The program is part of the Bush Administration's "Cooperative Conservation" initiative, which focuses on voluntary partnerships between government and non-government parties like private landowners, cooperations, state government and others to achieve progress in conserving or restoring natural resources.
Typically, these grants pay for a state program coordinator who works for the wildlife agency and field biologists who interact with landowners and help plan projects.
States are required to have an open, transparent process through which landowners can apply for funding and to establish an advisory panel that helps to oversee the program.
Most states have advisory programs that include representation from government agencies, farmers and ranchers, environmentalists, and academia.
Oregon, Nebraska, Florida, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Kentucky and Minnesota have been particularly successful, winning more than $22 million in grants from the U.S.