The principle objective of the Traditional Conservation Grant Program is to support the development and implementation of States’ programs to conserve and recover threated and endangered species under the Service’s jurisdiction. Financial assistance, provided in the form of competitive grants, can be used to support projects that have direct benefits for federally listed species, candidate and at-risk species, and recently delisted species. States may apply for funding to conduct conservation work on federally-listed resident species that are included in the State’s cooperative agreement. States may also apply for funding to monitor candidate, at-risk, and recently delisted species.

Projects proposed for funding may involve management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities or any combination thereof. Applications should include clear and specific information about how the proposed work would contribute to species recovery or prevent the need to list a species under the ESA. Successful applications will be those that clearly demonstrate a direct benefit to the species or its habitat.

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Introduction of species into suitable habitats within their historic range
• Enhancement or restoration of habitat
• Surveys and inventories of habitats
• Species status surveys
• Propagation of animals and plants
• Research such as genetic analysis to determine genetic health and population structure
• Public education and outreach tools such as website development or coordination workshops with local landowners to address a specific threat to a species
• Monitoring of candidate, at-risk, and recently recovered species