Tools for Partners and Landowners

Conservation Partnerships Program The Conservation Partnerships Program is a collection of voluntary habitat restoration programs with the goal of restoring native Pacific Island ecosystems through collaborative projects. This program seeks to implement large-scale conservation efforts for the benefit of native ecosystems by working cooperatively with private landowners, conservation organizations, community groups, and other government agencies. The Conservation Partnerships Program can provide cost-share funds, as well as information on habitat restoration techniques, native species, Safe Harbor Agreements, additional funding sources, required permits, and potential vendors of restoration services (fence contractors, nurseries, etc).

Two people outplanting trees - Photo credit USFWS

The mission statement of the Conservation Partnerships Program is to restore and protect native habitats by developing positive relationships with landowners, identifying biological resources and threats, implementing projects, monitoring results, and sharing information.”

This reflects the mission statement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which is “working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” It acknowledges that working cooperatively with partner organizations, private landowners, local communities is the best way to approach long-term conservation of our native ecosystems.

The Conservation Partnerships Program is comprised of the following:

Partners for Fish and Wildlife – Cost-sharing and technical assistance for long-term habitat restoration projects on private land.

Pacific Islands Coastal Program – A new effort to identify important coastal resource problems and solutions, develop partnerships to carry out on-the-ground conservation projects, and encourage community action in high priority coastal areas.

Hawaii Fish Habitat Partnership - Seeks to cooperatively develop and implement aquatic conservation projects in Hawaiian streams and estuaries.

Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program - This program provides funds to states, territories, and commonwealths to purchase habitat from willing sellers in order to benefit threatened and endangered species. Proposals can be developed by third parties in conjunction with the above mentioned government agencies.

Safe Harbor Agreements - The SHA program was developed to encourage the voluntary participation of non-Federal landowners in the conservation and recovery of T/E species on non-Federal lands.

Other Funding - The Conservation Partnerships Program has been able to obtain funding from various other USFWS programs for a number of partnership programs.

Habitat Restoration Resources

For additional information contact:
Conservation Partnerships Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific Islands Office
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 3-122
Box 50088
Honolulu, HI 96850
(808) 792-9400
(808) 792-9581 fax

Click here to print an overview of program information,
Conservation Partnerships Program Factsheet (pdf 164K)