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NAWCA Mexican Standard Grants (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) - FAQs

What is the NAWCA Mexican Standard Grants opportunity?

The NAWCA Mexican Standard Grants opportunity is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). It provides competitive, matching grants for conservation projects located in Mexico and emphasizes public-private partnerships that produce long-term wetland conservation outcomes for migratory birds.

What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The program is intended to advance long-term wetlands conservation that supports wetland-associated migratory birds that depend on habitats across North America. Because these species and their habitats are cross-border, the program focuses on lasting conservation results in Mexico that contribute to broader migratory bird conservation.

Where must projects be located to be eligible?

Projects funded under this opportunity must be located in Mexico.

What types of conservation outcomes does the program prioritize?

The program prioritizes durable, on-the-ground habitat benefits tied directly to the needs of wetland-associated migratory birds. Funded projects should result in long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and associated upland habitats.

What habitat activities are eligible for funding?

Eligible habitat work includes long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and associated upland habitats. Examples described include acquiring or securing conservation protections on important wetland areas, restoring degraded wetlands, improving habitat quality through management actions, or creating new wetland habitat where appropriate.

Are upland habitats included, or only wetlands?

Yes. The program allows work on wetlands and associated upland habitats, as long as the activities support long-term conservation outcomes for wetland-associated migratory birds.

Does the program fund short-term projects or stand-alone studies?

The program emphasizes durable conservation impacts rather than short-term activities. It also indicates that isolated studies without a clear pathway to conservation action are not the intended focus; activities should be connected to real, long-term conservation results.

Are capacity-building activities eligible under this grant?

Yes. Capacity-building activities may be eligible when they are clearly connected to building effective wetland conservation and management in Mexico and are tied to long-term conservation outcomes rather than serving as general institutional support.

What are examples of eligible capacity-building activities?

Examples described include technical training (such as training in wetland management, monitoring, restoration techniques, or protected area stewardship), education efforts that strengthen conservation outcomes, sustainable use studies that support long-term habitat protection while balancing community needs, and organizational or infrastructure development necessary to develop or strengthen wetlands conservation capabilities.

How much total funding is expected to be available?

The estimated total funding level for the opportunity is $2,500,000.

How many awards are expected?

About 10 awards are expected.

What is the minimum and maximum award size?

Individual awards range from a minimum (floor) of $10,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $1,000,000.

Is this a competitive grant program?

Yes. The program is competitive, meaning proposals are evaluated against each other.

What proposal characteristics are implied to be important for competitiveness?

Based on the description, strong partnership structure, clear conservation outcomes, and credible implementation plans are typically central to a successful application.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The program includes a cost-sharing requirement and requires at least a 1:1 cash match.

What does a 1:1 cash match requirement mean?

A 1:1 cash match means the applicant must provide an equal amount of non-federal cash funding to match the federal funds requested. For example, a request for $200,000 in federal funding would require at least $200,000 in cash match.

What kind of match is required (cash vs. in-kind)?

The requirement is described as a 1:1 cash match, meaning the match must be in cash (not just in-kind) and must be non-federal.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted," indicating a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.623, North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting date was April 3, 2013, and the closing date was June 7, 2013.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on June 16, 2013.

Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?

The listed program contact for assistance accessing the full announcement is Ellen Murphy, Mexican Program Coordinator. Phone: 703-358-1937. Email: ellenmurphy@fws.gov.