Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00240
The Combating Wildlife Trafficking grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00240) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service that supports efforts to address the illegal wildlife trade. This trade is described as a multibillion-dollar global business involving the unlawful harvesting and commercial movement of live animals and plants, as well as parts and products derived from them. Beyond the direct conservation damage, the opportunity highlights that wildlife trafficking is tied to serious security and governance concerns, including corruption and the involvement of sophisticated transnational organized crime networks. The program frames wildlife crime as both a biodiversity crisis and a rule-of-law challenge, emphasizing that targeted species are often endangered because rarity increases black-market value, accelerating population decline and pushing species closer to extinction. It also underscores the economic and social harm to countries and communities that lose natural heritage and potential lawful income from tourism or sustainable, legal trade.
This opportunity is explicitly aligned with the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking, released in 2014, which establishes a whole-of-government approach built around three core objectives: strengthening enforcement, reducing consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife, and expanding international cooperation. The notice further situates the strategy within subsequent U.S. policy actions that reinforced this approach, including the bipartisan END Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 and Executive Order 13773 (February 9, 2017), which called for decisive efforts to dismantle organized crime syndicates, including those engaged in wildlife trafficking. In practical terms, this framing signals that proposed projects are expected to contribute to one or more of those strategic pillars, such as improving the capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute trafficking; changing behaviors and markets that drive demand; and strengthening cross-border partnerships and coordination.
Awards are offered as either grants or cooperative agreements, meaning funding could range from more traditional assistance (grants) to arrangements with substantial federal involvement (cooperative agreements), depending on the project design and needs. The program sits within the Environment and Natural Resources activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.679. The posted award ceiling is $1,200,000, with an expectation of one award, indicating a relatively large, potentially flagship-style project rather than many smaller awards. The opportunity was created on July 16, 2018, with an original closing date of July 21, 2018, reflecting a short application window for that funding round.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); small businesses; and even individuals. This wide eligibility suggests the agency intended to attract a diverse set of solutions and implementers, ranging from government-led enforcement or policy efforts to university-based research and training, nonprofit-led community engagement and demand reduction campaigns, and specialized technical support from small businesses or individual experts. Overall, the opportunity focuses on coordinated, strategic interventions that reduce wildlife trafficking by addressing both supply-side drivers (poaching and illegal harvest), trafficking networks and enforcement gaps, and demand-side market pressures, while also supporting international collaboration where it is necessary to disrupt transnational crime.Apply for F18AS00240
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Combating Wildlife Trafficking" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.679.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, Small businesses.
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Combating Wildlife Trafficking Grant (F18AS00240) FAQs
What is the Combating Wildlife Trafficking grant opportunity?
The Combating Wildlife Trafficking grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00240) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It supports projects that address the illegal wildlife trade, including the unlawful harvesting and commercial movement of live animals and plants, as well as parts and products derived from them.
Which federal agency runs this program?
The program is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What problem is this funding meant to address?
The funding targets wildlife trafficking, described as a multibillion-dollar global business involving illegal harvest and trade in wildlife and wildlife products. The opportunity emphasizes that the impacts extend beyond conservation harm and include serious security, governance, and rule-of-law concerns such as corruption and the involvement of sophisticated transnational organized crime networks.
Why does the opportunity describe wildlife trafficking as both a biodiversity crisis and a rule-of-law challenge?
The notice frames wildlife crime as a biodiversity crisis because targeted species are often endangered and can be pushed closer to extinction as rarity increases black-market value and accelerates population decline. It is also framed as a rule-of-law challenge due to links to corruption and organized crime, and because it undermines governance and lawful systems.
How does wildlife trafficking affect communities and economies, according to the notice?
The opportunity highlights economic and social harm to countries and communities that lose natural heritage and potential lawful income from tourism or sustainable, legal trade when wildlife is illegally harvested and trafficked.
What U.S. strategy or policy does this opportunity align with?
This opportunity is explicitly aligned with the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking (released in 2014), which sets a whole-of-government approach to address wildlife trafficking.
What are the core objectives of the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking mentioned in the notice?
The notice identifies three core objectives: (1) strengthening enforcement, (2) reducing consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife, and (3) expanding international cooperation.
What other U.S. policy actions are referenced as reinforcing this approach?
The notice references the bipartisan END Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 and Executive Order 13773 (February 9, 2017), which called for decisive efforts to dismantle organized crime syndicates, including those engaged in wildlife trafficking.
What kinds of projects are expected to be competitive under this opportunity?
Based on the way the opportunity is framed, proposed projects are expected to contribute to one or more of the strategy pillars by, for example: improving the capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute trafficking; changing behaviors and markets that drive consumer demand; and strengthening cross-border partnerships and coordination to disrupt transnational trafficking networks.
Does this funding support enforcement-focused work?
Yes. The opportunity specifically highlights strengthening enforcement and improving the capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute trafficking as an expected type of contribution to the national strategy objectives.
Does this funding support demand-reduction efforts?
Yes. Reducing consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife is listed as one of the national strategy's core objectives, and the notice indicates projects may focus on changing behaviors and markets that drive demand.
Does this funding support international or cross-border collaboration?
Yes. Expanding international cooperation is one of the core objectives, and the opportunity notes the importance of international collaboration where needed to disrupt transnational crime.
What type of awards are available under this opportunity?
Awards may be made as either grants or cooperative agreements. The notice explains that cooperative agreements can involve substantial federal involvement, while grants are more traditional assistance arrangements.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The posted award ceiling is $1,200,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of one award, suggesting a relatively large, potentially flagship-style project rather than many smaller awards.
What is the program's activity category and CFDA listing?
The program is in the Environment and Natural Resources activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.679.
When was this funding opportunity created and what was the closing date for that round?
The opportunity was created on July 16, 2018, and the original closing date was July 21, 2018, reflecting a short application window for that funding round.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); small businesses; and individuals.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant types.
Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The opportunity states that nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible (with the note that institutions of higher education are excluded from those nonprofit categories).
Are small businesses and individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses and individuals are specifically included as eligible applicants.
What does the broad eligibility imply about the types of solutions the agency sought?
The notice suggests the agency intended to attract a diverse set of solutions and implementers, potentially including government-led enforcement or policy efforts, university-based research and training, nonprofit-led community engagement and demand reduction campaigns, and specialized technical support from small businesses or individual experts.
What parts of the illegal wildlife trade does the notice emphasize?
The description includes unlawful harvesting and the commercial movement of live animals and plants, as well as parts and products derived from them.
What drivers of wildlife trafficking does the opportunity highlight?
It highlights supply-side drivers such as poaching and illegal harvest, trafficking networks and enforcement gaps, and demand-side market pressures that increase black-market value and incentivize continued exploitation.
Why are endangered species often targeted in wildlife trafficking, according to the notice?
The notice explains that rarity increases black-market value, which can accelerate population decline and push species closer to extinction.
How does the opportunity connect wildlife trafficking to national and international security concerns?
It states that wildlife trafficking is tied to serious security and governance concerns, including corruption and the involvement of sophisticated transnational organized crime networks.
What does it mean that this is a discretionary funding program?
It means the program is offered as a competitive assistance opportunity (rather than automatic or formula-based funding), with awards made at the agency's discretion based on the opportunity's goals and expectations as described in the notice.
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