North American Wetlands Conservation Fund

To provide funds for wetlands conservation projects in North America to benefit bird populations in the United States.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funds support the protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands and associated habitats across North America to benefit waterfowl and other wildlife found in the United States. These projects must provide long-term conservation benefits for migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife. Please note that funds derived from the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act are restricted to U.S. coastal ecosystems. For detailed eligibility criteria, administration standards, and proposal instructions, visit the NAWCA website: https://www.fws.gov/program/north-american-wetlands-conservation.

Available to private or public organizations or to individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Funds may be used to acquire real property interest in lands or waters, including water rights. Funds may also be used to restore, manage, and/or enhance wetland ecosystems and other habitat for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife. Projects must provide long-term conservation for wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wetlands-associated wildlife. Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration act-derived funds eligible for NAWCA projects may be used only in U.S. coastal wetlands ecosystems. More specific restrictions are outlined on the NAWCA grants information and instructions website. For further information, please contact the headquarters office. 100% of funding is discretionary.

Funds may be used to acquire real property interest in lands or waters, including water rights. Funds may also be used to restore, manage, and/or enhance wetland ecosystems and other habitat for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife. Projects must provide long-term conservation for wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wetlands-associated wildlife. Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration act-derived funds eligible for NAWCA projects may be used only in U.S. coastal wetlands ecosystems. More specific restrictions are outlined on the NAWCA grants information and instructions website. For further information, please contact the headquarters office. 100% of funding is discretionary.

North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants are awarded after the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) approves projects selected by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC), and after authorized funds have been made available to the FWS Migratory Birds Program. Projects are awarded for 2-3 year terms, upon which time all funds must be spent or returned to FWS.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council selects proposals based on factors given in Section 5 of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, available funds, and other factors deemed important to meeting Act objectives.

Applications go through eligibility review processes by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, and further review and ranking processes by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) Staff. Grant proposals are recommended for approval by the Council to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). The Council recommends proposals twice a year, in preparation for the Spring and Fall meetings of the Commission, when final funding is approved. The grants are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Bird Habitat Conservation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the process of ensuring that projects are compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, before projects are recommended by Council to the Commission.

The range of time from proposal submission to the approval/disapproval notification is 7 to 10 months

Proposals are funded on a project-specific basis. Requests for future funding must compete with other requests for project funding. A grant agreement can be modified or extended at the discretion of the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation.