Funding Available for Wetland Protection and Habitat Improvement

Proposals due February 10, 2012

Gainesville, FL., January 24, 2012 — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Carlos Suarez today announced a funding opportunity for wetland protection, restoration and enhancement activities on eligible lands in Florida. Funding comes through the agency’s Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP), with up to $17 million available nationwide.

WREP is a voluntary conservation program that works through partnership agreements with states, nongovernmental organizations and tribes, as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Partnership proposals for WREP projects are due by Friday, February 10, 2012.

“This is a great opportunity for Florida stakeholders to carry out high-priority wetland protection and improve wildlife habitat,” Suarez said. “WREP is an important conservation tool and I encourage eligible entities who are interested to send us their proposals as soon as possible.”

WREP is a component of the Wetlands Reserve Program through which NRCS enters into agreements with eligible partners to leverage resources to carry out high-priority wetland protection and improve wildlife habitat.

Benefits to partners in WREP agreements include:

• Wetland Restoration in high-priority areas;
• The ability to cost-share restoration or enhancement components beyond those required by NRCS;
• Participating in management or monitoring of selected project locations; and
• Opportunities to use innovative restoration methods and practices.

Eligible partners may submit general WREP proposals for individual, watershed-wide or larger geographical area projects. WREP partners are required to contribute a financial or technical assistance fund match.

State NRCS staffs will use a competitive process to evaluate the proposals. Recommended proposals will then be competed nationally for final selection and funding.

This announcement is for General WREP proposals. Proposals submitted through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative are being solicited under a separate Request for Proposals as published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2012.

To submit a proposal or receive information about General WREP, visit www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/programs  or contact Roney Gutierrez, 2614 NW 43 Street, Gainesville, Fl, 32606, 352-338-9502, or roney.gutierrez@fl.usda.gov . WREP proposals submitted by fax or through Grants.gov will not be accepted.

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To find the nearest NRCS office go to your telephone directory under  “U. S. Government, Department of Agriculture”, or http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

               Last Modified 01/24/2012

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