Habitat Focus AreasHabitat News

Apply for New Grants in NOAA Habitat Focus Areas

NOAA is announcing the availability of a federal funding opportunity to support multi-year projects and activities in the NOAA Habitat Blueprint Habitat Focus Areas. Fiscal Year 2017 awards will total up to $1.5 million, with total anticipated funding over three years up to $3.5 million, contingent upon final appropriations. The deadline for applications is February 2, 2017.

As a key, place-based strategy of NOAA’s Habitat Blueprint, the Habitat Focus Area (HFA) approach was established in 2012 to increase the effectiveness of NOAA’s habitat conservation science and management efforts. Ten large, diverse watersheds have been selected as HFAs, and their locations range from Alaska to Guam, and from Puerto Rico to Maine.

Applicants are encouraged to develop grant proposals that take a landscape-scale or watershed approach to implementing on the ground conservation efforts. This funding opportunity is open to non-federal applicants that propose work within the nine eligible HFAs:

  • Biscayne Bay, Florida
  • Choptank River, Maryland/Delaware
  • Kachemak Bay, Alaska
  • Manell-Geus, Guam
  • Muskegon Lake, Michigan
  • Northeast Marine Corridor and Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
  • Penobscot River, Maine
  • Russian River, California
  • West Hawaii, Hawaii

Proposals must align with specific HFA priorities. Project types, including habitat restoration/conservation, science/research, long-term monitoring, technology/tool development, and outreach/education, will vary from HFA to HFA. All projects will support NOAA’s core missions of conserving coastal and marine habitats to support sustainable fisheries, protected resources, and coastal community resilience. Collaboration is encouraged with conservation partners and communities.

Important Funding Notices