Deadline: 8-Mar-25
The Bureau of Land Management California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program advances 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.
The program works with partners to increase the quantity, diversity, and effectiveness of native forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitats and rehabilitation after wildfires.
Goals
- 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;
- The inventory and monitoring of rare plant species and their associated communities including development of conservation strategies/plans that include the best management practices.
- Restoring native plant communities so that they are resilient to environmental stressors, including drought, wildland fire, invasive species, and insects/disease;
- Conserving and protecting rare plant species and their habitat through seed banking, scientific research to inform conservation and management needs, and development of guidance for rare plant biodiversity conservation, management, and habitat restoration;
- Expanding public education programs and outreach;
- Database creation, management, and analysis including geospatial, collaborative web service or support and training.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $975,000
- Award Floor: $25,000
Eligible Activities
- The California BLM has opportunities to work with partner organizations to do activities such as:
- Reduce the threats to sage grouse, rare plants, and other sensitive species in high priority habitats by supporting efforts to restore habitat for keystone wildlife and pollinator.
- Working with growers to develop genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration and rehabilitation.
- Support studies to improve the effectiveness of conservation restoration efforts in areas such as 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 on 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.
- Develop strategies to encourage the use of native plant materials that are genetically appropriate for restoration and reclamation across all BLM associated programs such as Wildlife, Oil & Gas, Minerals, Fuels, Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation, Range, and Renewable Energy;
- Increase Citizen Science through expanding public education programs on native plants and native plant communities through development of technical guidance, videos, native plant guides and floras, workshops, webinars, and apps.
Eligible Projects
- The BLM California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program is especially focused on projects that:
- Protect biodiversity;
- Increase resilience to climate change and help leverage natural climate solutions;
- Contribute to conserving at least 30 percent of their lands and waters by the year 2030;
- Engage communities of color, low income families, and rural and indigenous
- Communities to enhance economic opportunities related to native seed production and restoration;
- Use the best science and data available to make decisions.
Eligibility Criteria
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- 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
Ineligibility Criteria
- 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.
Application Requirements
- Application narrative requirements may include:
- Project title
- Statement of need
- Goals and objectives
- Public benefit and program interest of the BLM
- Technical approach
- Timetable or milestones
- Information to support environmental compliance review requirements. (NOTE: Projects under aquatic and wildlife management, the native plant program, threatened and endangered species habitat conservation – the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973)
- Description of stakeholder coordination or involvement
- Required project monitoring and evaluation plan, including how you will measure project performance and assessment tools to be used
- Information on key project personnel
- Anticipated future funding needs
- Details and supporting documentation on the project location
- Other program or project-specific narrative requirements
For more information, visit Grants.gov.