Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program (Section 6)- 2024

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is seeking high quality proposals for projects that will further the conservation and recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered wildlife, plant, and certain fish species in California. Eligible projects are those which target species that are federally listed as threatened, endangered, species for which a positive federal 90-day finding has been made, species subject of a proposed federal listing rule, species for which the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has initiated a status review, and species de-listed by the Service within the last five years. The proposed project must address the conservation of wildlife, plant, or fish species that are managed by Service. Marine species and anadromous fish species are funded under separate federal programs. Project proposals must be developed in close coordination with Department and Service biologists and identify a Department employee who will sponsor the project by administering the grant. Projects must focus on one or more of the following areas: Introduction of species into suitable habitats within their historic range Enhance or restore habitat Habitat surveys and inventories Species status surveys Propagation of animals and plants Research Monitoring of candidate, at-risk and recently recovered species Public education and outreach tools to address a specific threat to a species Priority will be given to projects designed to directly impact the recovery of federally listed species, prevent extinction of a listed species, or prevent the need to list a candidate species, although proposals involving recently delisted species will also be considered. Eligible entities include public agencies, state departments, colleges and universities, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations. Funded activities must be completed within the grant period which may not exceed 3 years of grant approval date. Grant proposals must be developed in coordination with a Department employee who agrees to serve as the grant sponsor. A minimum non-federal match of 25% of the total cost of the project (25% of the sum of the federal amount requested plus the non-federal match) is required. It must be spent during the grant term and applicants must describe how the minimum match will be provided, including the match source and amount. Match may include in-kind services, volunteer contributions, use of donated equipment, or partial funding for the project from a non-federal source. Grant funds cannot be used for federal compliance or to obtain any federal permits for the project. In addition, funds cannot be used to satisfy federal, state, or local regulatory requirements, including mitigation, avoidance, minimization, and monitoring. Applicants should review the 2024 Public Solicitation Notice. Applicants are encouraged to consider and address the review criteria in Section E of the NOFO when preparing their proposal.