Natural Resources Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Northwest Minnesota for projects that aim to protect and enhance the region's natural resources.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that provide outdoor education and recreation experiences to underserved youth and families in Colorado, aiming to enhance access and representation for marginalized communities in outdoor activities and conservation efforts.

This grant provides financial support to multimedia artists in Northampton, MA, and nearby areas to help them create innovative projects that enhance their storytelling and artistic skills.

This program provides funding to public agencies and federally recognized Tribes in California to improve, reactivate, or install stream gages for better monitoring of water flow and environmental conditions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local water-resource agencies for improving groundwater monitoring and management across the nation.

This initiative provides funding to schools in Alabama with financial need to create outdoor learning spaces and enhance environmental education programs, fostering stewardship of the state's natural resources among students.

This grant provides financial support for teachers, librarians, daycare facilities, and organizations in Idaho to create outdoor and environmental education projects that connect children with nature.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Maryland-based organizations to plan and develop resilient energy systems that enhance sustainability and community resilience against climate impacts.

This program provides financial support and resources to California farmers transitioning from conventional to organic farming practices over a three-year period.

The National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2025 aims to fund innovative research and development projects that reduce bycatch of non-target species in fisheries, promoting sustainable practices and protecting marine ecosystems.

This program provides funding to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants to upgrade their systems for better nitrogen removal, improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

This grant provides matching funds to states for acquiring land or conservation easements to protect habitats for endangered species, supporting efforts to reduce conflicts between conservation and land use.

This grant provides matching funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts to implement initiatives that address the opioid crisis through prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.

The 2025 Regional Ecosystem Research (RER) Program grant, offered by NOAA's NCCOS, aims to fund research projects that enhance understanding of species' habitat usage and connectivity in Marine Protected Areas, with the goal of improving conservation efforts and management plans, particularly in line with the 30x30 initiative.

The Partnerships for Aquatic and Watershed Restoration (PAWR) funding opportunity, issued by the USDA Forest Service, is a mechanism to establish partnerships and support projects addressing aquatic and watershed restoration needs. This opportunity is designed to build relationships with potential and existing partners and encourage collaboration on activities that improve water quality, facilitate aquatic organism passage, and increase the efficiency of restoration efforts on lands managed by the Forest Service. Submissions to this outreach opportunity enable the USDA Forest Service to evaluate ideas and programs for potential federal funding, with the goal of fostering collaborative partnerships that benefit local communities and ensure climate-resilient landscapes. The program’s purpose is to sustainably manage watersheds and enhance ecological integrity across 193 million acres of forest, grasslands, and waterways. Restoration efforts aim to protect and restore water quality, conserve aquatic biodiversity, and manage habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants. These efforts are critical for maintaining hydrologic and ecological functions and for providing educational, recreational, and climate-resilient benefits to the public. The initiative emphasizes science-based approaches and shared priorities with partners to accelerate restoration efforts and expand the capacity to achieve mutual goals. This funding opportunity does not have a specific monetary award ceiling or floor, as it is primarily designed to identify and develop partnership opportunities rather than provide direct funding through grants. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, such as for-profit organizations, non-profits, institutions of higher education, federal and state agencies, local and tribal governments, and special purpose districts like conservation and utility districts. The program actively seeks both new and existing partners to broaden participation and engagement in watershed restoration projects. Applicants are required to submit their proposals electronically, ensuring that all forms are properly saved with unique file names and uploaded as attachments. Specific instructions for completing and submitting the required forms are provided in the "Outreach of Interest Template Instructions" document. Applications must be submitted by January 23, 2025, and late submissions will not be accepted. The USDA Forest Service encourages potential partners to carefully review submission requirements and consult with the listed grantor contact for assistance. Applications will be evaluated based on their alignment with the program’s goals, including the potential for collaborative partnerships, the effectiveness of proposed activities in improving watershed and aquatic health, and the capacity to support ecological integrity and climate resilience. The Forest Service seeks projects that can advance shared priorities, promote innovative solutions, and build community engagement around aquatic restoration activities. The original closing date for submissions was February 7, 2025, but it has been updated to January 23, 2025. Additional information, including resources and detailed program guidance, is available through the Fisheries Program page on the USDA Forest Service website. For further inquiries, applicants can contact Robin Taylor-Davenport from the Outreach and Partnership Engagement Branch.

For information on how to apply, please see the attached 'Outreach of Interest Template Instructions' document. This outreach of interest (OOI) functions as an outreach mechanism to cultivate relationships and connect with potential partners. This OOI is intended to solicit responses to explore future projects meeting the needs and interests of potential partners through partnership agreements within legislative authority with USDA Forest Service. USDA Forest Service would like to increase capacity to improve wildlife habitat through removal, modification and or addition of wildlife friendly fence by engaging partnerships from local communities who have a vested interest in management outcomes. New partnerships will foster co-stewardship between the USDA Forest Service through better representation of the public the agency serves, and with a shared commitment to wildlife conservation on USDA Forest Service lands. Your submission signals an opportunity for USDA Forest Service to explore with you your ideas/projects/programs and potential partnership opportunities. USDA Forest Service is committed to fostering a strong, collaborative partnership that benefits our fisheries and wildlife resources, and their habitats. Collaborative efforts are vital to wildlife conservation. Wildlife habitat improvement for terrestrial and aquatic species is a key focus area for the USDA Forest Service. One way this is accomplished is through the addition or removal of fences. Fences can be ecologically beneficial or detrimental depending on site specific conditions, design, project objectives, and affected species. For example, small scale exclosures may be designed to protect sensitive aquatic species or pollinator habitat from ungulate, recreational or other impacts, while removing old livestock fencing thats no longer in use, can increase connectivity for wide ranging species. Fences that are improperly placed or poorly constructed without current wildlife friendly specifications in mind can also lead to fragmented wildlife populations and habitat, as well as direct mortality to species moving across the landscape. This project supports the USDA Forest Services 2012 Planning Rule which emphasizes an all lands approach to managing ecosystems that transcends land ownership boundaries. Cooperation and collaboration among the USDA Forest Service, other agencies, tribes, and private landowners can help to enhance wildlife connectivity and ecologically resilient habitat. Current workload for wildlife habitat related fencing projects exceeds capacity. The project would engage community members and cultivate a vested interest in long term success and shared ownership in final outcomes; provide opportunities for job training, personal development, conservation service, and natural resource appreciation while cultivating the next generation of natural resource stewards.

This funding opportunity supports partnerships to restore national forest lands using native plants, focusing on community engagement and environmental stewardship, particularly with underserved groups and tribes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations and communities for projects that interpret and educate the public about the Nation's history, particularly focusing on the perspectives of historically marginalized groups, while promoting cultural awareness and heritage preservation.

The USDA Forest Service’s funding opportunity, "Recreation Sites and Visitor Services: Creating Quality Recreation Experiences," aims to cultivate partnerships to improve recreation opportunities on National Forest System lands. This Outreach of Interest (OOI) is not a traditional grant program but serves as a mechanism to engage potential partners in identifying collaborative projects. It seeks to generate ideas for programs or initiatives that address recreation needs, enhance visitor experiences, and support infrastructure improvements. By fostering partnerships, the USDA Forest Service aims to build capacity, improve recreational offerings, and ensure the long-term stewardship of public lands. The primary goal of this initiative is to create and maintain high-quality recreational experiences. This includes addressing the increased demand for outdoor recreation, enhancing access to public lands, improving safety, and maintaining or upgrading the extensive infrastructure on National Forest System lands. The USDA Forest Service manages 160,000 miles of trails, 10,000 developed recreation sites, and 196 million acres of forest and grasslands, which are visited by millions annually. Partnerships are vital for meeting growing recreational demands, maintaining infrastructure, and engaging communities in conservation and stewardship. This funding opportunity does not specify a monetary award ceiling or floor, as its primary purpose is to explore project ideas rather than allocate direct funding. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, such as for-profit and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and Native American tribal governments, and other public entities like school districts and conservation districts. The USDA Forest Service values collaborations that address shared goals and create opportunities for community engagement, job training, conservation education, and improved access to public lands. Applications should outline ideas for programs or projects that align with the USDA Forest Service’s objectives. Potential projects might involve enhancing infrastructure resiliency to weather events, improving access for activities like hunting or fishing, or increasing the capacity of recreational sites to serve visitors. Submitted proposals should demonstrate how partnerships will help address the challenges of maintaining high visitor standards while accommodating growing demand. Applicants are encouraged to innovate and propose solutions that foster long-term sustainability and stewardship. Submissions must follow specific guidelines outlined in the "Outreach of Interest Template Instructions" document. Applicants should save their forms under a new name before uploading them to ensure proper submission. While this OOI does not include specific funding terms, successful partnerships could lead to future agreements or collaborative initiatives under the USDA Forest Service’s legislative authority. The application period closes on **January 23, 2025**, with an original deadline extension previously set for February 7, 2025. Interested parties should ensure their proposals are submitted promptly and in compliance with submission requirements. For additional information or assistance, applicants can contact Robin Taylor-Davenport from the Outreach and Partnership Engagement Branch. This opportunity provides a platform for diverse entities to collaborate with the USDA Forest Service in supporting outdoor recreation. Through innovative partnerships, it aims to enhance the recreational experience for millions of visitors while promoting sustainable land stewardship and community involvement.

This funding opportunity provides support for various organizations and partners to collaborate with the USDA Forest Service in protecting and managing significant cultural heritage sites on public lands across the nation.