Division of Bird Habitat Conservation

Deadlines

Mexican Standard Grants Deadline: June 1, 2009.

Purpose

In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed into law the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA, or Act) with the intention of protecting, restoring, and managing wetland ecosystems and other habitats critical to maintaining healthy populations of migratory birds throughout North America. In 2002, Congress expanded the scope of the Act to include other species associated with wetlands habitats (text in italics).

This Act's goal is to promote partnerships between public agencies and groups interested in:

1. protecting, improving, restoring, and managing an appropriate distribution and diversity of wetland ecosystems and other habitats for wetlands-associated migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in North America;
2. maintaining and improving the current distributions of wetlands-associated migratory bird populations; and
3. maintaining an abundance of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other populations of wetlands-associated migratory birds consistent with the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan, and other international obligations contained in the treaties and migratory bird conventions and other agreements with Canada, Mexico, and other countries.

U.S. Federal Funds

The Act authorizes the use of millions of U.S. dollars each year to support projects in the three North American countries. In the last 5 years, the NAWCA-Mexico program has received, on average, more than $2.5 million annually. At a minimum, five percent of the total funds appropriated for the Act each year must be available to support projects being carried out in Mexico.

Proposals

Proposals should demonstrate how the activities of partners involved in a wetlands conservation project will encourage sustainable and effective programs for the long-term conservation of wetlands-associated migratory birds. The Act defines wetlands conservation projects as:

1. 1. The acquisition of property containing wetlands ecosystems and associated habitats, including water rights, wherein the acquired land will be administered for its long-term conservation and for the benefit of migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife that depend on it;
2. The restoration, management, or enhancement of wetlands ecosystems and associated habitats, wherein theses activities will be conducted on lands and waters that will be administered for their long-term conservation and for the benefit of migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife that depend on them; and
3. Only for projects carried out in Mexico, activities that involve technical training, education, sustainable-use studies, or organizational infrastructure-building needed to develop or strengthen wetlands conservation and management capabilities.

Matching Funds

For every USD$1 received in NAWCA grant funds, applicants should be able to match, at a minimum, with USD$1 in partner funds from those involved in the project.

Applicants

Applicants can be any of the following:

• Individuals, corporations, societies, associations, cooperatives, ejidos, or any other private entity;
• Civil servant, employee, agent, agency, or branch of the Federal Government, when they have a banking system capable of transferring funds directly to the agency or branch (e.g., trust fund or account, separate from the central government), state, municipality, or political subdivision of a state;
• Universities or other institutions of education; and
• International organizations.

Contacts

The NAWCA-Mexico Program for wetlands conservation and management grants is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Bird Habitat Conservation (Division). Mexico's Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources’ General Direction of Wildlife (SEMARNAT-DGVS) supports this program through its participation in the review and assessment of proposals.

For more information, contact: Ellen Murphy (ellen_murphy@fws.gov), Mexican Standard Grants Program Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Oscar Ramírez (oscar.ramirez@semarnat.gob.mx), Director of Field Operations and Conservation Agreements, SEMARNAT-DGVS.

/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/Mexico/grantsENG.shtm was last updated 03/12/09 07:58:30

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