Conservation Partnerships Division

The Carlsbad Office's Conservation Partnerships Division oversees programs that provide voluntary, cooperative opportunities in habitat restoration for migratory bird and endangered species conservation, as well as environmental education with non-federal groups or entities. It is a collaborative approach to conservation by empowering people to become stewards of the land.

Our program works with a myriad of partners who share common goals and interests in conserving, using, and enjoying our natural resources. Our partnerships have included local municipalities and non-profits, land conservancies, research entities, private landowners, school groups, corporations and numerous other interests.

These programs not only build partnerships, but also establish agreements and undertake actions to accomplish conservation goals.

We want to help our partners solve their land management challenges because we recognize the value of their expertise and creativity to help us become more effective in our conservation efforts for fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.

We provide on-the-ground conservation through financial and technical assistance programs. The three primary programs that operate within Carlsbad Office's Conservation Partnerships Program Division are: 

Southern California/San Diego Bay Coastal Program

The Southern California/San Diego Bay Coastal Program works closely with partners to voluntarily conserve coastal ecosystems like estuaries, lagoons, bays, dunes, beaches, rivers, and rare uplands in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties through:

  • Restoring or enhancing native coastal habitats
  • Providing permanent protections (conservation easements and land acquisitions) of coastal habitats
  • Offering technical expertise for planning comprehensive conservation projects
  • Conducting research to make informed management decisions
  • Broadening the public’s understanding of habitat functions, fish and wildlife, and the benefits of having healthy wildlife habitat (e.g., improved water quality and recreational value)

To get involved, contact Carolyn Lieberman at 760-431-9440 x240 or carolyn_lieberman@fws.gov.

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grants

The Montecito Ranch property conserves grassland, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, and vernal pools, enhancing connections between protected lands and providing habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher, Stephens' kangaroo rat, and foraging raptors such as golden eagles.

Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act authorizes the Service to provide Federal financial assistance through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) to states and territories to support the development and implementation of conservation programs for the benefit of listed, candidate, and at-risk species on non-Federal lands.

Grant programs include:

  • Traditional Conservation Grants
  • Nontraditional Conservation Grants
    • HCP Land Acquisitions Grants
    • HCP Planning Assistance Grants
    • Recovery Land Acquisition Grants

Contact the Section 6 Coordinator, Mary Beth Woulfe at 760.431.9440, ext. 294, or Marybeth_Woulfe@fws.gov for more information.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

The Service and its partners removed invasive plants from the San Dieguito River stream corridor, improving wildlife habitat and reducing fire risk.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is a habitat restoration cost-sharing program for private landowners. The program works with conservation-minded farmers, ranchers and other private (nonfederal and nonstate) landowners who wish to restore fish and wildlife habitat on their land.

Goals of the program are to:

  • Implement proactive, voluntary, on-the-ground habitat restoration projects that benefit federal trust species and their habitats on private and tribal lands
  • Provide technical and financial assistance to landowners who are interested in providing suitable habitat for fish and wildlife on their property
  • Provide leadership and promote partnerships using the Service's and other organizations' expertise
  • Conduct public outreach to broaden understanding of fish and wildlife habitats while encouraging and demonstrating conservation efforts

To get involved, contact Jonathan Snapp-Cook at jonathan_snapp-cook@fws.gov

For more information about Conservation Partnerships contact Clark Winchell, Division Supervisor, at 760-431-9440 x275 or Clark_Winchell@fws.gov.