America the Beautiful Challenge

In 2022, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) established the America the Beautiful Challenge, a grant opportunity that combines public-private conservation and restoration funding to advance large landscape scale projects. Through NFWF, applicants can receive funding from multiple federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Defense for activities that restore, protect, and conserve critical landscapes. By combining funding from multiple agencies and private organizations, the America the Beautiful Challenge provides applicants with a streamlined application process for developing innovative projects that protect critical natural resources.

 

2023 America the Beautiful Challenge Recipients

NFWF Press Release | DOI Press Release

Through the 2023 America the Beautiful Challenge, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will distribute over $141 million in grants to 74 projects across 46 states and three U.S. territories. The projects will generate at least $12 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $153 million.

Out of the $141 million, the REPI Program will contribute over $5.2 million to seven projects that benefit eight designated sentinel landscapes and two landscapes pending formal designation from the Federal Coordinating Committee. These seven projects are receiving nearly $2.2 million in funding from the DOI U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a total Federal investment of over $7.4 million. Project applicants are also leveraging nearly $787K in non-Federal partner contributions to bring the total conservation impact over $8.2 million.

The 2023 DOD America the Beautiful Challenge Project Locations:

  1. Southeastern Sentinel Landscapes (Georgia, Northwest Florida, Avon Park Air Force Range, South Carolina Lowcountry, and Eastern North Carolina) | REPI Funds: $814K
  2. Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape | REPI Funds: $1.4M
  3. Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape | REPI Funds: $1.1M
  4. Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape | REPI Funds: $723K
  5. Guahan Sentinel Landscape* | REPI Funds: $506K
  6. Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape | REPI Funds: $501K
  7. Hawai‘i Sentinel Landscape* | REPI Funds: $250K

* This sentinel landscape has not received formal designation from the Sentinel Landscape Federal Coordinating Committee.

Read more about the 2023 DOD projects in the REPI-America the Beautiful Challenge Fact Sheet.
Learn more about the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership  

2023 America the Beautiful Challenge Request for Proposals

NFWF Press Release | March 1, 2023 

On March 1, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the release of the 2023 America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) Request for Proposals (RFP).  Hosted by NFWF, the ATBC is a public-private grant program designed to support locally led, voluntary ecosystem restoration projects.  The REPI Program serves as one of the federal partners on the ATBC, along with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

In its second year, the ATBC will allocate $116 million to projects that conserve, connect, and restore critical lands, waters, and wildlife.  Of this $116 million, the REPI Program will contribute $5 million to ATBC projects that benefit sentinel landscapes or other critical habitats outside military installations and ranges. 

2022 DOD America the Beautiful Challenge Recipients

NFWF's Press Release | November 10, 2022

 

Habitat Management, Wildfire Mitigation and Engaging Communities in the Georgia Sentinel Landscape: Funding for this project will build on the existing West Central Georgia Prescribed Fire Initiative to continue efforts to improve forest health in areas neighboring Fort Benning. Specific activities include executing prescribed burns on 20,000 acres of private land, 5,000 acres of public land, and installing new firebreaks for at least 50 landowners per year to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the region and Georgia Sentinel Landscape.

Enhancing Climate and Watershed Adaptation Strategies in the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape: To support mission flexibility and installation resilience at Fort Huachuca, project partners, including Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, University of Arizona, and Tucson Audubon Society, will perform hazardous fuel reduction on over 70 acres, eradicate invasive species across 28,000 acres of riparian habitat, and repair over 700 acres of degraded waterways through erosion control and revegetation.