The National Coastal Resilience Fund, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, aims to restore and strengthen natural infrastructure to protect coastal communities and habitat.
The National Coastal Resilience Fund, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, aims to restore and strengthen natural infrastructure to protect coastal communities and habitat. The grant program funds projects in four categories based on phase of implementation, from projects that are in the early planning and design phase all the way to monitoring of restoration outcomes. Nature-based solutions and planning for future climate change projections are necessary components of a successful application, as well as demonstrated engagement with the beneficiary community. There is also a minimum 1:1 cost share requirement, which can be met using cash or in-kind contributions.
Land trusts' role in coastal resilience
Land trusts play a significant role in both mitigating the threat of climate change and in helping our natural and human systems adapt to a changing climate. As the atmosphere warms, experts project an increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters, sea level rise, and changes in precipitation patterns. As these impacts worsen, land trusts will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring the resiliency of both our natural habitats and the communities that depend upon them. The conservation and restoration activities that land trusts engage in results in a double win for our climate — in addition to their mitigation contributions, they also help maintain habitat connectivity to support a full range of biological diversity under changing conditions. Land trusts have the tools and expertise to protect biological diversity and lands that will help protect our communities from the threats of natural disasters that are occurring with increased frequency.
In 2022, the National Coastal Resilience Fund will award $140 million in grants to coastal and Great Lakes regions. The annual grant cycle for the program typically opens in March, but land trusts can reach out to the program’s regional leads at any time in the year to begin building relationships and to solicit feedback on project ideas.