10 National Conservation Needs Selected for the 2016 Cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program

State fish and wildlife agency directors approved a slate of 10 National Conservation Needs for the 2016 Multistate Conservation Grant Program on March 13, 2015 during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held in Omaha, Nebraska.

NCN 1: Outdoor Heritage – Participation, Recruitment and Retention in Hunting, Fishing, Boating and Conservation-related Recreational Activities; Enhanced Relations among State Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Related Industries

NCN 2: Strengthening the National Fish Habitat Partnership

NCN 3: The Management Assistance Team (MAT) or similar entity to increase leadership capacity and agency effectiveness within state fish and wildlife agencies and the conservation community through leadership and professional development initiatives, training, consulting, and support of the National Conservation Leadership Institute

NCN 4: Incorporating Fish and Wildlife Considerations into Energy Development Decisions

NCN 5: Preserve State Wildlife Agencies’ Authority to Manage Wildlife Resources and Promote Their Interest in the Implementation of International Treaties and Conventions

NCN 6: Policy and Legislative Advocacy – Implementing Goal 2 of AFWA’s Strategic Plan

NCN 7: Building Stakeholder Support for a 21st Century Model of Funding Fish & Wildlife

NCN 8: Develop, Maintain and Enhance State-led Conservation Land Use Pre-planning Tools

NCN 9: State Fish and Wildlife Agency Coordination and Administration

NCN 10: Management of the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (National Survey)

The MSCGP funding opportunity/letter of intent solicitation will be posted on March 30. 

Each year, up to $6 million is available to fund MSCGP projects. AFWA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cooperatively administer the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.

> Read the full description of each NCN

> Learn more about the MSCGP

2012 Cycle Multistate Conservation Grant NCNs

The Association is now soliciting National Conservation Needs (NCNs) for the 2012 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP). NCNs are the foundation of the MSCGP and establish the states’ priorities for the grant cycle. Each AFWA committee is allowed to submit one NCN. NCNs are due by February 11, 2011. Committees are encouraged to work together and submit joint NCNs.

Before submitting a new NCN, review the selected NCNs for the 2011 MSCGP since these NCNs may still be of highest importance and priority. Typically, if a committee is considering more than one NCN, the Chair asks committee members to vote and/or the Chair makes the final selection. It may be appropriate to refer NCNs to other committees or regional associations for their consideration.

All proposed NCNs from committees and the regional associations will be evaluated by the National Grants Committee, which will select NCNs to recommend for state directors’ approval at the March 2011 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Letters of Intent will be solicited beginning in April to address the NCNs.

The guidelines for submitting 2012 NCNs, last year’s NCNs and a general timeline for the 2012 MSCGP are available online at www.fishwildlife.org/multistate_grants.html or visit AFWA's MSCGP blog to ask questions, http://fishwildlifemscgp.blogspot.com.