ODFW's Conservation and Recreation Fund grant cycle now open

SALEM, OR - The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund's request for grant proposals is now open and will close on March 26, 2024.

OCRF has supported 140 projects since it was formed in early 2020 and more than $5 million has been awarded statewide with an average of $35,000 per project. OCRF is a way for Oregonians to support projects that protect and enhance species and habitats identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy and to create new opportunities for wildlife watching, urban conservation, community science, and other wildlife-associated recreation.

One example of a successful OCRF projects includes an award of $33,000 to the Oregon Hunters Association for its Restoring Hope and Habitat project. OHA volunteers partnered with the Institute for Applied Ecology's Sagebrush and Prisons Project, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the BLM and Forest Service to plant 15,575 sage and bitterbrush seedlings in 2022 and 2023 within the Cougar Peak and Bootleg fire areas in the East Cascades ecoregion near Bly and Valley Falls, Oregon.

The project benefits Oregon Conservation Strategy species such as greater sage-grouse, brewer's sparrow, sagebrush sparrow, Swainson's hawk, ferruginous hawk, pygmy rabbit, California myotis, long-legged myotis, pallid bat, silver haired bat, and Townsend's big-eared bat. Additionally, this project helped restore sagebrush and bitterbrush communities which will greatly benefit other plant and animal species.

Interested applicants should visit the OCRF grants webpage at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/OCRF/grants.asp.