2026 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: HCP Land Acquisition (Nontraditional Section 6)

Purpose: Funds to support land acquisition projects in support of approved Habitat Conservation Plans that will conserve habitat for eligible species in perpetuity. Description: The HCP Land Acquisition Grant program was designed to reduce conflicts between the conservation of listed species and competing land uses on specific parcels of land associated with approved and permitted HCPs. Under this program, the Service provides matching grants to states in support of land acquisition projects that will conserve species habitat in perpetuity through fee simple acquisition or the acquisition of permanent conservation easements. The Service considers the use of federal acquisition dollars by states for habitat protection associated with HCPs to be an important and effective mechanism to promote species recovery, prevent extinction, and preclude the need to list species under the ESA in the future. All land acquired through these grants complements, but does not replace, the mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring commitments of the HCP. Thus, this work is additive to the conservation commitments entered into when HCPs are permitted and serves as a meaningful way to leverage non-federal investment in species recovery and connect conservation lands across the landscape. Please Note: This is a federal grant program administered by the State. Federal conditions are subject to change. The timeline for the FY2026 US Fish and Wildlife Service Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants Funding Opportunity is set by the US Fish and Wildlife Service; it is unknown when that funding opportunity will be released. The application deadline listed in this solicitation may change to either an earlier or later date. The solicitation period is not expected to exceed four weeks. Contact your CDFW Region to coordinate on proposals. CDFW Regions submit proposals to nccp@ Resources for this solicitation are based on the FY2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants funding opportunity announcement from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (F25AS00035) and FY2025 CDFW requirements. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Individual Nonprofit Public Agency Tribal Government State agencies that have entered into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to Section 6(c) of the ESA are eligible to apply for funding. While funding may only be awarded to states, groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a state agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee. Contact your CDFW Region to coordinate on proposals. Eligible Geographies: Statewide voluntary conservation efforts. Matching Funding Requirement: The minimum non-federal cost share is 25 percent of the total project cost, the amount requested from the program plus the amount of non‐federal cost share. Other funds related to the project, but not designated as cost share, should not be included in the total project costs when calculating minimum non-federal cost share. Important Dates Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. Late 2026/early 2027 Period of performance The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. 3 years Anticipated Open Date July 14th, 2026 (subject to change; anticipated application deadline is four weeks after the solicitation opens) Funding Details Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. $26,000,000 Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.

Purpose: Funds to support land acquisition projects in support of approved Habitat Conservation Plans that will conserve habitat for eligible species in perpetuity. Description: The HCP Land Acquisition Grant program was designed to reduce conflicts between the conservation of listed species and competing land uses on specific parcels of land associated with approved and permitted HCPs. Under this program, the Service provides matching grants to states in support of land acquisition projects that will conserve species habitat in perpetuity through fee simple acquisition or the acquisition of permanent conservation easements. The Service considers the use of federal acquisition dollars by states for habitat protection associated with HCPs to be an important and effective mechanism to promote species recovery, prevent extinction, and preclude the need to list species under the ESA in the future. All land acquired through these grants complements, but does not replace, the mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring commitments of the HCP. Thus, this work is additive to the conservation commitments entered into when HCPs are permitted and serves as a meaningful way to leverage non-federal investment in species recovery and connect conservation lands across the landscape. Please Note: This is a federal grant program administered by the State. Federal conditions are subject to change.