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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners for restoring, enhancing, and managing fish and wildlife habitats on their land across the United States. This program aims to conserve and improve wildlife habitat by partnering with a broad range of private entities. - Target recipient type and size: Private landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools, non-profits, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, recreational landowners, local governments, and universities. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Environmental conservation, land management, agriculture, and forestry. - Geographic scope: United States (all 50 states and territories). - Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Private land ownership, interest in wildlife habitat improvement, willingness to commit to a minimum 10-year project duration. - Grant frequency and program context: This is an ongoing, recurring program established since 1987, reauthorized by the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

Financial Structure

The program provides both financial assistance and free technical assistance.
Specific individual project grant amounts are not detailed; funding is determined on a project-by-project basis in consultation with FWS biologists.
Eligible costs are directly related to habitat restoration and enhancement activities. Examples include livestock exclusion fencing/alternate water supply construction, streambank stabilization, restoration of in-stream aquatic habitats, longleaf or shortleaf pine planting, prescribed burning, native grass and forb planting, wetland restoration/enhancement, and riparian reforestation.
The annual PFW Program leverage ratio is typically at least 1:4, indicating that every $1.0 million in PFW spending leverages $4.0 million from other sources. While this demonstrates program efficiency, specific matching fund requirements for individual applicants are not explicitly stated as a percentage, but co-financing/leveraging of funds is a characteristic of the program's operations.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Status

Any private landowner, manager, tribe, corporation, school, or non-profit.
Includes, but is not limited to, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, recreational landowners, local governments, and universities.
Must be interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land.

Geographic Location

Projects must be located within the United States (all 50 states and territories).

Project Requirements

Projects must focus on restoring, enhancing, or managing fish and wildlife habitats.
Projects have a minimum required duration of 10 years.
Priority is given to projects judged likely to provide habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species.

Legal & Ownership

Participating landowners retain full property rights.
No requirement for public access to the land for program participation.

Application Process

There are no fixed application deadlines; the process is ongoing.
To apply, interested private landowners should contact their state coordinator (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) via phone or email.
The initial step involves scheduling an initial site visit with a FWS biologist.

Project Implementation

FWS staff provide personalized attention, working one-on-one with private landowners to plan, implement, and monitor projects.
FWS staff assist in identifying other potential partners and funding sources for the project.
Permitting guidance is provided by FWS staff as needed.

Post-Award Requirements

Projects are required to have a minimum duration of 10 years, implying long-term monitoring and commitment to the habitat restoration.

Evaluation Criteria

Conservation Impact

Likelihood of providing habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species (priority factor).
Project focus on areas of conservation concern, such as upland forests, wetlands, native prairies, marshes, rivers, and streams.
Benefit to federal trust species, including migratory birds, endangered, threatened, and at-risk species.

Project Scope & Sustainability

Ability to meet the minimum required project duration of 10 years.
Potential for long-term ecological benefits and habitat improvement.

Collaboration

Willingness to engage in a collaborative partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) biologists.
Potential for collaboration with other federal agencies, state agencies, and non-governmental organizations to achieve project goals.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

Projects must align with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act, which provides for the restoration, enhancement, and management of fish and wildlife habitats on private land.
Compliance with relevant environmental regulations and standards is inherent, with FWS biologists providing guidance.
Necessary permits and authorizations related to the restoration work are guided by FWS staff.

Project Ownership & Access

Participating landowners do not forfeit any property rights by engaging with the program.
There is no requirement for public access to the project site or private land.

Unique Aspects & Strategic Opportunities

This program focuses heavily on collaborative, voluntary projects on private and 'working landscapes' (e.g., forests, farms, ranches).
It offers a unique combination of free technical expertise and financial assistance, directly delivered by FWS biologists.
The program aims to benefit federal trust species and focus efforts on areas of conservation concern, offering a strategic opportunity for landowners aligned with these goals.

Grant Details