OARS funding Conservation

Mexico makes up only one percent of the Earth���s land area, but is home to an impressive one-twelfth of all of the species known to science. A megadiverse country, Mexico is also a major center of origin and domestication of plants and a key flora and fauna dispersal corridor. Its rainforests are among the richest reservoirs of biological material on the planet, and its diverse habitats are home to a broad array of wildlife, including many seasonal residents that migrate to and from the U.S. and other areas. Despite the multiple efforts and initiatives by local authorities, international agencies, non-government organizations and donors, Mexico���s astonishing natural diversity remains threatened by habitat loss and degradation, agricultural encroachment and intensification, invasive alien species, human intrusion and disturbance, illegal wildlife trade, poaching and human-wildlife conflicts. In response to these challenges, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) together with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico (SEMARNAT) established the Wildlife Without Borders ��� Mexico program, as a cooperative effort between the United States and Mexico to preserve our shared natural heritage. Program Goal: To conserve priority species, habitats and ecological processes across landscapes with high biodiversity value in Mexico. Authorizing Legislation: Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-43)

The Office of Federal Activities in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting proposals for a cooperative agreement in support of the International Network of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE). INECE (www.inece.org) is an informal international partnership promoting compliance and enforcement of domestic and international environmental laws through networking, capacity building, and enforcement cooperation. INECE is not part of the United States Government. Comprising 2,500 practitioners from international organizations, governmental agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), INECE is exclusively dedicated to promoting cooperation among governmental and non-governmental stakeholders on environmental compliance and enforcement.

2015 Forest Service National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Deadline: December 15, 2015 The Secretary of Agriculture has a congressionally designated advisory council that assists the U.S. Forest Service in establishing the grant categories and recommendations of final proposals for the Forest Service to consider. This is the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). The Council serves to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the status of the nation's urban and community forests and related natural resources. The NUCFAC seeks to establish sustainable urban and community forests, by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources, which, if well managed, improves the public's health, well-being, economic vitality, and creates resilient ecosystems for present and future generations. The Council recommends urban and community forestry projects that have national or multi-state application and impact through the U.S. Forest Service's competitive Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program. This year, the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) has identified three national grant categories: 1. Analysis and Solutions for Development and Redevelopment Impacts on Urban and Community Forests, 2. Building Human Health Through Urban and Community Forestry, and 3. Climate Change and Its Impact on Trees and Water. An applicant may apply to more than one category; however they are to use a separate application for each category. The purpose of these grants is to address national issues. This RFP is not for local or State-wide projects. Click on link http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/nucfac.shtml for full information on the 2016 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant. Search [CFDA number: 10.675], or [Grant Opportunity No.: USDA-FS-UCF-01-2016]. The grant applications are to be submitted through www.grants.gov. Contact Nancy Stremple, Natural Re

NMFS, in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council (Council), is soliciting Atlantic Sea Scallop (scallop) research proposals to utilize scallop Total Allowable Catch (TAC) that has been set-aside by the Council to fund scallop research endeavors through the 2016/2017 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. No federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of RSA quota will be used to fund research activities and compensate vessels that participate in research activities and/or harvest set-aside quota. Projects funded under the Scallop RSA Program must enhance the knowledge of the scallop fishery resource or contribute to the body of information on which scallop management decisions are made. Priority will be given to scallop research proposals that investigate research priorities identified by the Council, which are detailed under the Program Priorities section of this announcement.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act, codified at 33 U.S.C. 1951-1958, provides funding to support locally-driven, marine debris prevention, assessment, and removal projects that will benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Funding for this purpose comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service. Projects awarded through this grant competition will implement effective, on-the-ground marine debris removal activities, with priority for those targeting medium- large-scale debris, including derelict fishing gear. Projects should also provide benefits to coastal communities, and create long-term ecological habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources. Through this solicitation NOAA identifies marine debris removal projects, fosters awareness of the effects of marine debris to further the conservation of living marine resource habitats, and contributes to the understanding of marine debris composition, distribution and impacts. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $2,000,000 is expected to be available for Community-based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants in FY2016. Typical awards will range from $50,000 to $150,000

The overall goal of EESLR is to facilitate informed adaptation planning and coastal management decisions through a multidisciplinary research program that results in integrated models and tools of dynamic physical and biological processes capable of evaluating vulnerability and resilience under multiple SLR, inundation, and coastal management scenarios.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3-People, Prosperity and the Planet Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability. The P3 Award program was developed to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of improved quality of life, economic prosperity and protection of the planet -- people, prosperity, and the planet - the three pillars of sustainability. The EPA offers the P3 competition in order to respond to the technical needs of the world while moving towards the goal of sustainability. Please see the P3 website for more details about this program.

 Within this general framework, ARPA-E seeks transformative ideas that enable the most efficient, economical, sustainable, and environmentally benign conversion of energy while minimizing exergy destruction.

Protecting its clients and the community from risks is at the core of AXA's purpose. Convinced that researching today will help better protecting tomorrow, the AXA Group has created the AXA Research Fund in 2007. Its mission is to boost scientific progress and discoveries that contribute to understand and better prepare against environmental, life and socio-economic risks. It thus fosters innovative world-class research on those major risks.

The National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Region (Fisheries Southeast Regional Office) is seeking proposals under the Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program. The Gulf of Mexico B-WET program is a competitive, environmental education, grants program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. Funded projects provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) supports federal projects and grants aimed at jump-starting achievement of GLRI long term goals: safely eating the fish and swimming at our beaches, assuring safe drinking water, and providing a healthy ecosystem for fish and wildlife. The GLRI was announced in May of 2009 as part of the President's FY2010 budget. To guide this work, federal agencies have drafted GLRI Action Plan II, which summarizes the actions that federal agencies plan to implement during the years 2015-2019. Information about the GLRI, including agency-by-agency funding allocations, and general descriptions of the work that's planned, is posted at http://greatlakesrestoration.us/.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is soliciting project proposals for federal assistance under the GLRI - Endangered Species Template (GLRI-ES). The GLRI - ES provides grants and other assistance on a competitive basis to individuals, groups, and government agencies engaged in voluntary conservation efforts to benefit species listed or proposed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), candidate species, or other at-risk species within the Great Lakes Basin of the United States. The Service will award grants for actions and activities that protect, restore, and enhance habitats that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species.

NRCS Oregon requests proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. For fiscal year 2015, up to $250,000 may be available for the Oregon statewide CIG competition. The Oregon CIG category available in FY 2015 is the State Resource Concern Category. Proposals are requested from eligible nonfederal government or non-government organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 to 3 years in duration. Proposals can request federal funds of up to $75,000 and must be implemented within the state of Oregon.

The State Wildlife Grants Program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) Federal grant funds for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Eligible activities include both planning and implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of the Stateÿfds current Wildlife Action Plan (Plan) approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Implementation activities are activities that a State intends to carry out to execute their Plan. Priority for use of these funds should be placed on those species of greatest conservation need and take into consideration the relative level of funding available for the conservation of those species. Ineligible activities include wildlife education and law enforcement activities, unless the law enforcement or education component is a minor or incidental activity which is considered critical to the success of a project.

Hundreds of watersheds across Alaska have been mined in the past or are currently being mined or proposed for future mining. Stream reclamation restoration in Alaska is complex and has often failed to achieve stability goals within 10 years post construction. The protracted recovery periods and limited success are due in large part to the absence of baseline data needed for channel design and an over reliance on natural processes to facilitate recovery of disturbed streams. To enhance the probability of restoration success, baseline data on stream function and stream functional lift potential need to be gathered. In addition, regional hydraulic geometry curves need to be developed for Alaskaÿfds mining districts. Coupled with site specific baseline geomorphic data, this information can greatly enhance stream restoration success and the rehabilitation of fish and wildlife habitat. The testing and adoption of proven stream design techniques, such as Rosgenÿfds Natural Channel Design, in Alaska is also essential to developing an effective approach to improving conditions with watersheds degraded by historic or ongoing placer mining.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958), provides funding to support eligible organizations to educate the public about the issue of marine debris through dedicated activities to prevent the introduction of marine debris. Funding for this purpose comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service.

The Ohio Invasive Plants Council seeks proposals for research that enhances understanding of invasive plants that are relevant to the State of Ohio.  The purpose of this program is to support research, not management, outreach, or organizing efforts.  Projects initiated by either undergraduate or graduate students, land managers, or amateur botanists are welcomed.  We will accept and review proposals that focus on basic biology, ecology, management, distribution, and horticultural aspects among other areas. 

The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund (known as the S-K fund) used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U.S. fisheries, including, but not limited to, harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business infrastructures. Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects related to U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries. The term "fisheries" encompasses wild capture, marine aquaculture and recreational fishing. The objective of the S-K Grant Program is to address the needs of the fisheries and fishing communities in optimizing economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices, dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures, and increasing other opportunities to use existing infrastructure to support keeping working waterfronts viable. 

Environmental exposure induced perturbations of epigenomic marks are correlated with disease pathogenesis.  Identifying changes in epigenomic marks (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility) in affected tissues/cells is not always feasible in humans. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to establish a consortium that will explore the conservation of perturbations of epigenomic marks across target tissues/cells and surrogate tissues/cells using mouse models of environmentally relevant diseases. Ultimately, these analyses will provide insights into the design and interpretation of human studies where target tissues are inaccessible.

The purpose of this FOA is to support the expansion of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Human Cell and Data Repository. The repository will maintain the current collection of fibroblast and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines as well as develop, characterize, expand and where appropriate genetically modify new high-quality iPSC, fibroblast cell lines and peripheral blood monocyte cells in accordance with the NINDS mission.  The NINDS Human Cell and Data Repository will distribute human cell resources broadly to qualified academic and industry researchers.   

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is soliciting applications for a Human Biospecimen and Data Repository for Biomarkers Research ("Biomarkers Repository") in Neurological Disorders. Collaborative teams combining expertise in neuroscience, biomarkers, biospecimen handling, and data management are encouraged. Experience in biomarker research, such as evaluation of batch effects, protocol development, and analyte quality control measures, is expected. Successful applications will include a detailed description of 1) Administrative Structure, 2) Research and Resource Plan, and 3) Data Management and Web-Based activities.