F24AS00009 - NAWCA 2024 Canada Grants | F24AS00009

Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00009

F24AS00009, titled "NAWCA 2024 Canada Grants," is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.623) focused on conserving wetlands and associated habitats in ways that benefit migratory birds and other wildlife across North America. The program is built around partnerships, meaning proposals are expected to show coordinated work among public agencies, nonprofits, tribes, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to deliver long-term, durable conservation outcomes rather than short-term or stand-alone actions. The central conservation aim is to protect, improve, restore, and manage a diverse and well-distributed network of wetland ecosystems and related habitats used by wetlands-associated migratory birds, while also supporting broader fish and wildlife that depend on those landscapes.

The opportunity emphasizes maintaining and improving the current distribution of wetlands-associated migratory bird populations and sustaining abundant waterfowl populations (ducks, geese, and swans) at levels aligned with major continental bird conservation strategies. Projects are expected to fit within the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and also align with complementary plans such as the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, the Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, and the Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan. In addition, NAWCA Canada work is framed as supporting international responsibilities and commitments reflected in migratory bird treaties, conventions, and agreements involving Canada, Mexico, and other countries. In practical terms, a strong application ties on-the-ground habitat work to these established conservation frameworks and explains how the project helps achieve measurable population or habitat goals.

NAWCA Canada funding supports two main categories of projects. First, it can fund acquisition of property that contains wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, including purchasing water rights when relevant. A key condition is that acquired lands must be administered for long-term conservation and managed to benefit migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife over time. Second, the program can fund restoration, enhancement, or management actions for wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, again with the expectation that these actions occur on lands and waters committed to long-term conservation administration. This long-term stewardship requirement is a defining feature: the program is not just paying for habitat work, but for habitat work that is secured and managed so the benefits persist.

Partnerships and sustainability are not treated as optional extras. Proposals are expected to demonstrate how partner activities create sustainable and effective programs for the long-term conservation of wetlands-associated migratory birds. That typically means showing who is contributing what (funding, land, easements, technical expertise, monitoring capacity, or implementation labor), how responsibilities will be shared, and how the conservation gains will be maintained after the grant period. The opportunity also highlights that NAWCA Canada proposals contribute to broader priorities such as reducing climate pollution, improving climate resilience, advancing land conservation, and supporting biodiversity. Applicants are therefore encouraged to connect their wetlands work to climate adaptation and mitigation benefits (for example, carbon storage in wetlands, flood attenuation, drought resilience, or landscape connectivity), while still keeping the core focus on migratory bird habitat outcomes and long-term conservation management.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and small businesses. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Natural Resources. The posted award ceiling is up to $10,000,000 per award. The original closing date listed for this opportunity is August 25, 2023, and the opportunity was created April 19, 2023. Additional program information and guidance is available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NAWCA Canada grants webpage: https://fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-grants-canada.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00009 - NAWCA 2024 Canada Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.623.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-08-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Small businesses.

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