The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced grants totaling $25.8 million in support of restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay and coral reef stewardship.

The funding includes 56 grants totaling $23.8 million awarded through the Small Watershed Grants program—a funding mechanism of the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership—that supports water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and community stewardship efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The grants will leverage an additional $12.8 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $36.6 million.

In addition, NFWF has awarded grants totaling $2 million through the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund in support of efforts to improve the health and resilience of coral reefs in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The grants will leverage an additional $1.85 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $3.85 million.

“Coral reefs play a vital role in marine ecosystems and have tremendous economic and cultural significance, yet they face constant threats from natural disasters and environmental stressors,” said NFWF executive director Jeff Trandahl. “The Coral Reef Stewardship Fund has championed innovative conservation efforts to strengthen coral reef health and resilience, with a focus on building capacity and engaging communities in large-scale coral restoration, pioneering recovery methods, and reducing threats.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Damocean)