The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative targets the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem by funding and implementing federal projects that address these problems.

One objective is to protect, restore and enhance habitats to help sustain healthy populations of

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native species.

Using appropriations from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the U.

S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program anticipates funding wetland (both coastal and interior), associated upland habitat restoration and enhancement projects and early successional forest restoration projects for the conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds and, as appropriate, federally-listed species.

Restoration projects will be completed on privately owned (non-federal/non-state) lands and must be within the Great Lakes watershed.

Emphasis will be placed on, but not limited to, completing projects within the watersheds of Great Lakes Areas of Concern, coastal and interior wetland focus areas and their associated grassland priority projects and early successional forest habitat restoration efforts.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources.

The PFW Program is delivered through field staff active in all eight Great Lakes States with the goal of benefiting the Great Lakes ecosystem by improving habitat for wildlife that reside there and improving water quality.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas.

Geographic focus areas define where the program directs resources to conserve habitat for federal trust species.

Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from Service field staff.

Service staff coordinate the development of the plans for the restoration projects and implement the project with assistance from landowners and other partners.

The program has been in existence since 1987 and has over 32 years of successful delivery.

Project selection will seek to align or support the Secretary's priorities.

The program also advances the Department of the Interior's mission, U.

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Fish and Wildlife Service's mission, and PFW's mission, promotes biological diversity, and is based upon sound scientific biological principles.

Program strategic plans inform the types of projects funded under this opportunity.