Background robust, intact, and highly functional habitat for fish and wildlife sustains alaskan culture, communities, and economies

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7 (Department of the Interior) awarded a $100,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Coastal Program (CFDA 15.630) to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust (SEALT) effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2030. SEALT will utilize these funds and technical assistance to support community-driven conservation services, projects, and education and outreach activities throughout Southeast Alaska, with emphasis on protecting fish and wildlife habitat that sustains the region's cultural heritage, recreational economy, and subsistence practices.

The cooperative agreement supports SEALT's four core programs: Conservation Projects, Conservation Services, In-Lieu Fee Sponsorship, and Community Outreach and Engagement. Specifically, SEALT will expand its organizational capacity to meet growing public and private sector demand for land conservation in Southeast Alaska. Activities funded through this agreement align with the Coastal Program's mission to provide technical and financial assistance for habitat protection and restoration that benefits federal trust species, including threatened and endangered species, migratory birds, and fish populations on both public and private lands throughout the region.

Alaskan fish and the habitats that support them are important ecological and economic resources nationally and internationally. Salmon and salmon habitat are central to sustaining alaskas history, cultural heritage, and statewide economy. Additionally, southeast alaskas cultural, historic and open spaces attract millions of visitors annually to participate in recreational activities such as hunting and fishing, and to share in the magnificent experience of increasingly rare, truly wild landscapes. As a non-profit serving southeast alaska since 1995, southeast alaska land trust (SEALT) collaborates with communities, individuals, and organizations throughout southeast alaska to help ensure that highly valued habitat, recreation, open space, and cultural and historic areas continue to thrive for the well-being of each generation.core programs SEALT forwards this mission through four major programs: 1) conservation projects 2) conservation services 3) in-lieu fee sponsorship and 4) community outreach and engagement. Each of these programs support and amplify sealts ability to achieve its mission to permanently protect land for alaska and its people. Sealts longstanding partnership with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service through the coastal program sustains shared goals through the conservation of land that is vital for economic prosperity, community benefits, and wildlife. Cooperative agreement partnership SEALT will use cooperative agreement funds and technical assistance to support our community driven conservation services, projects, and education and outreach activities throughout southeast alaska. This application focuses on growing sealts efforts, as well as expanding organizational capacity to complete projects to meet the regions public and private sector demand for land conservation. Though not a specific funding item, IT is important to document sealts commitment to seeking and relying on substantial involvement and expert input from united states fish and wildlife service (USFWS) professionals to support conservation acquisitions throughout the region