North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants

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Stored: North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants
Type Program
Sponsor Organization Migratory Bird Program
Top Organization Department of the Interior
Creation Legislation North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989
Website Website
Purpose The North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants fund projects to conserve wetland habitats for migratory birds across North America. They aim to protect, restore, and enhance ecosystems through public-private partnerships and matching funds.
Program Start 1991
Initial Funding $17.5 million
Duration Ongoing
Historic No


North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants (NAWCA Grants) is a Department of the Interior initiative administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program that provides competitive, matching grants to conserve over 32.6 million acres of wetland and upland habitats across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, supporting migratory birds like waterfowl and shorebirds through more than 3,300 projects since 1991 as of 2025. Authorized in 1989, it has awarded over $2.28 billion by 2025, leveraging $4.53 billion in partner funds with a typical 2:1 match, funding $46.2 million across 91,425 acres in 17 states in FY 2024 (September 2024), with 2025 efforts enhancing post-Helene recovery and integrating bison conservation via trinational agreements.

Official Site

Goals

  • Conserve wetland habitats vital to migratory birds across North America.[1]
  • Foster public-private partnerships to protect and restore ecosystems.
  • Enhance resilience against climate change while supporting recreation and jobs.

Organization

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants were sponsored by the Migratory Bird Program’s Division of Bird Habitat Conservation within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior, headquartered at 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.[2] Funding came from Congressional appropriations, with FY 2024 at $46.2 million matched by $99.1 million from partners, managed by a staff via two grant cycles (Standard and Small), overseen by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council and Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, partnering with over 7,000 entities across 43 countries.

The leader at the Department of the Interior level was the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, currently Martha Williams (as of February 20, 2025), with NAWCA Grants coordinated by the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation.

History

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants were established under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, signed into law on December 13, 1989, by President George H.W. Bush as Public Law 101-233, with first grants awarded in 1991.[3] Growing from $17.5 million in 1991 to $2.28 billion by 2025, it expanded with the 2022 BIL reauthorization, funding milestones like $87 million for 315,823 acres in May 2024 and $46.2 million in September 2024, adapting via 2025’s FY26 cycle shift (applications due March/April) to align with funding availability and support post-Helene recovery.

Funding

Initial funding in 1991 was $17.5 million from Congressional appropriations.[4] Funding began in 1991 and continues, with FY 2024 at $46.2 million matched by $99.1 million (totaling over $2.28 billion by 2025), requiring a 1:1 partner match (often 2:1), with no end date as appropriations up to $60 million annually (through 2026) sustain efforts like 2025’s $5 million Small Grants cycle.

Implementation

The program was implemented through two annual grant cycles—Standard (up to $3 million) and Small (up to $250,000)—via GrantSolutions, funding projects in 43 countries with 50-70% of funds for Canada and Mexico.[5] It operates continuously with no end date, impacting 32.6 million acres via over 7,000 partners, with 2025 efforts supporting 91,425 acres (September 2024) and post-Helene wetland restoration.

Related

External links

Social media

References

  1. ↑ "North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants Overview," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/north-american-wetlands-conservation, accessed February 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Migratory Bird Program Structure," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds/about-us, accessed February 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "NAWCA History," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/north-american-wetlands-conservation/about-us, accessed February 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ "NAWCA Funding," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/north-american-wetlands-conservation, accessed February 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "NAWCA Grants Implementation," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-us-standard-grants, accessed February 19, 2025.
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