Opportunity Information: Apply for F21AS00584
The Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - Base Funding is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.667) that supports long-term land and natural resource conservation in the Highlands Region of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The program was authorized under the Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964, 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901) to help these four states permanently protect lands and resources with high conservation value, primarily by helping state entities acquire land or conservation interests (such as conservation easements) from willing sellers. The goal is straightforward: prevent loss or degradation of key natural resources by securing permanent protection through state-led land conservation transactions.
A central requirement is that proposed projects must fall within areas identified as having high resource value in the official Highlands studies used to map and prioritize conservation targets. The USDA Forest Service was directed by the Act to identify these priority lands through the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update. In practice, this means applications need to show that each proposed acquisition aligns with the geographic and resource-value priorities laid out in those studies, rather than being general open-space purchases outside the designated high-value areas.
Funding is cost-shared. Subject to federal appropriations, each year the Governors of the four Highlands states may submit proposals requesting up to 50 percent of the total cost of eligible land conservation projects, with the remaining share coming from non-federal sources. The emphasis on a 50/50 structure is important because it frames the grant as matching assistance meant to leverage state and partner conservation funding rather than fully funding acquisitions. The opportunity described here specifically covers the Base Funding portion of appropriated HCA funds. The Act divides appropriations into two tracks, Base and Competitive, and applicants must choose one track per property: the same property cannot be submitted under both the Base and Competitive notices. Competitive Funds are handled under a separate notice of funding opportunity.
Eligibility is tightly limited. Only state governments, specifically State Conservation Agencies, may receive these funds. In addition, only the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by the Governor of each Highlands state may apply. If a Governor designates more than one Lead Agency, those agencies must coordinate before submitting to ensure the state does not request more than the maximum allowable amount through this Base Funding notice. While the award recipient must be an eligible Lead State Agency, the program does allow subaward agreements to another State Conservation Agency, which can be useful when multiple state entities share responsibilities for land conservation or stewardship.
Key administrative details for this notice include the funding opportunity number F21AS00584, an original closing date of 2021-11-01, an award ceiling of $1,460,000, and an opportunity category of Discretionary with a Grant as the funding instrument type. The program’s funding activity category is Natural Resources, reflecting its focus on protecting forests, watersheds, habitat, and other high-value conservation resources in the Highlands Region through permanent land protection actions driven by state conservation agencies and supported by federal cost-share.Apply for F21AS00584
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program – Base Funding" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.667.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,460,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - Base Funding?
The Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) Grant Program - Base Funding is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.667). It supports long-term land and natural resource conservation in the Highlands Region of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania by helping states permanently protect lands and resources with high conservation value.
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The goal is to prevent the loss or degradation of key natural resources by securing permanent protection for high-value lands and resources. In practice, this is done through state-led land conservation transactions, such as acquiring land or conservation interests like conservation easements.
Which states and region does this program cover?
The program is focused on the Highlands Region within four states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Who administers the grant and what is the CFDA number?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the CFDA number listed for this program is 15.667.
What law authorizes this grant program?
The program was authorized under the Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964, 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901).
What types of projects does the program fund?
The program primarily supports projects that permanently protect land and natural resources with high conservation value. The main eligible activity described is helping state entities acquire land or conservation interests (such as conservation easements) from willing sellers.
Does this grant support temporary conservation or short-term protection?
No. The program is described as supporting permanent protection and long-term conservation, with an emphasis on securing permanent protection through acquisitions or conservation interests.
Do properties have to be in specific priority areas to qualify?
Yes. Proposed projects must fall within areas identified as having high resource value in the official Highlands studies used to map and prioritize conservation targets. Applications need to demonstrate that each proposed acquisition aligns with the geographic and resource-value priorities laid out in those studies.
Which studies define the priority lands and high resource value areas?
The priority lands are identified through the official Highlands studies that the Act directed the USDA Forest Service to prepare or update, including the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update.
What does it mean to align with the Highlands studies?
It means the proposed land acquisition or conservation interest must match the geographic areas and resource-value priorities identified in the official Highlands mapping and prioritization studies, rather than being a general open-space purchase outside the designated high-value areas.
Is funding provided as a match (cost-share), or can it cover 100% of the project cost?
Funding is cost-shared. Subject to federal appropriations, the Governors of the four Highlands states may submit proposals requesting up to 50 percent of the total cost of eligible land conservation projects, with the remaining share coming from non-federal sources.
What is the maximum federal share under this program?
Up to 50 percent of the total cost of eligible land conservation projects, subject to federal appropriations.
Where must the remaining match come from?
The remaining share must come from non-federal sources, based on the program description provided.
What does "Base Funding" mean in the context of the Highlands Conservation Act?
The Act divides appropriations into two tracks: Base and Competitive. This opportunity covers the Base Funding portion of appropriated HCA funds. Competitive Funds are handled under a separate notice of funding opportunity.
Can the same property be submitted under both Base and Competitive funding tracks?
No. Applicants must choose one track per property. The same property cannot be submitted under both the Base and Competitive notices.
Who is eligible to apply for this Base Funding opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically State Conservation Agencies. Only the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by the Governor of each Highlands state may apply.
Can local governments, nonprofits, or private entities apply directly?
Not under the eligibility rules described. The opportunity states that only state governments (State Conservation Agencies), and specifically the Governor-designated Lead State Agency or agencies in each Highlands state, may apply as the recipient.
What is a "Lead State Agency" for this program?
The Lead State Agency is the state conservation agency (or agencies) designated by the Governor of a Highlands state to apply for these funds.
What happens if a Governor designates more than one Lead State Agency?
If more than one Lead Agency is designated, those agencies must coordinate before submitting to ensure the state does not request more than the maximum allowable amount through this Base Funding notice.
Are subawards allowed under this grant?
Yes. While the award recipient must be an eligible Lead State Agency, the program allows subaward agreements to another State Conservation Agency.
Why would a state use a subaward agreement?
Subawards can be useful when multiple state entities share responsibilities for land conservation or stewardship, even though the recipient must be the eligible Lead State Agency.
What is the funding opportunity number for this notice?
The funding opportunity number is F21AS00584.
What type of grant opportunity is this (category and instrument)?
The opportunity category is Discretionary, and the funding instrument type is a Grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources, reflecting the program focus on protecting forests, watersheds, habitat, and other high-value conservation resources through permanent land protection.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $1,460,000.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2021-11-01.
Is the availability of funding guaranteed each year?
No. The description notes that funding is subject to federal appropriations.
What kinds of conservation outcomes does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes permanent protection of high-value conservation lands and resources in the Highlands Region, aiming to prevent loss or degradation of key natural resources through acquisitions or conservation interests led by states and supported by federal cost-share.
Does the program require willing sellers?
Yes. The program description states that it primarily helps state entities acquire land or conservation interests (such as conservation easements) from willing sellers.
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