Accomplishments & Projects

NAWCA

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) of 1989:

  • Provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife.
  • Consists of two grants types, Standard and Small.
  • Requires at least a 50/50 non-Federal match for each proposal.
  • The 2008 grant instructions are now available on the NAWCA Web site.

Accomplishments
In the Central Valley of California, a total of 54 NAWCA projects have protected, restored and enhanced over 462,600 acres, with more than $35 million in NAWCA grant funding leveraging $186 million in supporting partner funding.

Continentally, from September 1990 through March 2006, more than 3,050 partners have been involved in 1,502 Standard and Small Grants Programs’ projects combined. More than $722 million in NAWCA grants has leveraged over $2 billion in total partner contributions to affect approximately 23 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands.

NAWCA Standard Grants
The Standard Grants Program supports projects in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats. In Mexico, partners may also conduct projects involving technical training, environmental education and outreach, organizational infrastructure development, and sustainable-use studies. Grant requests are between $50,001 and $1,000,000.

Proposal due dates are early March and late July each year.

NAWCA Small Grants
The objective of the small grant program is to promote long-term wetlands conservation activities through encouraging participation by new grantees and partners who may not otherwise be able to compete in the Standard Grants program. Small grants are awarded up to $75,000.

Small Grants proposal deadline are usually the first week of December each year. For more information visit the NAWCA website.

History
The NAWCA was passed, in part, to support activities under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international agreement that provides a strategy for the long-term protection of wetlands and associated uplands habitats needed by waterfowl and other migratory birds in North America. In December 2002, Congress reauthorized the Act and expanded its scope to include the conservation of all habitats and birds associated with wetlands ecosystems.

Contacts
For general information about the NAWCA Grants Program, contact: Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, (703) 358-1784, dbhc@fws.gov. For specific NAWCA grants information for the Central Valley Joint Venture contact Coordinator, Bob Shaffer, at (916) 414-6459, robert_shaffer@fws.gov.