Highlands Conservation (15.667)
Highlands Conservation (Assistance Listing 15.667) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $49.1 million in 35 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.4 million per award on average. 2 funding opportunities are open or forecast now.
The typical award was $1.4 million. Half of the 35 awards fell between $789,931 and $1.5 million, and they ranged from $172,000 to $17.1 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$49.1 million
- Grant awards35
- Typical award$1.4 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$14.0 million
- Size rank1049 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $4.7 million in fiscal 2021 to $14.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1049th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- Awards went to recipients in 3 states and territories.
What the program funds
To conserve priority lands and natural resources and recognize the importance of the water, forest, agricultural, wildlife, recreational, and cultural resources, and the national significance of the Highlands region of the United States. Preserve and protect high-priority conservation land in the Highland regions.
Open opportunities
- F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round
- F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act – Competitive Funding Round
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Any State Agency with authority to own and manage land located within the Highlands region for conservation purposes may apply by identifying the source of non-Federal funds, describing the management objectives for the project land, identifying the purpose of the use of the land, and providing that the land will not be converted, used or disposed of for a purpose inconsistent with land conservation. State Conservation Agencies, or Counties and Municipalities within the Highlands Region, are eligible to receive grant funds and hold the fee or conservation easement interest in the acquired land.
What the money can and cannot pay for
A State Agency with authority to own and manage land located within the Highlands region, as well as Counties and Municipalities located within the Highlands Region, may use a land conservation partnership project to acquire conservation-valued land, either through fee acquisition or conservation easement, from a willing seller to permanently protect, conserve, or preserve land. The Federal grant share of the land conservation partnership project will not exceed 50% of the total cost of partnership to acquire conservation-valued land.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. The Federal share of the project cost shall not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Office for application deadlines.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range: $646,600 to $1,940,000; Average $970,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding eligible State Agency, County, or Municipal land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.Fiscal Year2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding eligible State Agency, County, or Municipal land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Highlands Conservation (15.667) awarded$49.1 million across 35 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 11 | $26.5 million |
| Dept of Energy & Environmental Protection | Connecticut | 11 | $13.5 million |
| New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | New York | 9 | $11.2 million |
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 35 | $49.2 million | 100% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 11 | $26.5 million |
| Connecticut | 11 | $13.5 million |
| New York | 9 | $10.9 million |