The federal government has issued $2.6 million in grants in Hawai'i to acquire three parcels of land for conservation of endangered and threatened species.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will use the money from the Interior Department's Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program to assist in the acquisition of three properties.

The biggest amount, $1.6 million, will be used to buy 3,714 acres of Damon Estate land in Moanalua Valley to protect 11 endangered species, including plants, tree snails and forest birds. The land will be placed in the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve.

"The Moanalua Valley purchase will conserve a significant native forest on O'ahu, one that the Damon Estate has been protecting for years. This well-deserved acquisition will create a lasting conservation legacy on O'ahu for the Damon Estate," said Dave Allen, Pacific regional director for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

An additional $875,000 will be used to buy 1,336 acres of Carlsmith Trust land on the slopes of Mauna Loa, a region of wet native forest that supports several native forest birds and possibly Hawaiian bats. It will be added to the Waiakea Forest Reserve.

A grant of $78,750 will go toward the purchase of the only remaining private land within the Manuka Natural Area Reserve, a one-acre piece currently on the open market. It is home to three endangered plants and possibly Hawaiian bats.