New year, new grant opportunities

There is an old adage that with a new year comes new opportunities. And while 2021 has only just begun, our community is expected to have another stellar year thanks in part to federal funding opportunities such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants Program.

Across the past 30 years, the more than $1.6 billion allocated to this critical conservation program has leveraged $4.68 billion to support more than 2,800 individual projects and helped conserve, restore and enhance 30 million acres. And now land trusts seeking out important conservation dollars can benefit as the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently announced that it is accepting grant proposals for its 2022-1 U.S. Standard Grants Program.

With two grant cycles in a fiscal year, the Standard Grants Program provides funding of up to $1 million or more for projects that benefit migratory birds and other species that rely on wetlands. With many organizations focused in this area, the program is a vital tool that can help land trusts complete important work that may not otherwise be funded.

Land trusts that are interested in applying have until Feb. 26 to submit a proposal for the first grant cycle. Once the application is submitted, the proposal is reviewed by staff at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Division of Bird Habitat Conservation. From there, proposals are evaluated by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, a nine-member committee, which scores and ranks each proposal. The group then submits a list of preferred projects to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which has final approval authority.

Start the new year strong. Learn more here about how your land trust can apply for funding.

Robert Schwartz is ambassador program manager for the Land Trust Alliance.