Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program
🏛 Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 8, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and territorial government agencies with cooperative agreements under Section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act. Only state agencies can receive direct awards; counties and nonprofits may participate as subgrantees under a state partner. Projects must support habitat acquisition—fee simple purchase or conservation easement—for at least one federally listed species where habitat loss is a documented threat. Parcels must be specifically identified and linked to FWS-approved recovery plans. Applicants must commit to perpetual management funding aligned with species conservation needs.
Grant funds may purchase land identified in the project; non-federal cost share may include land acquisition costs as well. The same property cannot be funded under both this program and the HCP Land Acquisition Grant Program in the same cycle.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
First awarded in fiscal year (FY) 2001, Recovery Land Acquisition grants promote State and Federal cooperation in listed species conservation by leveraging funds to acquire specific parcels of land, through fee simple or conservation easement, in support of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)-approved recovery plans and outlines. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) conveys the importance of recovery plans as a central organizing tool for guiding the recovery process by requiring their development for every listed species.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 or SF-424 (R/S) Federal Grant Application form
- Cooperative agreement documentation under ESA Section 6(c)
- FWS-approved recovery plan reference for target species
- Detailed property descriptions and maps for each parcel
- Cost-share documentation and budget justification
- Perpetual management plan and funding commitment letter
Program contact
- 👤 Fish and Wildlife Service
- 📧 Kelly_Niland@fws.gov
- 📞 22041-3803
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.615 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$10,000,000
-
$8,804,150
-
$7,788,428
-
$7,000,000
-
$6,620,694
-
$6,606,303
-
$6,400,000
-
$5,244,000
-
$5,155,500
-
$4,928,107
Top States by Funding
- CA 29 awards $78.1M
- WA 17 awards $32.8M
- HI 25 awards $26.8M
- AL 8 awards $22.9M
- UT 2 awards $10.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.615). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $5,973,302 | |
| 2020 est. | $76,390,000 | |
| 2021 | $87,391,192 | |
| 2022 | $101,991,189 | |
| 2023 | $55,455,000 | |
| 2024 | $60,462,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $62,262,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $40,162,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Only state and territorial agencies with active cooperative agreements under ESA Section 6(c) are eligible. Counties and nonprofits can partner as subgrantees.
What types of land acquisition are funded?
Fee simple purchase and conservation easements are both eligible. Land must support listed species recovery identified in FWS-approved recovery plans.
What is the deadline and funding range?
The deadline is November 20, 2026. Awards range from $10,000 to $14,162,000 depending on project scope and merit.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes, cost sharing is mandatory. Non-federal funds or land value can count toward the match requirement.
How specific must land parcels be in the application?
Each parcel must be individually identified with sufficient description for merit review. Multiple parcels can be grouped at the property or transaction level.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure your state's cooperative agreement under ESA Section 6(c) before applying; this is a non-negotiable prerequisite for eligibility.
- Select parcels directly linked to species recovery needs identified in FWS-approved recovery plans; vague conservation goals will weaken your application.
- Demonstrate long-term management funding commitments in writing; reviewers prioritize projects with clear perpetual stewardship plans.
- Use detailed property descriptions with maps and boundary data; clarity reduces review burden and improves competitiveness.
- Identify non-federal cost share early, whether as matching land acquisition funds or donated easement value; strong leverage increases funding competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without an active ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement in place. Proposing parcels not linked to a current FWS-approved recovery plan. Failing to document long-term management funding and species-specific conservation outcomes in perpetuity.
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