Audubon seeks funding to support native seed collection efforts critical for habitat restoration and biodiversity conservaiton

Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 awarded a $300,000 cooperative agreement to the National Audubon Society, Inc. under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. Under this agreement, Audubon will hire habitat technicians to identify, collect, and process regionally appropriate native seeds in South Dakota to support habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation efforts on federal and private lands affected by wildfire and other natural disasters.

The project directly supports wildlife dependent on native flora through targeted native seed collection and habitat restoration activities. By providing technical and financial assistance for conservation and natural resource management aligned with National Wildlife Refuge System objectives, this cooperative agreement advances the DOI Fish and Wildlife Service's mission to enhance ecological infrastructure and wildlife habitat across the refuge system and adjacent lands.

Under this project audubon will hire habitat technicians to identify collect and process regionally appropriate native seeds to restore lands affected by wildfire and other natural disasters. This project will also enhance biodiversity on federal and private lands and support wildlife dependent on native flora.