FY 2021 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Service Legacy Region 3) | F21AS00174

Opportunity Information: Apply for F21AS00174

The FY 2021 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Service Legacy Region 3) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help state governments strengthen and carry out their programs for conserving and recovering species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The core purpose is straightforward: provide financial assistance so states can implement on-the-ground actions that measurably benefit threatened and endangered species under the Service's jurisdiction, while also supporting proactive work that keeps species from needing ESA listing in the first place.

Funding under this program is intended for projects that produce direct conservation benefits for three main groups: federally listed species (threatened or endangered), candidate and other defined "at-risk" species, and certain recently delisted species. Federally listed work must focus on resident species that are covered under the applying state's ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement with the Service. The program also allows states to use grant funds for monitoring candidate species, at-risk species, and species that have recently been delisted due to recovery. Candidate species, as used here, are those the Service has determined warrant listing but have been delayed because other actions take priority.

The notice also broadens what counts as "at-risk" for this solicitation beyond formal candidates. In this context, at-risk species include: (1) species with a positive 90-day finding on a petition but not yet proposed for listing, (2) species with a proposed listing rule but no final rule, (3) species for which the Service has initiated an ESA status review and announced it in the Federal Register, and (4) species on the National Listing Workplan. The opportunity materials reference an Attachment A for the full at-risk species list. For recently delisted species, eligibility is limited to species delisted within the past five years, and only when the delisting occurred because the species recovered (not for other reasons). Applicants are directed to the Service's ECOS Delisted Species page for the official list and delisting years.

Projects can cover a wide range of conservation approaches, as long as the application clearly explains how the work will contribute to recovery goals or reduce threats enough to prevent a future ESA listing. The Service emphasizes that competitive proposals will make a clear, specific case for a direct conservation benefit to the target species or its habitat, rather than providing general environmental benefits without a documented link to species outcomes. Proposed work may involve management, research, monitoring, outreach, or combinations of these elements, depending on what best addresses the species' limiting factors and recovery needs.

Examples of eligible activities include introducing species into suitable habitat within their historic range, enhancing or restoring habitat, conducting surveys and inventories, completing species status surveys, propagating animals or plants, and performing research such as genetic analysis to assess genetic health and population structure. The program also supports public education and outreach when it is tied to a specific conservation threat or recovery action, such as developing targeted web-based tools or coordinating workshops with local landowners to reduce or eliminate a particular pressure on a species. Monitoring of candidate, at-risk, and recently recovered species is explicitly included as an allowable use of funds.

Eligibility is limited to state agencies. To apply, a state must already have an ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement with the Service, or it must enter into or reconfirm such an agreement within 30 days of the application deadline. Importantly, even if a proposal is selected, the Service cannot obligate federal funds until a complete, signed cooperative agreement is in place, consistent with the cited regulatory requirements (including 50 CFR 81.3, 50 CFR 81.5, and 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3)). While the grant can only be awarded to states, the program anticipates that other partners such as counties, conservation organizations, or other groups may participate as subgrantees through collaboration with an eligible state agency, enabling broader partnerships while keeping the state as the official applicant and grant recipient.

Key opportunity details from the source data include: Funding Opportunity Number F21AS00174; agency U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; assistance listing CFDA 15.615; funding instrument type Grant; activity category Natural Resources; eligible applicants State governments; original closing date May 12, 2021; and an award ceiling listed as $572,066. The opportunity was created on November 12, 2020.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Service Legacy Region 3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-12. (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 $572,066.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for F21AS00174

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