2022), draft proposals must be submitted to the State Forester for review by 9/29 and full proposals are due 11/10.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) The 2018 Farm Bill made the RCPP a standalone program that receives $300 million in funding annually to implement conservation activities on agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land, or other lands that the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) determines would benefit from resulting conservation activities. $150 million of the funding goes towards projects located in the USDA’s identified Critical Conservation Areas, and the other $150 million is dedicated to single-state or multi-state projects. In 2021 alone, there were seven projects awarded RCPP funding to assist in wildlife migrations. Each annual RCPP announcement details what applicants are eligible to apply, but NGOs, state agencies, cities, tribes, and conservation districts have all received funding previously.

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) CIG are competitive grants that drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation, inspiring creative solutions that boost production on farms, ranches, and private forests through improvements in water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat. In 2022, a grant was awarded to improve habitat connectivity for pollinator species on farms in Eastern Oregon. Applications are accepted from state or local governments, federally recognized American Indian tribes, NGOs, and individuals from all US states and territories.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers, subsistence landowners, non-industrial private forestland, and Tribes who are interested in using their land to create environmental benefits that address USDA natural resource concerns. This year, “applications for projects that … improve habitat connectivity… will be prioritized for funding.” Eligible lands include cropland, rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland, and other farm or ranch lands. The eligibility period for fiscal year 2022 closes on November 18, 2022. An applicant’s adjusted gross income must be below a certain threshold.

Healthy Forest Reserve Program This program helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect private forestland resources through easements and financial assistance to aid, in part, the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and improve biodiversity. Landowners can reach out to their local USDA Service Center to apply.

United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Programs State Wildlife Grants This grant program provides funding to states, territories, commonwealths, and D.C. to study and address issues facing threatened and endangered wildlife, as well as other state-identified species of greatest conservation need in State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAP). These entities can use these funds to improve connectivity when their SWAP identifies barriers to movement and habitat fragmentation as a reason for species’ decline. Funding available through these grants would expand enormously if the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act passes in Congress this session.

Multistate Conservation Grant Program Each year $6 million is cooperatively administrated by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and USFWS to fund conservation projects that address state wildlife agencies’ regional or national priorities. AFWA administers this competitive grant program which can fund projects that research fish and wildlife management strategies and improve habitat. The point of this program is to address large landscape scale issues, so projects must benefit 26 or more states or over 50% of states within an AFWA regional association or USFWS service region. Public and state higher educational institutions, NGOs, and state governments may apply.

Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA) USFWS enters into these voluntary incentivized conservation agreements with non-federal landowners to employ actions on their land that remove or reduce threats to listed species. Past agreements have been formalized for beneficial activities that reduce habitat fragmentation rates, restore or enhance habitat, and expand or establish habitat connectivity. Landowners must reach out to their local USFWS field offices to begin the process of entering into an agreement.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has provided landowners with financial and technical assistance to restore and enhance wildlife habitat. Over the past 35 years, roughly 60,000 landowners have conducted habitat restoration projects on 7 million acres through this program that custom-design projects to meet landowners’ needs. One of the three national priorities for this program from 2022-2026 focuses specifically on habitat connectivity. All private landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat on their land are eligible to participate. Current partners include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, recreational landowners, corporations, local governments, and universities.

Legislatively Dedicated State Funding Opportunities Some states have set aside funding legislatively or through bonds, specifically to help improve habitat connectivity. Florida’s Wildlife Corridor Act, gave $300 million dollars to the Department of Environmental Protection to acquire land and implement conservation easements to enhance wildlife corridors. Some states have set aside funding for wildlife crossings specifically, but others have tried to introduce legislation that would additionally fund non-road-related connectivity projects.

To learn more about advocating for state funding in your state, please reach out to Erin Sito – e.sito@wildlandsnetwork.org