FY 2021 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Service Legacy Region 7) | F21AS00178

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the FY 2021 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Service Legacy Region 7)?

It is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) discretionary grant opportunity that provides financial assistance to strengthen and carry out state-led conservation efforts for species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The program is designed to help states develop and implement effective conservation and recovery programs for threatened and endangered species under FWS jurisdiction.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The purpose is to fund projects that deliver clear, on-the-ground conservation outcomes. Projects should either improve conditions for already-listed species (threatened or endangered) or reduce threats early enough to help keep other species from needing ESA listing.

3) What types of conservation outcomes does the program expect?

Applications are expected to clearly explain how proposed activities directly contribute to species recovery or measurably reduce threats in a way that prevents future ESA listing. The emphasis is on a specific pathway from project activities to real conservation benefits for the target species and/or its habitat.

4) Which species are eligible to benefit from projects funded under this opportunity?

The program supports work benefiting several categories of species:

• Federally listed species (threatened or endangered) that are resident in the state and included in the state formal cooperative agreement with FWS.
• Candidate species (species FWS has found warrant listing, but listing is delayed due to higher-priority actions).
• Certain "at-risk" species as defined in the notice (see next FAQ).
• Recently delisted species (within the last five years) if delisted due to recovery.

5) How does this opportunity define "at-risk" species?

For this funding notice, "at-risk" species include:

• Species with a positive 90-day finding on a listing petition but not yet proposed for listing.
• Species with a proposed listing rule but no final rule.
• Species undergoing an initiated ESA status review that has been announced in the Federal Register.
• Species included on the National Listing Workplan (referenced as being listed in Attachment A in the notice).

6) Are recently delisted species eligible under this program?

Yes. Grants can support monitoring and conservation work for recently delisted species defined in this notice as species delisted within the last five years, but only if the species was delisted due to recovery (not for other reasons).

7) What kinds of projects and activities can be funded?

Projects can span management, research, monitoring, and outreach. They can be standalone efforts or combined into a single coordinated project, as long as the proposal clearly connects the work to specific conservation benefits.

8) What are examples of eligible conservation activities?

Examples listed in the opportunity include:

• Introducing species into suitable habitat within their historic range.
• Restoring or enhancing habitat.
• Conducting surveys and inventories.
• Performing species status surveys.
• Propagating plants or animals.
• Conducting research (including genetic analyses to assess genetic health and population structure).
• Monitoring candidate, at-risk, and recently recovered species.
• Public education and outreach tied directly to addressing a specific threat or conservation need (including developing targeted outreach tools such as websites or coordinating workshops with local landowners to reduce or manage a specific risk).

9) Is public outreach or education an allowable use of grant funds?

Yes, when the outreach is directly tied to addressing a particular threat or conservation need. The notice gives examples such as developing targeted outreach tools (including websites) and coordinating workshops with local landowners to reduce or manage a specific risk to a species.

10) Can monitoring be funded under this opportunity?

Yes. Monitoring of candidate species, at-risk species, and recently recovered (recently delisted due to recovery) species is explicitly identified as an allowable use of funds, supporting early detection of declines and verification of continued recovery.

11) Who is eligible to apply as the direct grant recipient?

Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically state agencies that have entered into a cooperative agreement with FWS under ESA section 6(c).

12) Can a state agency apply if it does not yet have a cooperative agreement with FWS?

Possibly. The notice states that a state agency that does not yet have such an agreement may still be eligible if it enters into or reconfirms the agreement within 30 days of the application deadline. However, FWS must have a complete, signed cooperative agreement before it can obligate federal funds.

13) What federal regulations are referenced regarding the cooperative agreement requirement?

The notice cites 50 CFR 81.3, 50 CFR 81.5, and 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3) in connection with the cooperative agreement requirement and the need for a complete, signed agreement before federal funds can be obligated.

14) Can counties, conservation organizations, or other non-state entities participate?

Yes, but not as the direct award recipient under this notice. Other entities (for example, counties, conservation organizations, or other groups) may participate as partners or subgrantees through an eligible state agency. The state remains the eligible applicant and award recipient.

15) What funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument type listed is a grant (financial assistance).

16) What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

The agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

17) What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number is F21AS00178.

18) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number listed is 15.615.

19) What is the activity category for this grant?

The activity category is natural resources.

20) What was the application closing date listed in the opportunity?

The original application closing date was May 12, 2021.

21) What is the posted award ceiling for this opportunity?

The posted award ceiling was $106,502.

22) What makes an application competitive based on the solicitation description?

The solicitation emphasizes that successful proposals will demonstrate a strong, specific, and direct conservation payoff. Applications should clearly link proposed actions to species recovery or measurable threat reduction for ESA-listed species, species likely headed toward listing (candidate and at-risk species), or species that have recently recovered but still require continued attention to maintain recovery.

23) Can projects combine multiple approaches such as research, management, monitoring, and outreach?

Yes. The notice indicates projects may include management, research, monitoring, and outreach either as standalone efforts or combined into a single coordinated project, as long as the proposal clearly explains the direct conservation benefit.

24) Does the program focus only on already-listed species?

No. While federally listed threatened and endangered species are included, the program also supports candidate species, certain at-risk species, and some work on recently delisted (recovered) species, reflecting both a recovery and preventative conservation focus.