Apply for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants in United States of America (USA), The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants offer matching financial assistance to eligible state and territorial agencies for acquiring land that permanently protects habitat for federally listed, candidate, and at-risk species addressed through approved HCPs. Grant awards range from $10,000 to $26 million. In most cases, recipients must provide a 25% non-federal cost share, although the required match is reduced to 10% for qualifying multi-state partnerships.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 30th October 2026
Apply for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants in United States of America (USA)
Overview
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) offers Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants to support the permanent protection of wildlife habitat associated with approved Habitat Conservation Plans.
Grant funding helps eligible state and territorial agencies acquire and permanently conserve important habitat through:
- Fee-simple acquisition, in which an agency purchases and owns the property outright.
- Permanent conservation easements, which protect the habitat while allowing the property to remain under private or other ownership.
The program is designed to supplement existing HCP conservation efforts, not replace obligations already required under an HCP. Grant funds cannot be used to fulfill mandatory mitigation, minimization, or monitoring commitments.
What Does the Grant Support?
Funding is intended for voluntary conservation projects that permanently protect habitat for species covered by an active Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
Eligible projects may benefit:
- Federally listed species.
- Candidate species.
- At-risk species.
- Habitat supporting species covered by an approved HCP.
To support a range of conservation needs, at least 10% of available funding is reserved for projects associated with single-species Habitat Conservation Plans.
Why Does This Funding Matter?
Habitat loss and fragmentation remain significant threats to wildlife, even when conservation plans are already in place. Protecting habitat permanently can help maintain viable populations and strengthen the long-term effectiveness of HCPs.
These grants provide state and territorial agencies with financial resources to secure important habitat through land acquisition or permanent conservation easements. By supporting voluntary, long-term conservation, the program can help advance broader HCP objectives while protecting critical habitat from future development or other forms of loss.
The funding can be particularly valuable for state-led conservation programs, where acquiring large or strategically important properties may require substantial financial resources.
How Much Funding Is Available?
Individual grant awards can range from $10,000 to $26 million.
Federal cost-sharing requirements generally include:
- 25% minimum non-federal contributionof total project costs under the standard cost-share requirement.
- 10% minimum non-federal contributionfor eligible multi-state collaborations.
- No required matchfor grants awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The required non-federal contribution may come from:
- Cash contributions.
- Qualifying in-kind contributions.
- Real property contributions.
Apply for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants in United States of America (USA)
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants are state and territorial agencies in the United States that meet the program’s requirements. Generally, applicants must:
- Have entered into a cooperative agreement with the USFWS under Section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
- Have submitted the information required for annual renewal of that agreement.
- Propose an eligible voluntary conservation project located within the United States.
Although awards are limited to eligible state and territorial agencies, other organizations may participate as subgrantees or conservation partners. Potential partners may include:
- Conservation organizations.
- Other qualified conservation partners.
What Projects Are Eligible?
To qualify, a project should permanently conserve habitat through land acquisition or a permanent conservation easement.
Eligible projects generally must:
- Support species covered by an active Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
- Permanently protect or conserve habitat.
- Be located within the United States.
- Represent a voluntary conservation effort.
- Complement, rather than replace, the conservation commitments established under the applicable HCP.
What Projects Are Not Eligible?
The grant program cannot be used to replace or satisfy obligations that an applicant is already required to undertake.
In particular, funding cannot be used to:
- Fulfill HCP mitigation commitments.
- Replace required minimization measures.
- Replace required monitoring activities.
- Satisfy regulatory mitigation obligations under the ESA.
- Meet mitigation requirements imposed under other federal laws.
- Fund conservation activities conducted outside the United States.
In other words, applicants should view the grant as a supplemental conservation funding opportunity, rather than a source of funding for mandatory regulatory mitigation.
How Does the Cost Share Work?
Applicants generally must contribute a portion of total project costs using non-federal funds.
For example, if a project has a total cost of $1 million and is subject to the standard 25% cost-share requirement, the applicant would need to provide at least $250,000 in non-federal contributions. The remaining $750,000 could potentially be supported through federal grant funding, subject to program limits, available funding, and the final award decision.
For qualifying multi-state collaborations, the minimum non-federal contribution may be reduced to 10%. On a $1 million project, this would mean a minimum non-federal contribution of $100,000.
Eligible contributions may include cash, qualifying in-kind resources, or real property, subject to the program’s applicable requirements.
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grant?
The Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grant provides funding to eligible state and territorial agencies to permanently conserve wildlife habitat associated with approved Habitat Conservation Plans. Funding can support either fee-simple land acquisition or permanent conservation easements.
2. What types of projects can receive funding?
Eligible projects should permanently protect habitat for federally listed, candidate, or at-risk species covered by an active Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. Projects must involve land acquisition or a permanent conservation easement and take place within the United States.
3. Can grant funds be used to meet required HCP mitigation obligations?
No. The funding is intended to complement existing HCP commitments, rather than replace required mitigation, minimization, or monitoring activities. It also cannot be used to satisfy other mandatory regulatory mitigation requirements.
4. How much funding can an applicant receive?
Individual awards can range from $10,000 to $26 million. The standard requirement is a minimum 25% non-federal contribution toward total project costs, while eligible multi-state collaborations may qualify for a reduced 10% contribution requirement.
5. Who can apply for the grant?
Eligible applicants are state and territorial agencies in the United States that have entered into, or meet the requirements to enter into, a cooperative agreement under Section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act. Other organizations, such as counties and conservation organizations, may participate as subgrantees or conservation partners through an eligible state or territorial agency.
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