Candidate Species Conservation

The objective is to secure candidate and other at-risk species information or undertake restoration actions that will help avert federal listing of species. The purpose is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which candidate and at-risk s

Grants awarded through the Candidate Species Conservation Fund help keep wildlife and plants from becoming endangered by addressing threats before species need federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. The goal is to prevent listings and reduce future regulatory burdens by taking proactive conservation steps now. By acting early, this program helps avoid costly ESA listings, supports healthy ecosystems, and provides flexibility for landowners and partners while safeguarding America's natural heritage.

Anyone except Federal Agencies.

The assistance can be used for Candidate Conservation. Funding maybe used for actions related to: (1) the development of scientific information that is useful in supporting candidate assessments, conservation actions and candidate conservation agreements; (2) reduce threats to a candidate and other high priority species, such as propagation of imperiled freshwater mussels; or (3) conservation of candidate species, such as biological field work to conduct species surveys; or (4) in a spotlight species action plan. These are discretionary funds that are used for project purposes to help ensure the use of the best available scientific information in making management decisions. Funding is not used for real property acquisition or construction.

The assistance can be used for Candidate Conservation. Funding maybe used for actions related to: (1) the development of scientific information that is useful in supporting candidate assessments, conservation actions and candidate conservation agreements; (2) reduce threats to a candidate and other high priority species, such as propagation of imperiled freshwater mussels; or (3) conservation of candidate species, such as biological field work to conduct species surveys; or (4) in a spotlight species action plan. These are discretionary funds that are used for project purposes to help ensure the use of the best available scientific information in making management decisions. Funding is not used for real property acquisition or construction.

Funding must be spent within 3 years of awarding the grant.

FWS Regional Field Office contacts can provide specific information on the amount of funding available, as well as Regional recovery priorities. We encourage you to contact the appropriate FWS Regional and Field Office contacts to discuss potential projects. If funding is available and the potential project addresses a high priority Regional candidate conservation need, then the Regional contact will refer the potential applicant of the appropriate FWS Ecological Services Field Office for further coordination.

This opportunity is limited to projects carrying out actions for candidate species describe in annual assessment; or for at-risk species in a conservation plan or strategy; or in a spotlight species action plan.

Awards will be announced via letters sent directly to the applicants. No work may begin on a project until the appropriate legal contracting or procurement documents, and the required environmental compliance documents, have been signed by the authorized FWS official. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified either by letter, fax, email or by telephone.

Project applicants are not prohibited from submitting applications for consideration for subsequent funding for multi-year projects though there is no governmental guarantee that multiple years of the project will be funded.