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# North American Wetlands Conservation

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                -  North American Wetlands Conservation
                -  About Us
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## What We Do

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#### Our Services

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) authorizes matching grants for public-private partnerships through four grant programs: the U.S. Standard Grant Program, U.S. Small Grant Program, Mexico Program, and Canada Program. 

Projects funded through these grants are consistent with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international agreement and strategy for the long-term protection of wetlands and associated upland habitats to support waterfowl and other migratory birds. 

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (the Council) reviews eligible proposals in two cycles per year. The Council may directly approve Small Grants and recommends Standard Grant projects to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, a seven-member commission authorized by NAWCA. 

Since 1991, this program has helped conserve over 32 million acres (and counting!) of wetlands and associated upland habitats that benefit birds and other wildlife while also establishing or enhancing many of the continents most popular destinations for hunting and birding. 

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#### Our Projects and Initiatives

Since 1991, more than $2.1 billion in grants have gone to over 3,300 projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Over 6,800 partners have contributed another $4.3 billion in matching funds, affecting over 32 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands that benefit waterfowl and other wildlife.

You can learn more about the projects by visiting our project database.

The most recently approved project summaries (2024-Cycle 1) can be found here.

#### Our Laws and Regulations

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act authorizes the grant program and establishes broad guidelines for its management. 

More About What We Do

## Latest Stories and Topics

Our PartnersCelebrating Women in ConservationIn honor of Women's History Month, the Migratory Bird Program is proud to highlight the remarkable women who have played a significant role in the success of projects funded through our North American Wetlands Conservation Act's U.S. grant programs. While the individuals featured in this story...Mar 6, 2024

Migratory SpeciesMigration: It’s a Risky Journey! Every year, billions of birds migrate between their breeding and wintering grounds, and then back again. Some fly from Alaska to New Zealand, while others migrate from New York to the Yucatan Peninsula. No matter how far or where they fly to, birds encounter many hazards along the way and need all...Dec 26, 2023

Our PartnersNeotropical Bird Conservation through the Lens of Ernesto GomezFor Ernesto Gomez, birds are a lifelong passion and a muse behind his lens. As the Bird Conservation Program Coordinator at Pronatura PY in Yucatan, he inspires people to live in harmony with nature, collaborating with local communities on projects that benefit migratory birds and their habitats....Nov 22, 2023

Migratory SpeciesDiving into the Mysterious World of Sea Ducks Plunging into the icy waters of North America's coasts, sea ducks navigate a world unseen by most. Despite representing a significant portion of the continent’s duck species, these unique marine birds are among the least understood. Yet, unlike other waterfowl, many sea duck populations have...Nov 20, 2023

Science and TechnologyConserving at Flyway Scales Migratory birds face threats as wetlands vanish due to climate change and human actions. An innovative new tool represents a transformative leap in better understanding these crucial ecosystems and their avian inhabitants.Oct 12, 2023

Wildlife ManagementInterior Department Announces More Than $50.6 Million for Wetland Conservation Projects and National Wildlife RefugesWASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced that more than $50.6 million in funding has been approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, providing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners the ability to help conserve, restore or enhance more than 106,600 acres...Sep 13, 2023

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## Our Services

The NAWCA program provides grants to wetlands conservation projects across North America through four grant programs: the U.S Standard Grant Program, U.S. Small Grant Program, Canada Grant Program, and Mexico Grant Program. These competitive grant programs also require grant requests to be matched by partner contributions at no less than a 1-to-1 ratio.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants: US Standard Program

The U.S. Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). These projects must involve long-term protection,...

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants: US Small Program

The Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/...

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants: Mexico Program

In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed into law the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) 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,...

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants: Canada Program

NAWCA Canada provides matching grants that support public-private partnerships for long-term conservation projects that benefit all wetland-associated migratory birds. Projects funded through this program contribute to achieving the overall goals of the umbrella North American Wetlands...

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## Our Library

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Project Summaries, 2023-2

PDF

Apr 27, 2023

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Documents

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Biennial Reports 

View Our Library

Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

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