Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00071
The Combating Wildlife Trafficking grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00071) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under CFDA 15.679. It sits within the USFWS International Affairs Program, which funds strategic conservation projects that can show clear, measurable results for priority species and habitats around the world. In this case, the focus is squarely on curbing illegal wildlife trade and helping countries strengthen the systems they need to stop trafficking over the long term.
The opportunity is built around the reality that wildlife trafficking is a multibillion-dollar illicit industry tied to corruption and sophisticated transnational criminal networks. The illegal harvest and trade of animals and plants removes vast numbers of individuals from the wild each year, pushes already vulnerable species closer to extinction, and harms national economies and local communities that could otherwise benefit from legitimate tourism or sustainable, legal trade. Because trafficking often targets rare species with high market value, the problem is especially acute for endangered and highly sought-after wildlife. The program also frames trafficking as more than a conservation issue, emphasizing broader security and governance implications where criminal syndicates exploit weak enforcement and regulatory gaps.
A central theme of the grant is support for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). USFWS serves as the U.S. Management and Scientific Authority for CITES, and the grant is designed to improve how CITES Parties (member countries) implement and enforce the treaty. CITES is described as the only global agreement specifically intended to ensure that international trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten species survival. Since the treaty is only as effective as each Party's ability to carry it out, the grant prioritizes building practical capacity, particularly where enforcement, management, scientific capacity, or legislation is weak.
Funding is intended for projects that address trafficking of species listed on CITES Appendix I and Appendix II in relevant supply, transit, and consumer countries. In plain terms, proposals are expected to reduce poaching and/or illegal trade by targeting the points in the chain where wildlife is taken, moved, and purchased. The opportunity is also notable for directing attention to species outside the United States that are highly threatened by trafficking but may not typically receive sustained global attention or major financial support. While projects may address a wide range of CITES-listed species, the notice highlights several illustrative priorities: tortoises and freshwater turtles; big cats such as lions, leopards (including snow and clouded leopards), jaguars, and cheetahs; pangolins; and African grey parrots.
Beyond direct anti-trafficking action, the notice places strong emphasis on strengthening national CITES Authorities and the broader enabling environment for enforcement. Priority is given to projects that improve scientific, management, and enforcement capacity so that violations are more reliably detected, investigated, and prosecuted, and so that countries have appropriate and relevant national legislation in place to implement CITES effectively. This can include building institutional capability, improving coordination among responsible agencies, and ensuring that the legal framework and operational tools exist to make CITES obligations meaningful in practice.
The applicant pool is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations); individuals; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits). The award ceiling listed is $200,000. The opportunity was created on December 18, 2018, with an original closing date of February 19, 2019.Apply for F19AS00071
- 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 Dec 18, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 19, 2019. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Combating Wildlife Trafficking (F19AS00071) FAQ
1) What is the Combating Wildlife Trafficking grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the USFWS International Affairs Program. It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00071 and is listed under CFDA 15.679.
2) Which agency runs this program?
The program is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
3) Where in USFWS does this funding sit?
The opportunity sits within the USFWS International Affairs Program, which supports strategic conservation projects that demonstrate clear, measurable results for priority species and habitats globally.
4) What is the main purpose of this grant?
The central goal is to curb illegal wildlife trade and help countries strengthen the systems needed to stop wildlife trafficking over the long term. Projects are expected to reduce poaching and/or illegal trade by targeting key points in the trafficking chain where wildlife is taken, moved, and purchased.
5) Why does the notice emphasize wildlife trafficking as a serious issue?
The opportunity frames wildlife trafficking as a multibillion-dollar illicit industry tied to corruption and sophisticated transnational criminal networks. It highlights impacts such as removing large numbers of animals and plants from the wild, pushing vulnerable species closer to extinction, and harming national economies and local communities that could benefit from legitimate tourism or sustainable, legal trade. It also notes broader security and governance implications where criminal syndicates exploit weak enforcement and regulatory gaps.
6) How does CITES relate to this funding opportunity?
A central theme of the grant is supporting implementation and enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). USFWS serves as the U.S. Management and Scientific Authority for CITES, and this grant is designed to improve how CITES Parties implement and enforce the treaty.
7) What is CITES, as described in the opportunity?
CITES is described as the only global agreement specifically intended to ensure that international trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten species survival. The notice emphasizes that the treaty is only as effective as each Party's ability to implement and enforce it.
8) Which countries are intended to benefit from projects funded under this opportunity?
The notice focuses on relevant supply, transit, and consumer countries involved in illegal wildlife trade, with an emphasis on strengthening national systems so countries can combat trafficking sustainably over time.
9) What types of species are in scope for this grant?
Funding is intended for projects addressing trafficking of species listed on CITES Appendix I and Appendix II. The notice also notes attention to species outside the United States that are highly threatened by trafficking but may not typically receive sustained global attention or major financial support.
10) Does the opportunity name any specific priority species?
Yes. While projects may address a wide range of CITES-listed species, the notice highlights illustrative priorities including tortoises and freshwater turtles; big cats such as lions, leopards (including snow and clouded leopards), jaguars, and cheetahs; pangolins; and African grey parrots.
11) What kinds of project outcomes does the program prioritize?
The International Affairs Program context emphasizes projects that show clear, measurable results. For this opportunity, proposals are expected to reduce poaching and/or illegal trade, and strengthen the systems and capacity that help stop trafficking over the long term.
12) What parts of the wildlife trafficking chain are projects expected to address?
The notice indicates proposals should target the points in the chain where wildlife is taken (source/supply), moved (transit), and purchased (consumer markets), with the aim of reducing poaching and illegal trade.
13) Is this funding only for direct anti-poaching or interdiction activities?
No. Beyond direct anti-trafficking action, the notice places strong emphasis on strengthening national CITES Authorities and the broader enabling environment for enforcement, including scientific, management, and enforcement capacity and the legal framework needed to implement CITES effectively.
14) What does "strengthening national CITES Authorities" mean in the context of this opportunity?
The notice prioritizes building practical capacity where management, scientific capacity, enforcement, or legislation is weak. Examples described include improving scientific, management, and enforcement capacity so violations are more reliably detected, investigated, and prosecuted, and ensuring countries have appropriate and relevant national legislation to implement CITES effectively.
15) What kinds of capacity improvements are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes improving scientific, management, and enforcement capacity, strengthening institutional capability, improving coordination among responsible agencies, and ensuring the legal framework and operational tools exist to make CITES obligations meaningful in practice.
16) What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations); individuals; and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits).
18) Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The notice explicitly includes for-profit organizations, including small businesses and other for-profits, in the eligible applicant pool.
19) Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are included among the eligible applicants.
20) Are nonprofits required to be 501(c)(3) organizations?
No. The notice includes nonprofits and explicitly mentions both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations as eligible.
21) What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.679.
22) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is F19AS00071.
23) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 18, 2018.
24) What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed was February 19, 2019.
25) Is the program focused on wildlife within the United States?
The notice emphasizes species outside the United States that are highly threatened by trafficking and may not typically receive sustained global attention or major financial support, while still grounding the work in CITES-listed species and international trade dynamics.
26) What treaty obligations or enforcement goals does the program try to strengthen?
The program is designed to improve how CITES Parties implement and enforce CITES, including strengthening detection, investigation, and prosecution of violations and supporting appropriate national legislation and institutional capacity to carry out CITES effectively.
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