Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program?

Through voluntary agreements the Partners program provides expert technical assistance and cost-share incentives directly to private landowners to restore fish and wildlife habitats.

What is the landowner’s role?

A simple phone call or letter initiates the process. The landowner works one-on-one with a local Service biologist to develop a project plan addressing the goals and objectives of the landowner and the Service to benefit fish and wildlife species on his/her land.

To implement a project, a cooperative agreement with a minimum duration of 10 years is signed. The landowner is reimbursed after project completion, based on the cost-sharing formula in the agreement.

What are the benefits?

For the landowner: Fulfilling habitat conservation goals on the land by working one-on-one in partnership with the local Service biologist.

For the species: Restoring important habitats on private lands that may result in the recovery of Federal trust species.

Who can participate?

Any privately-owned land is potentially eligible for restoration. Most participants are individual private landowners. For purposes of this program, "privately-owned" means land not owned by a State or the Federal Government.