The Coastal Program is a voluntary, partnership-based, habitat conservation program located in 24 priority coastal areas along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and in the Caribbean. Within these areas, our conservation efforts are guided by a national strategic plan that integrates Service priorities with the shared conservation goals of conservation partners and stakeholders. Locally-based staff provide technical and financial assistance for habitat conservation planning and design, and implement habitat restoration and protection projects. Our partnerships provide a framework to conduct landscape-scale conservation planning and to implement these plans through on-the-ground coastal habitat conservation. For habitat improvement projects, the average financial leveraging ratio is $8 partner to $1 Coastal Program.