Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants provide Federal financial assistance to States and Territories (hereafter, "States") that have entered into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) f

Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with States and Territories that establish and maintain an "adequate and active" program for the conservation of resident threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants. Once a State enters into an agreement, FWS is authorized to provide Federal financial assistance for the implementation of the State's conservation program through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Grant Programs. Funded activities include species management, habitat acquisition and restoration, status surveys and inventories of species and habitats, captive propagation, research, and public education and outreach. These grants encourage the cooperative implementation of the ESA by leveraging Federal investment in species recovery, preventing the extinction of listed species, and preventing the need to list at-risk species under the ESA.

All States and Territories that have entered into a cooperative agreement with FWS pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA are eligible to apply to the annual Funding Opportunity Announcement.

All States and Territories that have entered into a cooperative agreement with FWS pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA are eligible to apply to the annual Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants provide Federal financial assistance to States and Territories that have entered into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act for species and habitat conservation actions on non-Federal lands, including habitat acquisition, conservation planning, habitat restoration, status surveys, captive propagation, research, and public outreach and education. This program funds real property acquisition through Recovery Land Acquisition and HCP Land Acquisition Grants. Real property acquisition is not an eligible use of funds awarded through Traditional Conservation and Conservation Planning Assistance Grants. Restrictions can be found in the annual Funding Opportunity Announcement available on GrantSolutions and grants.gov. 100 % of appropriated funds are set aside for discretionary activities.

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants provide Federal financial assistance to States and Territories that have entered into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act for species and habitat conservation actions on non-Federal lands, including habitat acquisition, conservation planning, habitat restoration, status surveys, captive propagation, research, and public outreach and education. This program funds real property acquisition through Recovery Land Acquisition and HCP Land Acquisition Grants. Real property acquisition is not an eligible use of funds awarded through Traditional Conservation and Conservation Planning Assistance Grants. Restrictions can be found in the annual Funding Opportunity Announcement available on GrantSolutions and grants.gov. 100 % of appropriated funds are set aside for discretionary activities.

The maximum period of performance (PoP) for CESCF grants is three years. If an approved project cannot be completed within the PoP, the State Director/Commissioner may request an extension of up to 12 months from the Director of the Service provided appropriate justification. Any awarded project that will not be completed within the PoP, and from which funds are deobligated, may be eligible for funding in future competitions.

Preapplication coordination is not required but is recommended.

Applications are scored and ranked based on criteria, subfactors, and priorities published annually in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

The Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed projects, based on an objective scoring and ranking procedure as outlined in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. Regional offices are responsible for notifying recipients of grant approval.

Information regarding approval/disapproval time frames is available in the annual Funding Opportunity Announcement available on GrantSolultions, grants.gov and theFWS website at https://www.fws.gov/program/cooperative-endangered-species-conservation-fund

Renewals can be made through the submission of a project application and approval of a grant award document.

Decisions can be appealed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chief, Ecological Services Division of Budget and Technical Support. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.