Deadline: 30-Sep-2024
Applications are now open for the Bureau of Land Management National Operations Center (NOC) Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Program to promote ecosystem health and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of weeds across public lands.
BLM National Operations Center (NOC) Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Programs work to prevent, detect, inventory, control, and monitor weed populations on public lands.
- Invasive species cost the public millions of dollars in control and management each year and many invasive plants and noxious weeds are highly competitive and have the ability to permanently degrade the public lands.
- Noxious weeds and invasive species expansion are recognized as the single greatest threat to the native plant communities and the values they provide them.
- These native plant communities are essential for supporting wildlife habitat, watershed function, recreation opportunities, rural economies and working landscapes.
- Invasive plants and noxious weeds affect plant and animal communities on farms and ranches, and in parks, waters, forests, natural areas, and backyards in negative ways.
- Human activity such as trade, travel, and tourism have all increased substantially, escalating the speed and volume of species movement to unprecedented levels.
- Increased site vulnerability from wildfires that are more frequent and other disturbances is an ongoing challenge to maintaining the integrity of the native plant communities.
- Noxious weeds are particularly aggressive plants legally designated by states as being injurious to public health, the environment or the economy.
- Invasive species and noxious weeds adversely affect overall recreational opportunities on public land i.e., hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, watershed health and ecosystem function which result in economic losses in rural and urban communities.
- Affect adjacent private lands, both rural and urban, causing widespread economic losses to the agricultural industry as well as to other resources.
BLM National Operations Center (NOC) has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to collaboratively manage and coordinate treatments, inventories, monitoring, education and outreach, and prevention activities to control new infestations and treatment to remove existing infestations of noxious weeds and invasive species to gain efficiencies across multiple jurisdictions.
Program Strategic Goals
- A successful noxious weed control program is essential to maintaining the health of the native landscapes and consists of the following goals:
- Inventorying and documenting locations of noxious weeds and other invasive species.
- Using an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) approach to determine the most effective method of weed control (herbicides, grazing, mechanical removal etc.).
- Selecting the most effective and targeted herbicide for treatment.
- Stabilization and rehabilitation of disturbed areas.
- Implementation and monitoring of weed control and site rehabilitation measures.
- Conducting post treatment monitoring to determine effectiveness.
- Prioritization and treatment of target undesirable plant species or groups of species to be controlled or contained within a specific geographic area.
- Monitoring and evaluation of treatments, site rehabilitation, outreach activities, and integrated weed management strategies to determine rate of success and to inform future efforts.
- Development and dissemination of public education and outreach activities and materials.
- Promoting public engagement and learning opportunities, through resources education and outreach programs, events, and products.
- Adaptive management for controlling new weed species and use of new and approved treatments.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding: $800,000
- Expected Award Amount
- Maximum Award: $500,000
- Minimum Award: $25,000
- Anticipated Award Funding and Dates: Projects cannot be funded for more than a five-year period
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 5
Eligibility Criteria
- 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
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.