RRWC, Michigan

The following National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants are now available and accepting applications:

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces an Opportunity for Matching Grants for Conservation on Private Lands for 2007

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Foundation) is working to expand and strengthen our partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support innovative and effective conservation and stewardship of our country's private lands. The goal of the partnership is to support high quality projects that engage private landowners, primarily farmers and ranchers, in the conservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife and natural resources on their lands. A new focus added for this year's program is on grassland nesting birds, particularly sage grouse, and their associated habitats.

The Foundation has received $3 million from the NRCS in support of this partnership. The Foundation will devote 100% of these dollars to a matching grant program to support conservation projects. Matching grants will be awarded through a competitive process to eligible grant recipients including state and local governments, education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Grants to, or in partnership with, the NRCS, Resource Conservation and Development Areas, and local conservation districts will be given special consideration. Grants typically range from $10,000-$150,000, based upon need.

Pre-proposals are due April 1
Full proposals are due June 1

For more information, visit http://www.nfwf.org/programs/nrcsnacd.cfm

Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program

The National Association of Counties, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wildlife Habitat Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and our newest partner, Southern Company, are pleased to solicit applications for the Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program. The Five-Star Restoration Program provides modest financial assistance on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects that build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. In 2006, 39 projects across the country out of 126 applications received grants of an average $13,000.

The President's Wetlands Initiative calls for collaborative approaches by federal, state, tribal, and local governments, the private sector, and the public to restore, improve, and protect 3 million acres of wetlands by 2009. Wetlands help our communities protect themselves against devastating floods, improve local water quality and provide critical wildlife habitat. The Five-Star Restoration Program contributes to the achievement of one of several initiatives undertaken to help meet the President's wetlands restoration goal.

Applications are due March 9, 2007

For more information, visit http://www.nfwf.org/programs/5star-rfp.cfm