North American Wetlands Conservation Act Standard and Small Grants
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) of 1989 provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife.

The NAWCA Standard Grants Program (for projects up to $1 million USD) supports projects in Canada, the United States, and Mexico that involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats. In Mexico, partners may also conduct projects involving technical training, environmental education and outreach, organizational infrastructure development, and sustainable-use studies.

The NAWCA Small Grants Program operates only in the United States; it supports the same type of projects and adheres to the same selection criteria and administrative guidelines as the U.S. Standard Grants Program. However, project activities are usually smaller in scope and involve fewer project dollars. Grant requests may not exceed $75,000, and funding priority is given to grantees or partners new to the NAWCA Grants Program.

How Can Sonoran Joint Venture Help?
Virtually all successful NAWCA proposals have Joint Venture assistance during project planning and proposal preparation. In particular, SJV staff can assist with the following:

• species/habitat justifications
• endangered species
• focus area write-ups

The SJV reviews and ranks all proposed projects submitted within its boundaries and prospective applicants must notify the SJV well in advance of submitting a proposal. Applicants should also review the Playa Lakes Joint Venture  timeline for submitting proposals at least a year prior to submission. Small Grants applicants must notify the SJV at least one month in advance to rank and review projects. Playa Lakes Joint Venture has a NAWCA Small Grant Checklist to assist partners in preparing an application. Since the inception of NAWCA, more than $605 million has been invested in projects. Total partner contributions have amounted to more than $1.7 billion, and approximately 22.1 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands have been affected across the continent.

2007 Deadlines
U.S. Standard Grants Deadline: March 2, and July 27, 2007.
Canadian Standard Grants Deadline: January 2, and May 11, 2007.
Mexican Standard Grants Deadline: June 1, 2007.
U.S. Small Grants Deadlines: December 1, 2006.

Contact Information:
Carol J. Beardmore
Fish and Wildlife Service - Sonoran Joint Venture
2321 W. Royal Palm Rd. Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ, 85021 USA
Phone: 602-242-0524 x 248
Fax: 602-242-2513

The following projects have occurred in the SJV Region and were carried out by SJV partners:

2007
Arizona/California: Sonoran Wetlands Restoration I. Ducks Unlimited. $1,000,000.

Baja California/Sonora/Sinaloa. The 2008-2009 Veracruz Model: An Innovative Approach of Training, Stewardship, and Capacity Building for Wetland Conservation in Mexico. Arizona Game and Fish Department. $145,000.

Baja California Sur: Conservation of Brant in San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico. Pronatura Noroeste. $247,296.

Baja California Sur: Implementation of Legal Conservation Mechanisms in Laguna San Ignacio, Phase II. Pronatura Noroeste. $407,538.

Sinaloa: Implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan for Huizache-Caimanero Lagoon, Phase II. Ducks Unlimited Mexico. $$64,779.

Sinaloa/ Sonora: Conservation of Wintering Areas for Migratory Waterfowl and Shorebirds in Sonora and Sinaloa. $206,000.

2006
Baja California: Bahía San Quintín: Protecting and Managing a Critical Wetland for Pacific Brant, Shorebirds, and Endangered Rails. Pronatura Noroeste. $100,168.

Baja California: Conservation in the Federal Maritime Zone in Bahía San Quintín. Terra Peninsular. $99,598.

Baja California/Baja California Sur: Conservation of Brant and Other Migratory Waterbirds in the Guerrero Negro-Ojo de Liebre Coastal Lagoon Complex, Mexico. Pronatura Noroeste. $251,115.

Baja California/Sonora. Joint Initiative for the Restoration of the Colorado River Delta, Mexico. $293,675.

Baja California Sur. Management and Protection of the Wintering Habitat of the Pacific Brant in Bahía Magdalena, Mexico. $76,154

Sinaloa: Restoration Program for Critical Wetland Habitat at Ensenada de Pabellones, Phase II. Pronatura Noroeste. $386,868.

2005
NW Mexico: Implementation of Legal Private Tools for NW Mexico Wetlands. Pronatura Noroeste. $162,081

Nayarit/Sinaloa: Marismas Nacionales (Regional Alliance). CONABIO. $50,000.

Nayarit/Sinaloa: Marismas Nacionales II. Instituto Nayarita Para El Desarrollo Sustentable. $100,180.

Sinaloa: Santa Maria Bay. Pronatura Noroeste Sinaloa. $238,149.

Sonora: Water Acquisition in the Colorado River Delta. Pronatura Noroeste Sonora. $177,400

California: Carpinteria Creek Arundo Removal Project. Agricultural Commissioners Office, County of Santa Barbara. $36.600.

Arizona: Yuma East Wetlands Restoration Project. Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. $479,226.

2004
Sonora: Conservation in the Upper San Pedro River Watershed II. IMADES. $116.150

Sinaloa/Nayarit: Implementation of a Strategy for Cons. and Sust. Development, Marismas Nacionales. Conservation International, Mexico. $129,863.

Sonora: Regionalization of the PIE II. Pronatura, Sonora. $113,988.

2003
Baja California: Conservation and Sustainable use of Wetlands, La Asamblea-San Francisquito Coastal. Project Type: Other. $360,250.

Baja California and Sonora: Monitoring and Outreach Plan for the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta. Project Type: Other. $272,439.

Sinaloa: Conserving Bird Habitats in Western Mexico III. Project Type: Other. 0 acquired 1,235 restored, 0 enhanced. $451,246.

Sinaloa: Ensenada de Pabellones. Project Type: Other. $405,872.

Sonora: Management Strategies for Restoration of the Colorado River Delta Floodplain. Project Type: Other. $487,759.

Sonora: Restoration of Cienega de San Bernardino Watershed, Phase II. Project Type: Restoration and Acquisition. 1,173 acres acquired/restored, 0 enhanced. $869,574.

2002
Baja California: A community partnership-Rio Hardy and the Colorado River Delta. Project Type: Research and Other. 0 acquired, 20 restored, 0 enhanced. $127,650.

2001
Arizona: Achii Hanyo Wildlife Preserve Wetlands. 0 acquired, 87 restored. 0 enhanced. $105,616

Baja California, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Sinaloa: Regionalization of the Pie, Coastal Wetland in Northwest Mexico. Project Type: Other. $385,932.

Sonora: Restoration of Cienega de San Bernardino. Project Type: Restoration and Acquisition. 10,000 restored. $943,500.

Baja California: La Mariana & El Indio Wetlands Restoration in Farmlands. 0 acquired, 25 restored. 0 enhanced. $315,441.

Baja California Sur: Promoting Conservation & Sustainable Use, Magdalena Bay Coastal Lagoon System. $490,582.

Sinaloa: Conservation of Coastal Wetlands of Santa Maria Bay. $366,401.

Sinaloa: Conserving Bird Habitats in Western Mexico. Project Type: Other. 0 acquired, 1,235 restored, 0 enhanced. $370, 400.

2000
Arizona: Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area Wetlands Restoration II. 80 acquired, 40 restored, 0 enhanced. $199,474.

Sonora: Discovering Colorado Delta Wetlands: Involvement in Conservation. Project Type: Other. $74,487.

Sonora: Protecting the Upper San Pedro River. Project Type: Other. $379,160.

Sonora: Puerto Peñasco Coastal Wetlands. Project Type: Other. $243,267.

1999
Sonora: Program for Management & Rehabilitation of Wetlands of Tobari, Sonora. 0 acres acquired, 41,249 acres restored, 0 acres enhanced. $932,839.