OARS funding Environmental Sustainability

The BLM is interested in partnering with a recipient to complete the Living with Fire education program.

The National Fire Plan was implemented in 2001 to assist communities at risk from catastrophic wildland fires by providing assistance in the following areas: Provide community programs that develop local capability including; assessment and planning, mitigation activities, community/homeowner education and action plans and implement hazardous fuels reduction activities, including the training, monitoring or maintenance associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on federal land, or on adjacent nonfederal land for activities that mitigate the threat of catastrophic fire to communities and natural resources in high risk areas; and enhance local and small business employment opportunities.

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals to improve water quality, habitat and environmental education through the demonstration of improved crop or land management involving new, novel, or experimental technologies, methods, approaches or techniques. The project is designed to support farmer-led or farm focused organizations in the Gulf of Mexico watershed within the Continental United States.

This funding opportunity is an ongoing effort to ensure bald eagles are managed so that they remain a success story. Existing management actions provide important population and nest success that allows for adaptive management of local closures to reduce impacts to recreation users on public lands while meeting the objects for bald eagles. Strong science is continuously being evaluated and re-evaluated for best practices to inform management of bald eagles. This has led to the southwest population of bald eagles being removed from the list of threatened and endangered species list. Breeding bald eagles are sensitive to human disturbance. The Bald Eagle Nest Watch Program has been successful in increasing nest success by reducing conflicts with bald eagles. This project is vital to ensure the bald eagle population in Arizona continues to thrive and avoid once again being federally listed as endangered species.

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs' (OES) Office of Conservation and Water (ECW) at the Department of State, announces the Notice of Funding Opportunity ("NOFO") for Mapping and Analysis of Illegally Harvested Timber and Forest Products in Global Trade, to work with developing countries and partners to gather data and build capacity to identify, analyze, and map illegal timber and forest products trade in key regions for forest production and trade. The results aim to influence policy makers in these regions, and will inform ongoing U.S. programs and the design and implementation of future interventions to assist developing countries in combating illegal logging and associated trade (ILAT). Eligibility is limited to U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U. S. tax code, foreign not-for-profit/nongovernmental organizations, and educational institutions. A cooperative agreement (CA) for up to $492,500 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2017 Economic Support Funds (ESF) will be awarded for work that will support data analysis of global ILAT, including species of concern, drivers of the trade, trade routes and other relevant intelligence at the global, regional, national and subnational levels. The initial period of performance will be for 24 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Background: Kuenzler's Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleri) is a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It shares many similarities with a common species, Fendler's Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus fendleri var. fendleri) and with many intermediates. This has caused confusion for land managers. The BLM management of Kuenzler's Hedgehog Cactus impacts the multiple uses (i.e. public land users) across the landscape as it restricts land management decisions in order to conserve the imperiled species. Currently, there is no information on the genetic differences of the Kuenzler's Hedgehog Cactus, the Fendler's Hedgehog Cactus, and intermediaries. Without this information it is difficult to determine importance of populations in order to prioritize recovery actions to enable the species to be de-listed. The use of the most current genetic methods for defining species, plastome sequencing, microsatellite development and genotyping, and ddRAD sequencing is needed to accurately determine whether the two species and associated intermediates are in fact the same. If studies show there are two different varieties it will be important to understand how the different Kuenzler's Hedgehog Cactus populations are related to each other across the landscape. This information can help the BLM prioritize populations according to rarity of the element occurrences. The objective of this project is to determine the genetic differences and similarities between Kuenzler's Hedgehog Cactus (all known element occurrences), Fendler's Hedgehog Cactus, and associated intermediates as well as the differences in population structure of the element occurrences of Kuenzler Hedgehog Cactus across the landscape in order to assist with land management decisions and potential de-listing of the species.

Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) the BLM is seeking to engage a cooperator/partner to assist with developing and managing an outreach, education and volunteer stewardship program that promotes shared conservation stewardship and responsible use of recreational opportunities on the public lands of the National Conservation Areas (NCA), in particular Gunnison Gorge. Expanded access may include the following activities: hiking, biking, OHV, hunting, camping, fishing, and a variety of recreational pursuits for various user groups. In addition, the BLM seeks a partner to encourage responsible use through shared conservation of public lands; instill in the public the importance of and appreciation for natural and cultural resources; promote awareness develop a cadre of local citizen stewards; and enhance the quality of recreational opportunities available for NCA visitors.

The Cultural and Paleontological Resources Management Programs are responsible for managing and preserving these fragile, nonrenewable scientific resources that are an important component of America's natural heritage. These heritage resources are managed for educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational purposes. In addition, the cultural resources program is responsible for engaging with Native American communities and ensuring accountability for the proper care of museum objects that are related to the tribes cultural patrimony.

The purpose of this project is to assist BLM with Integrated Weed Management in ooperative Weed Management Areas and across ownerships.

The BTRP program provides opportunity to compete for financial assistance for projects which seek to increase and improve the working relationship between fisheries researchers from the NMFS, state fishery agencies, universities, other research institutions and U.S. fishery interests (recreational and commercial) focusing on northern bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean. The program is a means of advancing research objectives to address the information needs to improve the science-based fisheries management for Atlantic bluefin tuna. This program addresses NOAA's mission goal to "Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through an Ecosystem Approach to Management.".

This project is to restore natural vegetation to previously farmed lands on the acquired 432 acre Pompey's Pillar Area, adjacent to the 51 acre Pompey's Pillar National Monument.

OAR invites applications for the establishment of a Cooperative Institute (CI) to: a) discover and initially characterize new marine flora, fauna, and phenomena in support of NOAA and national priorities; (b) advance NOAA and national undersea technology capabilities in partnership with academia, the private sector, and not-for-profit institutions; and (c) enhance the utility of ocean exploration results to stakeholders. This CI will facilitate a long-term collaborative environment between NOAA and the recipient(s) within which broad-based exploration, research, technology development, and education and outreach capabilities that focus on NOAA's priorities for the global ocean living and non-living marine resources can be developed and sustained.

The purpose of this program is for the BLM and its partner to work cooperative to enhance understanding of rangeland resources and ecological processes that are the basis of healthy rangeland by using next generation genetic sequencing and molecular analysis coupled with common garden experiments to better understand local seed adaption and identify the most successful seed types and the most cost effective treatments in order to reduce the need to repeat treatments of rangeland impacted by wild land fire, grazing, invasive species establishment, and drought.

The principle purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support the use of the best available science, combined with engaging broad public partners, to inform the public, stakeholders, and the BLM on best management practices (BMPs) for implementing adaptive management techniques on public lands. Focus areas of the project include collecting and analyzing rangeland health and upland vegetation treatments data and providing outreach stakeholders on status and trends of resources and effectiveness of restoration efforts and BMPs on the management of working landscapes. Data collected from this cooperative agreement will be available to the public.

The recreation resources managed by the BLM provide a diversity of recreation facilities, visitor centers, and competitive activities that directly benefit the public. Wilderness values are identified and protected. The public receives fair market value for commercial ventures conducted on public lands. Use and entrance fees are used to benefit the public. Recreation planning and visitor use monitoring are conducted. Trails, access, and rivers management including off-highway vehicle, public access, and comprehensive travel and transportation are managed. Visitor services include information, interpretation, stewardship education, health and safety considerations, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Recreation and community support partnerships develop marketing outreach and educational interpretation utilizing volunteer groups and youth.

The Cooperative Research Program (CRP) provides opportunity to compete for financial assistance for projects seeking to improve and strengthen the relationship between fisheries researchers from NMFS, state fishery agencies, and universities and the U.S. fishing industry (recreational and commercial) in the Gulf of Mexico (FL, AL, MS, LA, TX), South Atlantic (FL, NC, SC, GA) and Caribbean (USVI and Puerto Rico). The program bolsters partnerships by providing a way for involving commercial and recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information in support of management and regulatory options. This program addresses NOAA's mission to "Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through an Ecosystem Approach to Management."

The goal of this project is to address conservation needs to prepare museum collections for public exhibit and access for research, through providing an educational work experience opportunities for undergraduate and post graduate students interested in Art and Artifact Conservation. B. Project Objectives Include: â¿¢ Pack and transport museum collections to the conservation lab â¿¢ Treat over 750 objects in preparation for exhibits in parks â¿¢ Survey approximately 3,000 items to document stability and report on conservation needs â¿¢ Design and build storage and exhibit supports for 1,720 items â¿¢ Develop training materials and implement workshop for park staff â¿¢ Conduct research to improve conservation treatment methods for paleontology collections

The Source Reduction Assistance Grant Program supports pollution prevention approaches that reduce or eliminate pollutants from entering any waste stream or being otherwise released into the environment. The application deadline is August 23, 2018.

Background: The BLM partners with the Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit (CESU); State Agencies and political subdivisions thereof; private entities; and for profit and non-profit entities to study, monitor, protect, preserve, and conserve various species, to include Special Status species, throughout Oregon and Washington as well as restoring their habitat.

To advance this mission, Quadratec will award a single Energize the Environment grant of $3,500 to an individual or group currently pursuing a program or initiative designed to benefit the environment in their community. Projects could include trail building or a restoration project, a park beautification event, a litter prevention initiative, an earth study mission, a sustainable land management activity, a community environmental educational project, or a youth educational engagement event.