Under this cooperative agreement, the national fish and wildlife foundation nfwf and U S fish and wildlife FWS will manage the newly developed america the beautiful challenge atbc authorized by…

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) was awarded an $81.3 million cooperative agreement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Cooperative Landscape Conservation federal grant program (CFDA #15.669) to manage the newly established America the Beautiful Challenge. NFWF will work with USFWS to develop a competitive grant program aimed at streamlining funding opportunities for new voluntary conservation and restoration projects nationwide. Funded projects will advance existing landscape conservation plans and proposals to develop new plans that involve diverse stakeholder partnerships. The projects will focus on maximizing conservation benefits, bolstering local economies, engaging underserved communities, expanding public access to nature, and improving community resilience.

Several sub-awards were provided to support on-the-ground habitat restoration, invasive species control, prescribed burning, fencing modifications, and other ecosystem services projects. Sub-awardees included state agencies, universities, tribal governments, and non-profit organizations located across the U.S. Total funding is distributed across the sub-awards ranging from $100,000 to several million dollars each supporting varied local conservation priorities and objectives.

Under this cooperative agreement, the national fish and wildlife foundation nfwf and U S fish and wildlife FWS will manage the newly developed america the beautiful challenge atbc authorized by bipartisan infrastructure law also known as the infrastructure investment and jobs act P L 117 58 section 40804 4 ecosystem restoration, nfwf will work with FWS to develop a competitive grant program with the goal of streamlining funding opportunities for new voluntary conservation and restoration projects around the united states nfwf has a shared mission with FWS and a longstanding commitment to successful competitive conservation grant program delivery around the country funded projects will advance existing landscape conservation plans and or propose to knit together a diverse stakeholder partnership that develops and or implements new conservation plans atbc will maximize conservation and ecosystem services, bolster local economies, engage underserved communities, expand public access to nature, and improve community resilience