The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking applications for its Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program to advance the Department of the Interior’s priorities to address the climate crisis, restore balance on public lands and waters, advance environmental justice, and invest in a clean energy future.
Donor Name: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
State: Wyoming
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $125,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The proportion of native seed purchased through the BLM National Seed Warehouse System increased from roughly 50% native seed in 2001 (the year PCRP was established) to 80% native seed in 2019. PCRP partnerships with federal agencies and non-federal organizations have grown millions of seedlings for restoration on BLM lands, provided education and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and developed much of the science that land managers use to inform restoration seeding decisions. Finally, PCRP sponsored the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Assessment of Seed Needs and Capacities and the Open Access publication of the first international principles and standards for using native seeds in ecological restoration. Through these myriad accomplishments, PCRP has consistently proven to be a global leader in the development of locally adapted native plant materials and their use in restoring adaptive and resilient ecosystems. This program also supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58, Section 40704(b) Ecosystem Restoration.
Program Strategic Goals
- Implementing the National Native Seed Strategy
- Developing genetically appropriate native plant material/seed for use in habitat restoration;
- Implementing and assessing seed-based restoration techniques/efforts;
- Collaborating with farmers and conservationists to increase BLM Stock and Foundation seed amounts to use on larger Seed Increase IDIQ contracts so that commercial availability of genetically diverse, locally sourced seed for restoration, rehabilitation and reclamation projects is increased at a landscape scale;
- Supporting Source-Identified Seed Certification programs via partnerships with state seed certifying agencies;
- Inventorying, monitoring and restoring rare plant species and their associated communities to include development of conservation strategies/plans that include best management practices and reporting on the condition and trend of rare plant species and their habitat;
- Increasing and improving pollinator habitat;
- Expanding public education programs and outreach; and
- Database creation, and management and analyses, including geospatial, collaborative web service or support and training.
The Wyoming BLM has opportunities to work with partner organizations to accomplish goals of the BLM Plant Conservation and Restoration Program that include, but are not limited to, such things as:
- Support habitat management efforts to restore habitat for keystone wildlife and pollinator and increase on-the-ground project work to reduce the threats to sage grouse, rare plants, and other sensitive species in high priority habitats.
- Work with growers to continue to develop genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration and rehabilitation.
- Support studies to improve the effectiveness of conservation restoration efforts to include, but not be limited to, plant ecological, plant genetics, and ecophysiological studies, seed bank persistence, plant propagation and development of agronomic production practices, and trait and/or seed source evaluations as well as seeding treatment and tool development. Support pollinator studies and projects that increase the knowledge and nexus to the importance of native plant communities and pollinators to restoration durability and ecological function.
- Implement conservation actions for high priority rare plant species
- Increase understanding of rare plant biology and threats.
- Monitor, protect, and restore habitat that supports more than 1,800 rare plant species, more than 300 of which are found exclusively on BLM lands.
- Assist BLM programs such as Wildlife, Oil & Gas, Minerals, Fuels, Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation, Range, and Renewable Energy in restoring public lands and integrating more widespread use of native plant materials.
- Expand public education programs and outreach on native plants and native plant communities to include, but not be limited to, development of technical bulletins, handbooks, videos, native plant guides and floras, workshops, webinars, and apps, that also increase the Citizen Science nexus with BLM and partners.
Funding Information
- Maximum Award $125,000
- Minimum Award $5,000
Project Period
Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and no more than five years and are determined based on the period of performance as stated on the recipient’s project proposal
Eligible Applications
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility
- Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.
- This program NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter IIPublic Lands Corps, is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to “hire” interns under this authority. Therefore, eligible Youth Conservation Corps may only apply for projects developed under NOFO 15.243 – BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
