OARS funding Conservation

The Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Program provides technical and financial assistance to other federal agencies, states, local governments, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, citizen groups, and landowners for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources. This includes minimizing the establishment, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species. Specifically, aquatic habitat conservation projects under this program must protect, restore, and enhance fish and aquatic habitats, as outlined in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (Action Plan). Likewise, projects under this program, directly or indirectly, support and promote public access to recreational fishing opportunities and the sustainable use of other natural resources. Funded projects may be carried out by Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHPs) recognized by the National Fish Habitat Board (Board) or the partners of Board recognized FHPs. More information about the FHPs and their partners can be found online at www.fishhabitat.org.

This program seeks to enhance and expand the national resource of digital data documenting existing vouchered biological and paleontological collections and to advance scientific knowledge by improving access to digitized information (including images) residing in vouchered scientific collections across the United States. The information associated with various collections of organisms, such as geographic, paleogeographic and stratigraphic distribution, environmental habitat data, phenology, information about associated organisms, collector field notes, and tissues and molecular data extracted from the specimens, is a rich resource providing the baseline from which to further biodiversity research and provide critical information about existing gaps in our knowledge of life on earth.

Through its Marine Microbial Ecology and Evolution Awards program, the foundation will award grants of up to $180,000 a year for up to three years (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs) to outstanding investigators in the field of marine microbial ecology and evolution with the potential to advance human understanding through experiments, modeling, and/or theory. Projects focusing on the microbiomes of animals or plants or on paleontological records will not be considered in this funding cycle. Investigators with backgrounds in different fields are encouraged to apply.

The National Conservation Lands financially supports studies aimed at increasing our understanding of the resources present on BLM lands and the effectiveness of BLM¿s resource management decisions. The program seeks to develop and maintain strong partnerships with State, local, and private stakeholders in shared conservation stewardship by engaging partners in conducting management-focused research on the National Conservation Lands. Results from these studies on National Conservation Lands will inform management strategies utilized throughout BLM as well as other land management entities.

The Papoose Conservation Wildlife Foundation in Del Mar, California, is unique in that it focuses on both wildlife science and children's experiences in nature and seeks to merge these two missions to see children become the scientists of tomorrow working to preserve wildlife diversity. To advance this mission, the foundation is inviting applications for its Children in Nature and Applied Conservation grants programs. Through the program, grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded in two separate categories: Children in Nature - Programs aimed at providing opportunities for children to explore nature or expand children's appreciation of nature. Programs may include classroom learning but the majority of the program must take place in a natural environment. Preference is given to projects connecting children to lesser-recognized species or habitats. Applied Conservation - Projects focused on the conservation of free-ranging wildlife or plant species in their natural habitat. Work may include the protection of species and/or habitats. Preference is given to projects focused on lesser-recognized species.

The Amazon plays a major role in regulating regional and global climate. Some models suggest that if the Amazon experiences 20 percent to 25 percent deforestation, some forested areas would convert to tropical savanna, impacting global climatic stability. Deforestation is currently at 17 percent, making the Amazon's protection and management critical for both the people who call it home and for the rest of the planet. Long-term protection of the Amazon requires active participation and leadership from the communities that live within and near it. These communities are often deeply reliant on forest resources and also often have an intricate understanding of local ecological relationships that can influence the success of conservation efforts. Numerous studies have found that lower levels of deforestation are associated with Indigenous territories versus other protected areas. Sustainable forest conservation requires empowering and supporting these communities, enabling them to maximize the effectiveness of their conservation efforts while also improving their own lives and futures.

The mission of Morris Animal Foundation is to bridge science and available resources to advance the health of animals. To achieve its mission, the foundation funds hypothesis-driven, humane animal health research projects with high scientific merit and the potential for significant impact on animal health. The foundation currently is inviting applications for its Established Investigator Grants program. Through the program, grants of up to $50,000 a year for up to three years will be awarded to individuals and teams with a previous record of research and publication in support of projects that advance the science of canine, feline, equine, llama, alpaca, or wildlife health. Projects oriented toward human health and agricultural animal health do not fall within the Morris Animal Foundation mission and are not eligible for a grant.

The Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) supports cutting-edge research that (1) expands fundamental knowledge of the Antarctic and the natural laboratory it represents across a range of disciplines, (2) improves understanding of interactions between the Antarctic and Southern Ocean region and Earth system, and (3) utilizes the unique characteristics of the Antarctic continent as an observing platform. The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) supports scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean with logistics provided by OPP’s Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section (AIL). Antarctic fieldwork is supported only for research that must be performed, or is best performed, in Antarctica. ANT encourages research, using existing samples, data, and models, that does not require fieldwork. ANT also encourages research that crosses and combines, disciplinary perspectives and approaches.

Pathogens are one of the common pollutants in stormwater runoff. The fate and transport of pathogens in stormwater flows can vary widely, resulting in very different pathogen concentrations. Even in stormwater collection systems that are separated from municipal sewers, sewage ingress occurs within urban areas through various pathways, including cross-connections, leaking sewers, and rain-induced overflows to stormwater collection systems. Therefore, there is a need to expand the risk-based framework developed in the report Risk-Based Framework for the Development of Public Health Guidance for Decentralized Non-Potable Water Systems (SIWM10C15) and more broadly assess the enteric and non-enteric microbial risks and potential impacts from stormwater collection and uses to help establish risk-based best management practices.

Constellation is inviting applications for its E2 Energy to Educate Grants program, which offers students from grade six through college opportunities to help problem-solve today's and tomorrow's energy challenges.  Through the program, grants of up to $25,000 (grades 6 through 12) or $50,000 (colleges and universities) will be awarded to projects that reach at least a hundred students and that are aligned with Constellation's Energy to Educate Innovation Themes. Themes identified by the company that are eligible for support include: Smart Home - How will new technologies and artificial intelligence transform home energy usage in the future? More and more, homes are generating their own electricity and interactive technology is becoming a part of our daily lives. Sample topics include onsite generation, smart home energy tech, voice and gesture interfaces, and home energy data. Electrification - What will the future of transportation look like? New technologies are poised to power us into a cleaner energy future. Sample topics include electric vehicles, electric buses, electric charging infrastructure, and fuel conversions. Clean Energy & Zero Waste - How do we understand which energy sources and choices will have the greatest impact on our collective and individual carbon footprint? What if we could harness and store energy that would otherwise be wasted? Sample topics include low-carbon energy, clean energy sources, waste to energy, biomass, energy storage, and fuel cells. See the Constellation website for complete program guidelines, application instructions, and information about previous grant awardees.

Recipients will provide support to the Natural Resourceprograms at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Joint Base Andrews InstallationSupport Section Air Force. The recipientwill provided evaluation, management and treatment of invasive species, forestedareas, and wildlife survey as outlined in the Integrated Natural ResourcesManagement Plan (INRMP). Severalinvasive plant species impact various military missions including training andforce protection, reduces biodiversity, and impacts long-term land sustainment.

The Black Duck Joint Venture (BDJV) is a partnership-based program under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) that promotes the conservation of black ducks by providing scientific information to support effective conservation and management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS, or Service), a partner in the BDJV, administers financial assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements), purchase orders, and contracts on a competitive basis for projects and studies that advance both our and the general scientific community¿s understanding of black duck ecology and is seeking proposals from interested parties. The BDJV will a accept proposals addressing any aspect of black duck ecology and management, but proposals that address priority research needs (see full announcement) will have a greater probability of funding. The USFWS is authorized to support Migratory Bird Joint Ventures through 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¿667e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 U.S.C, 2901-2911); Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 709a); and Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531¿43).

The National Park Service Shared Beringian Heritage Program (SBHP) recognizes and celebrates the unique natural resources and cultural heritage shared by Russia and the United States in the region known as Beringia. From the Kolyma River in Russia to Alaska's border with the Yukon Territory in Canada, this region includes the people, the land, and the water that connected the continents of North America and Asia during the Pleistocene ice ages. The area provides unparalleled opportunities to study both earth and human history. The overall purpose of the SBHP is to advance local, national, international understanding and preservation of the region¿s resources and to sustain the cultural vitality of its indigenous people. Specific programmatic goals are to: ¿ Improve conservation, sustainability, and knowledge of the region¿s natural and cultural resources; ¿ Preserve subsistence opportunities and other historic traditions and practices; ¿ Interpret and communicate about the region¿s unique and internationally significant resources and values; ¿ Provide opportunities for cultural connections and knowledge exchange. To meet its goals, the SBHP funds projects that connect people and activities in the Beringia region. Proposed projects may be research-focused, community-based, educational, cultural, or conservational. Every project must demonstrate how it fulfills the goals of the SBHP.

The Ohio WRC requests pre-proposals from water professionals early in their career, to support research on the topics of: algal blooms and nutrients, the water energy nexus, and sustainable water use. Algal blooms & nutrients is a broad topic that may encompass any of the following areas: HAB events, nutrient transport related to HABs, treatment technologies, including BMPs, their effectiveness, and social science related to HABs. Specific pre-proposal submission instruction for FY2020 (deadline August 12th, 2019 at 4:00PM) can be found on the website.

The BLM Aquatic Habitat Management works cooperatively with a wide range of constituents to develop strategies that provide protection for sensitive riparian and wetland areas as well as maintain or restore stream function and stream access to floodplains while supporting multiple uses on public lands. The program manages and guides fish and aquatic habitat conservation, riparian and wetland conservation, control of aquatic invasive species, aquatic organism passage, and monitoring riparian and instream habitat conditions and water quantity and quality condition and trends. The NM BLM has opportunities to work with partner organizations to accomplish goals of the BLM Aquatic Habitat Management that include, but are not limited to, such things as: 1. Development and/or implementation of watershed management plans. 2. Increased local capacity to protect and enhance water quality, promote water conservation, and sustain the present health of the watershed. 3. Improvements in the resiliency of ecosystems, communities, and economies in the watershed. 4. Improvements in the hydraulic and geomorphic conditions of streams. 5. Removal of invasive vegetation in riparian areas to enhance fish habitat, water quality and the physical characteristics of the stream. 6. Inventory, modernize and/or develop infrastructure such as culverts and diversion structures in order to improve fish passage. 7. Provide a forum for enhanced communication among diverse stakeholder groups along the watershed.

This RFA solicits applications under a competitive announcement to fund South Florida Program projects for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, Caloosahatchee Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay. This RFA is an open competition for applicants to apply for funding on projects meeting the goals and objectives under this program and initiative

The objectives of this research project are to assess the hearing sensitivity of some native species of concern, specifically, Freshwater Drum and Bigmouth Buffalo, in year one of the project and to assess the ambient soundscape at a lock and dam (Lock and Dam 19) on the Mississippi River as a potential site for acoustic deterrent development.

NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of Ohio. A total of up to $150,000.00 is available for CIG in FY 2019. All non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2019 is $75,000

U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP) Water-Smart Exchanges (WiSE) program will pair cities in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), water districts, and utilities with counterparts in the United States to expand the adoption of new technologies and innovative approaches to modernize and improve the management of water resources in order to improve water quality and to strengthen water security, sustainability and resiliency.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of funding for research in 2019 to investigate issues and enact strategies related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The Service provides financial and technical assistance to non-governmental and university researchers, as well as state and local governments and Native American tribes, 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 and potentially vulnerable bat species.