# Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/f21as00170-cooperative-endangered-species-conservation-fund-habitat/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/330780

> Fish and Wildlife Service offered grants of up to $39.3 million (at least $10,000) to state and local governments. It expected to make $39.3 million in total. Applications closed on April 9, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | F21AS00170 |
| Agency | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | April 9, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | $39.3 million |
| Award floor | $10,000 |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $39.3 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.615 |

## Who can apply

- State governments

Only State agencies that have entered into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to Section 6(c) of the ESA and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their Cooperative Agreement are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants that have not fulfilled both criteria will not be considered. While funding may only be awarded to States, individuals or groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee.

## What the grant funds

As many species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) spend at least part of their life cycle on non-Federal lands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recognizes success in conserving and recovering these species depends largely on working cooperatively with States and Territories (hereafter, “States”). Section 6 of the ESA authorizes the Service to provide Federal financial assistance to eligible State agencies to support the development and implementation of conservation programs for the benefit of resident listed species. This financial assistance, provided in the form of competitive grants, is made available through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Grant Programs. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) applies specifically to CESCF Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants. This NOFO fully describes application eligibility, evaluation, and selection. It should be read in its entirety as much of the information has changed from previous years. Given the significant investment of time and money associated with projects funded through this program, we also recommend you coordinate with the appropriate Service contact (Section G) before starting work on a project or application. Prior to 1982, non-Federal landowners undertaking otherwise lawful activities that were likely to take listed species risked violating section 9 of the ESA, which prohibits the "taking" of a listed species. In the 1982 amendments to the ESA, Congress established a voluntary mechanism under section 10(a)(1)(B) that authorizes the Service to issue to non-Federal entities a permit for the "incidental take" of endangered and threatened wildlife species. An HCP must accompany the application for an incidental take permit to demonstrate how the applicant intends to meet minimization and mitigation commitments to meet the permit issuance criteria under section 10(a)(2)(B) of the ESA. The commitments made by the applicant in the HCP become part of the permit. In some States, HCPs have become a broad-based, landscape-level planning tool. In addition to conserving listed species, HCPs often include conservation measures for candidate and at-risk species, as well as other rare species in the plan area. By including these species in the HCP, developers and landowners can also help prevent their decline or need for future listing under the ESA.

## Questions people ask

### Is F21AS00170 still open?

No. It closed on April 9, 2021. A newer notice is open: F26AS00030, closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left).

### Who can apply for Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants?

Fish and Wildlife Service accepted applications from state and local governments. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants?

Closed April 9, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $39.3 million each. About $39.3 million in total.

### Who has won Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were State of California Department of Fish & Wildlife, State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The program made 787 awards worth $230 million in that time.