DCNR Now Accepting Applications For Wild Resource Conservation Grants

On May 8, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it is now accepting applications for Wild Resource Conservation Grants until June 30.

The WRCP provides critical support for conserving non-game animals, native plants and fungi, and invertebrates such as insects — species often left out of traditional conservation programs but vital to the Commonwealth’s ecosystems.

More than $500,000 will be available for this grant round.

“This program is key to ensuring science-driven, hands-on conservation work is done to protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable wildlife and plant species,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Shapiro Administration remains committed to ensuring the state’s rich biodiversity is maintained for future generations — and we are grateful to the organizations that help protect our ecosystems through this program.” 

This year’s WRCP grant priorities include: 

-- Mammal priorities: surveys to focus on least shrew to address knowledge gaps and prairie deer mouse.

-- Bird priorities: building on previous surveys to revisit canopy gap treatment study sites in central Pennsylvania 

-- Plant priorities: genetic research into bittersweet hybridization; conservation assessment of one of several selected plant genera; and other research into the inventory, ecological study, or conservation of rare plants.

-- Aquatic invertebrate priorities: Aquatic invertebrate priorities: round hickorynut reproduction study; salamander mussel surveys in Allegheny and Beaver River tributaries; and continued study on rare amphipod, Gammarus;

-- Orphan taxa priorities: surveys for lichen or other fungi using DNA barcoding or soil eDNA and fungal type specimen analysis; frosted elfin recovery plan and surveys to assess data-deficient terrestrial invertebrates. 

-- Project ideas outside of priorities that support the Pennsylvania State Wildlife Action Plan, agency’s species management plan, or other needs are welcomed.

“The 2026 grant round is focused on filling data gaps for Pennsylvania’s rare, threatened, and endangered species,” said Rebecca Bowen, DCNR’s chief of Conservation Science and Ecological Resources. “Pennsylvanians can directly support the protection of non-game wildlife and native plants through the Wild Resource Conservation Program.”

For more information, visit the Wild Resource Conservation Program webpage.

Click Here for DCNR's announcement.

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(Photo: Eastern Hellbender, PA’s official state amphibian.)

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Expands Moshannon State Forest With Addition Of 173-Acre Bilgers Rocks Sandstone 'Rock City' In Clearfield County  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Begins Targeted Spraying Of State Forest Land To Combat Spongy Moth, Fall Cankerworm Populations  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Grants News: Ghost Town Trail Completes 32-Mile Loop; South Mountain Partnership Meets; Funding Opportunity; 2026 River Sojourns 

-- Keystone Trails Association Laurel Highlands Spring Hikes Attract 200 Participants [PaEN]  

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Accepting Entries To 2026 Freedom To Explore Photo Contest [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Resolution Directing State Officials To Do An Assessment On How To Better Protect Bees, Butterflies, Fireflies And Other Native Pennsylvania Insects  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- TribLive: DCNR To Spray 1,000s Of Acres In Forbes State Forest To Combat Fall Cankerworms

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy May 12 Conservation Conversation Webinar On How To Protect Your Land With A Conservation Easement 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Editorial: Parks Offer Crucial Hands-On Learning Opportunities 

-- Inquirer:  Brandywine Conservancy & Museum Of Art Unveils $100 Million Campus Expansion Plan To Add 2nd Building, Nature Preserve In Delaware County

-- Singletracks.com: New 37.5 Mile Mountain Bike Trail Expansion Coming To Ohiopyle State Park In Fayette County 

-- Scranton Times: Effort Launches To Get Lackawanna River Designated As State Water Trail

-- Observer- Reporter: $2.8 Million Needed To Reopen Montour Trail Tunnel

-- LancasterOnline: Bird Flu Discovery At Conowingo Dam Closes Parts Of 2 Trails

-- The Nature Conservancy- PA News: Tannersville Bog Bursting With Life! Healthy Forest Stewardship; World Migratory Bird Day 

-- York Daily Record: How DEP Controls PA’s Biting Black Flies: ‘It’s An Ongoing Thing’

[Posted: May 9, 2026]  PA Environment Digest