Resources

The State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program provides federal grant funds to state fish and wildlife agencies for developing and implementing programs that benefit wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Grant funds may be used to address a variety of conservation needs--such as research, fish and wildlife surveys, species restoration, habitat management, and monitoring that are identified within a State's Wildlife Action Plan. These funds may also be used to update, revise, or modify a State's Plan.

The Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats. In Mexico, projects may also include technical training, environmental education and outreach, organizational infrastructure development, and sustainable-use studies.

Coastal wetlands are valued, in part, because they protect against flooding, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife. Coastal environments are also important economically, generating billions of dollars annually through industries such as commercial fishing and tourism. The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant (NCWCG) Program provides States with financial assistance to protect and restore these valuable resources. Projects can include:

The Community Forest Program is a grant program that authorizes the Forest Service to provide financial assistance to local governments, Tribal governments, and qualified nonprofits to acquire and establish community forests that provide continuing and accessible community benefits. In 2016, this program also prioritized projects that were located adjacent to coastal wetlands or hydrologically connected with the Great Lakes.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funds projects to protect, restore, and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

The Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds.

The Small Grants Program funds projects that are too small to be competitive for the Standard Grants Program.

This document details the method used to develop the Aquatic Invasive Species Great Lakes Site Prioritization tool.

This document details the method used to develop the Great Lakes Surveillance Framework Watch List.

As part of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA), models are being developed to support the identification and restoration of potential coastal wetlands (i.e., areas that could become coastal wetlands if hydrologically connected to the Great Lakes) along the U.S. coast of the Great Lakes. The GLCWRA uses principles of geodesign to identify areas along U.S. coast of the Great Lakes that have the most potential to restore coastal wetland habitat.