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California public lands contain diverse natural communities that support a large number of native plants and animals. Nearly 2,096 plants are considered rare, threatened or uncommon and during this time, we have already seen 32 species go extinct in California. With all this great diversity, only about twenty-five percent of the original vegetation remains in a somewhat pristine condition. BLMâ¿¿s resource protection mission, and associated strategic plan, calls for BLM field managers to create habitat conditions that enable biological communities to flourish. The BLM Plant Conservation Program in Southern California includes inventories, seed collections, propagation, monitoring, genetic analysis etc. This project is a cooperation between a Southern California Botanic Garden (that is a member of the Center for Plant Conservation) and the BLM. Working together, we will establish a Seeds of Success program in Southern California, monitor rare plant species, inventory populations, and pursue many more plant-related research opportunities.

The purpose of the SARE program is to encourage research and outreach designed to increase knowledge concerning agricultural production systems that: (1) maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil; (2) conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat; (3) maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water; (4) protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system; (5) promote the well-being of animals; and (6) increase employment opportunities in agriculture (7 U.S.C. 5801 and 5811).

The Honeybee Conservancy is inviting applications for in-kind grants to help organizations or schools safely set up, maintain, and observe on-site bee sanctuaries at schools, community gardens, and green spaces across the United States. Through its Sponsor-A-Hive program, the conservancy will award grants in the form of honey or solitary bees, their homes, beekeeping equipment, and information on how to care for the bees. With the assistance of the conservancy, bees are placed strategically in locations where they can bolster local bee populations, advance science and environmental education, and pollinate locally grown food. The conservancy will also provide a Sponsor-A-Hive Teacher's Kit, which includes lesson plans and worksheets designed to teach students more about their bee home and build their reading and science skills, raise their environmental awareness, and empower them to help the bees. To be eligible, applicants must be located in the United States and be a nonprofit organization; elementary, middle, or high school; college or university; tribal education agency; environmental center; or a food bank or community garden that does not charge a membership fee. In addition, applicant organizations must have been in existence for at least a year to be eligible to receive materials.

As authorized under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742A-754; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661-667(e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901-2911; and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 709a, USFWS Region 3 Division of Migratory Birds solicits proposals for its Midwest Migratory Bird Conservation Program. This program provides grants for the conservation of birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act but not Federally-listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Proposals should address projects in the geographic area that includes USFWS Region 3 (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin); non-breeding season areas important for birds breeding in Region 3 states; or broad-scale actions that will have tangible benefits that include birds in these states. This grant program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under CFDA 15.647 Migratory Bird Conservation.This grant program was created in the late 1980s. Funding available for the program fluctuates annually because it is derived from discretionary funds within the USFWSâ¿¿s Midwest Migratory Bird Conservation Programâ¿¿s annual budget and those funds are subject to varying levels of Congressional appropriations and are affected by other program needs.To focus conservation on the highest priority issues with the greatest probability of making a difference for birds, the Midwest Migratory Bird Conservation Program operates under the USFWS business model known as Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC). SHC integrates biological planning, landscape design, conservation delivery, and monitoring and evaluation in a way that generates adaptive feedback that enables sound decisions and constantly improves our efficiency and effectiveness in conserving birds.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of research funding in 2018 to investigate issues related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The WNS Program provides financial and technical assistance to non-governmental, university, and private researchers, as well as state and local governments, Native American tribes, and federal agencies, for the management of WNS and conservation of bats. Funded projects will investigate priority questions about WNS to improve our ability to manage the disease and implement management actions that will help to conserve affected bat species.

The fishery research program consists of a portfolio of funded basic (discovery, descriptive, or hypothesis generation) and applied (descriptive or hypothesis-driven) research organized by theme areas given below. Research theme areas are: Human Dimensions of Great Lakes Fishery Management -- Human dimensions-related issues play a central role in Great Lakes fisheries in terms of values and beliefs, management challenges and desired outcomes, economics, and governance. Fishery objectives often focus on a limited number of ecological and social management goals; this theme aims to expand our understanding of the human dimension of fishery management and help in having that dimension reflected in fishery management practices. Physical Processes and Fish Recruitment in Large Lakes -- TBD. Energy Dynamics of Great Lakes Food Webs -- To understand energy dynamics in Great Lakes food webs and the role of food web members in structuring resilient communities and ecosystems. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (Commission) grants funds to academic institutions, government agencies, and private corporations through research contracts. A Principal Investigator (PI) for each research project must be designated; the PI must be a permanent employee of the institution receiving the funds who can be held accountable for ensuring the work is completed as outlined in the contract.