NFWF Announces Funding Available Through New Grant Program to Help Restore Angeles National Forest Watersheds

Washington, D.C. (April 3, 2017) — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced that, in partnership with the Angeles National Forest, NFWF will be issuing more than $17 million in grants over the next three years to restore watersheds impacted by the Copper, Sayre and Ranch fires in the Angeles National Forest. The first round of funding from this innovative new partnership will be awarded through the 2017 Request for Proposals (RFP) released today.

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to engage local communities and resource experts in watershed restoration projects,” said Angeles Forest Supervisor Jeffrey Vail. “Partnering with NFWF will allow us to leverage additional resources to benefit ecological restoration and post-fire recovery, and lead to a healthier, more resilient forest with improved habitat for fish and wildlife.”

The Angeles National Forest serves as the picturesque backdrop for one of the country’s largest urban centers, providing approximately 700,000 acres of open space to the roughly 18 million residents of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The first National Forest designated in California, the Angeles National Forest is located within one of the world’s vital biodiversity hot spots. The forest is home to many natural and cultural resources unique to Southern California, including a variety of threatened, endangered and other species of special concern. In addition to managing and maintaining the unique ecosystems of the region, the Angeles National Forest also provides opportunities to experience nature and the outdoors for nearly 4 million visitors annually.

“Angeles National Forest is a treasure to the nearly 18 million residents of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF.  “The Foundation is excited to partner with the Forest Service to help restore a critical California landscape impacted by catastrophic fire. Together, we will make significant investments that will improve the health of the forest for fish, wildlife and the millions of people who visit the Angeles every year.”

A series of wildfires between 2002 and 2008 – the Copper Fire, Sayre Fire and Ranch Fire – burned approximately 37,000 acres of national forest lands and left a significant impact on the landscapes, watersheds and ecosystems of the region. The Angeles National Forest has partnered with NFWF to restore the watersheds and ecosystems affected by these wildfire events. Through this program, NFWF will invest in projects that provide sustainable and lasting ecological benefits, promote ecological resilience to future wildfire events, improve Angeles National Forest’s capacity to identify and address resource management issues stemming from these fires, and repair infrastructure such as trails and roads damaged by fire, particularly where they have a discernable connection to the goals of ecological restoration.

Pre-proposals submitted in response to the RFP are due May 3, 2017 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Funding decisions are based on the ability of the applicant to implement strategies that achieve the program priorities and result in measurable conservation outcomes. In addition, NFWF and the Forest Service will be hosting two open houses to discuss the partnership and the RFP. Open houses will be held Wednesday, April 12th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Angeles National Forest Training and Conference Center in Arcadia, and Thursday, April 13th from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in the Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District Office in Acton. Information about the open houses and the RFP can be found on the NFWF website: www.nfwf.org/angelesfire

Major funding for Angeles National Forest - Wildfires Restoration Grant Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

About NFWF

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.8 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.