NFWF Announces Release of Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund 2024 Request for Proposals

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced the release of the 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund.

The fund is a public-private partnership supported with Federal funding from USDA’s Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and private funding from Altria Group, the Bezos Earth Fund, International Paper’s Forestland Stewards Partnership and Southern Company.

This RFP expects to award approximately $30 million in federal and private sector funding in support of on-the-ground projects that help accelerate longleaf pine restoration on private and public lands to support wildlife, sequester carbon, safeguard water quality, and increase forest resilience. Limited funding also is available to support bottomland hardwood restoration and enhancement activities as outlined within the RFP.

In pursuit of habitat and species restoration goals, applicants are encouraged to prioritize projects that also address co-benefits of proposed restoration activities (carbon sequestration, water quality/quantity, etc.) and engage local communities and historically underserved landowners. In 2024, the fund seeks proposals for projects that will:

• Establish new longleaf pine forests through plantings and improve management of existing longleaf pine habitats on public and private lands to support wildlife, sequester carbon, safeguard water quality and increase forest resilience 
• Address barriers to scaling-up longleaf pine plantings
• Coordinate and expand landowner outreach and technical assistance to support voluntary longleaf pine restoration on private lands, including efforts to engage and support historically undeserved landowners
• Protect high-quality longleaf pine habitat through the use of voluntary conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions
• Accelerate the recovery and improve populations of at-risk, listed and other wildlife species

All proposals must specifically address how projects will directly and measurably contribute to the longleaf pine and associated species goals outlined in the Longleaf Forest and Rivers Business Plan.

Full proposals are due Thursday, February 15, 2024.

An applicant webinar will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 2:00pm Eastern Time [Register here]

Although not required, applicants are encouraged to schedule a virtual meeting with NFWF program staff to discuss project proposals. Please use the following Microsoft Bookings link to schedule a Microsoft Teams meeting – Book a Meeting Here.

For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact Jon Scott (jonathan.scott@nfwf.org), Zack Bernstein (zachary.bernstein@nfwf.org) or Sarah Vest (sarah.vest@nfwf.org).

Press Release: https://www.nfwf.org/media-center/press-releases/nfwf-announces-release-longleaf-landscape-stewardship-fund-2024-request-proposals

Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/forestland-stewards/longleaf-landscape-stewardship-fund

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