Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Partners for Fish and Wildlife is a grant from the Department of the Interior that funds habitat restoration projects on private lands across the United States. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools, and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat.

Since 1987, the program has helped more than 25,000 landowners complete over 40,000 projects, restoring more than six million acres of forest, prairie, wetland, and stream habitat.

With 220 biologists located in all 50 states and territories, the program focuses on conservation areas including upland forests, wetlands, native prairies, and streams, with priority given to projects benefiting migratory birds and endangered, threatened, or at-risk species. Projects have a minimum duration of 10 years, and participating landowners retain full property rights.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land.

Since 1987, we have helped more than 25,000 landowners to complete more than 40,000 projects, restoring more than six million acres of forest, prairie, wetland and stream habitat for wildlife.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife: Fen Wetland Restoration at Jim Stone's Ranch in Ovando, Montana The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs 220 biologists, located in all 50 states and territories, who consult with landowners to help them conserve and improve wildlife habitat. Landowner conservation is important because nearly 70 percent of land in the United States is privately owned.

Public and private landowners are critical partners in ensuring the health and sustainability of America's fish, wildlife and plant species. Projects are voluntary and customized to meet landowners’ needs. Participating landowners continue to own and manage their land while they improve conditions for wildlife.

Our staff provide free technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise and monitor customized habitat restoration projects. These projects range in size from a wetland of a few acres to a grassland restoration covering several hundred thousand acres. Many Partners for Fish and Wildlife projects take place on working landscapes such as forests, farms and ranches.

We focus our efforts on areas of conservation concern, such upland forests, wetlands, native prairies, marshes, rivers and streams. We design projects to benefit federal trust species including migratory birds, endangered, threatened and at-risk species.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife: Migratory Snow Geese Overwintering on Private Lands Adjacent to Prime Hook NWR in Delaware All private landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat on their land are eligible to participate. Current partners include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, recreational landowners, corporations, local governments and universities.

Priority goes to projects judged likely to provide habitat for rare, threatened and endangered species. Projects have a minimum duration of 10 years. In addition to private landowners, we partner with other federal agencies, state agencies and non-governmental organizations to complete projects on private lands.

Participating landowners do not forfeit any property rights and are not required to allow public access. A phone call or email is all it takes to get started. Contact your state coordinator to schedule an initial site visit and learn how Partners for Fish and Wildlife can help you.

Legislation and Economic Impact The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act provides for the restoration, enhancement, and management of fish and wildlife habitats on private land through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a program that works with private landowners to conduct cost-effective habitat projects for the benefit of fish and wildlife resources in the United States.

Title LIII of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (P. L. 118-159) pertaining to Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

A recent analysis of fiscal year (FY) 2023 data showed that every $1. 0 million in Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program spending supported 15. 0 jobs and $2.

5 million in economic output nationwide. These contributions are similar to those reported for FY 2022 spending. Economic contributions of PFW Program spending combined with that of leveraged funds is likely to be substantially higher than the results reported here.

The annual PFW Program leverage ratio is typically at least 1:4. Latest Stories and Topics Supporting wildlife and rural communities in Utah In Utah, the second driest state in the nation, water means everything. Some of the most productive wildlife and plant habitats occur at the “toe” of mountains and plateaus, where water and nutrients concentrate as they flow downhill and through the soil profile from above.

These wet-meadow... Delivering results for pollinators and farmers We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are delivering on-the-ground conservation that directly supports pollinators and agricultural resilience across northeast Iowa. Along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association, several Iowa County Conservation Boards and private landowners...

Uniting agriculture and conservation in Iowa In Iowa, where the landscape is shaped by agriculture and rooted in stewardship, an exciting new partnership is showing how conservation practices can support both productive farms and thriving ecosystems. We, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program have teamed...

Teaching by example in Neosho, Missouri At the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we love it when we can collaborate to conserve, protect and enhance habitat to benefit wildlife and people. One such collaboration is occurring in the rural community of Neosho, Missouri.

West Virginia Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program staff from the West Virginia Ecological Services Field Office and Appalachian Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office collaborated with partners to improve the condition and flood resilience of a trail system, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance rider’s...

Get to know the golden-winged warbler If you see an American woodcock or ruffed grouse in the Upper Midwest or Appalachians, chances are you're in great golden-winged warbler habitat! All three of these birds require early-successional forests with abundant shrubbery and young trees, providing food, cover and nesting sites. These...

Our locally based field biologists provide personalized attention and work one-on-one with private landowners to: Plan, implement, and monitor projects Provide permitting guidance, as needed.

Project work may include livestock exclusion fencing/alternate water supply construction, streambank stabilization, restoration of in-stream aquatic habitats, longleaf or shortleaf pine planting, prescribed burning, native grass and forb planting, wetland restoration/enhancement or riparian riparian Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas. Learn more about riparian reforestation.

Farm Bill Conservation Programs Helping to Deliver Conservation on Private Lands through the Farm Bill The conservation provisions of the Farm Bill provide billions of dollars a year for voluntary conservation of soil, water and wildlife habitat on private lands through delivery of financial and technical assistance to...

Fish Passage Technical and Planning Assistance The National Fish Passage Program provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the ability of fish or other aquatic species to migrate by reconnecting habitat that has been fragmented by a barrier such as a dam or culvert. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists... A curated collection of Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program outreach products and reports.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Annual Reports Reports that provide project highlights and statistics for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program annual accomplishments Guide to Farm Bill conservation programs with Coastal Program and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program project examples.