Massachusetts Habitat Management Grant Program

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), in partnership with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, administers the Habitat Management Grant Program (MHMGP) to support active habitat restoration and management on conserved lands in Massachusetts. Recognizing that land protection alone is insufficient for long‑term ecological resilience, this program provides funding to private and municipal landowners of conserved properties to enhance wildlife habitat, while also promoting public access for passive recreation such as hiking, birding, fishing, and hunting. The program’s objectives include improving habitats for species of greatest conservation need (as identified in the 2025 Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan), giving priority to communities or ecological types vulnerable to climate change, and targeting landscapes of high biodiversity importance. Another goal is to enhance public access to conserved lands, thereby fostering outdoor recreation and public connection to nature. Proposals are expected to align with these goals and demonstrate clear ecological benefits, connectivity, and stewardship potential. Eligible entities include owners of private or municipal conserved lands. “Conserved lands” are defined broadly to include property under conservation restriction or easement, agricultural protection restrictions, lands enrolled under Massachusetts Chapter 61 / 61A / 61B, lands held in fee by nonprofit conservation organizations, or municipal lands under conservation commission control (so long as they are under the requisite protection). Town parks or recreation lands are not eligible unless they satisfy the conservation restriction or enrollment criteria. For fiscal year 2026, the application period opens September 26, 2025, and closes October 31, 2025, at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $75,000 per project. All work financed by the grant must be completed, and funds expended, by June 30, 2026. Extensions are not permitted. Projects may include habitat management practices such as mowing, prescribed burning, invasive species control, seeding, tree clearing, streambank restoration, small dam removal, and fencing for habitat protection, among others. However, the program explicitly prohibits funding for land acquisition, general survey or permitting, travel, overhead, administrative costs, or any expenses not preapproved. Applicants must submit a proposal through the official process (often via COMMBUYS or the state procurement portal) following all instructions, budget templates, and checklists. Proposals will be evaluated based on ecological benefit, consistency with state wildlife priorities, cost reasonableness, and the capacity of the applicant to complete the work within the project timeline. Technical and financial assistance resources are available from MassWildlife staff, who may help with site consultation or pre‑review of projects in sensitive habitat. The contact point for inquiries is Emily Myron, Assistant Director for Land and Habitat Conservation, reachable via phone (508‑389‑6324) at the regional office in Westborough, Massachusetts. All application materials, guidance, criteria, and past award information are accessible via the MassWildlife or Mass.gov pages. This grant cycle is specific to FY 2026 and does not explicitly commit to recurring annual issuance.

Highlight alignment with SWAP species and connectivity, cost efficiency, and implementation capacity; include maps and measurable outcomes.