Grant Opportunity Announced with Several Mississippi River Basin and Gulf of Mexico Geographic Focus Areas

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced a new conservation partnership grant opportunity that includes three geographic focus areas within the Mississippi River Basin: Upper Mississippi River Basin, Gulf of Mexico, and the Prairie Pothole region. The "Conservation Partners" grant initiative's purpose, according to the NFWF program Internet site, is to "provide grants on a competitive basis to support field biologists and other habitat conservation professionals (ecologists, foresters, range cons, etc.) working with NRCS field offices in providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners to optimize wildlife habitat conservation on private lands" by focusing and increasing "the effectiveness of Farm Bill assistance funded through programs such as Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and others."

Priority for funding will be given to proposals targeting species and ecosystems of shared interest between NFWF and NRCS, including the three priority project areas noted above (as well as a Northeast Forests priority area), and outlined on the map below, which can also be accessed by clicking on the map or clicking here.)

The deadline for grant applications is March 13, 2012. NFWF will host an information webinar for prospective applicants on Thursday, February 23, at 11:00 AM (EST) (register here).

Additional information useful to potential grant applicants can be found on the NFWF program web site. Prospective applicants may also contact John Curry (john.curry@nfwf.org ; 612-564-7285), NFWF's Assistant Director, Central Partnership Office with questions and for assistance.