Deadline: 11-Aug-21
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is currently accepting proposals for the 2021 Seabird Conservation Program to improve populations of focal seabirds through actions that improve survival and reproduction.
The Seabird Conservation Program is supported by the Pacific Seabird Program Business Plan. Available funding for the Seabird Conservation Program varies between years and depending on implementation needs of the business plan.
Program Priorities
All proposals must specifically address how projects will advance the Pacific Seabird Program Business Plan. 2021, will be the last RFP for the current business plan, thus, they are explicitly seeking projects that complete ongoing activities and advance select focal species goals:
- Management of non-native, invasive animals: Introduced animals alter fragile island ecosystems through direct predation on seabirds and by destruction of breeding habitats. NFWF will consider proposals that advance eradications on Socorro & Clarion Island, MX and will also review projects that advance actions for focal species including predator fencing efforts. Focal regions for this activity include Chile, the California Current and Hawaii.
- Restoration: Invasive plants degrade nesting habitat, sea level rise threatens low lying colonies and human actions can impact survival and reproduction of seabirds. NFWF seeks proposals that align with focal species and continue social attraction efforts, species translocations to establish resilient breeding locations and that continue to build community and organizational capacity. Focal regions for this activity include Chile, California Current and Hawaii.
- Bycatch reduction: Seabird bycatch by fisheries is a global problem, killing hundreds of thousands of seabirds annually. NFWF seeks proposals that foster innovation, outreach, training, and research supporting the development and adoption of best practices and effective mitigation measures in fisheries with an emphasis on fisheries that impact north pacific albatross.
- Research and Monitoring: The wide-ranging, pelagic nature of seabirds is a challenge to understanding and addressing conservation needs. NFWF will invest in research, monitoring, and assessment actions to improve the effectiveness of species conservation, strategies and the delivery and reporting of conservation actions. This RFP seeks projects that support effectiveness monitoring for ongoing or recently completed project activities.
- Focal species: For this RFP they are also explicitly seeking actions that advance business plan goals including for the following species: Aleutian tern – implementation of a statewide survey; black-footed albatross – high island colony establishment (social attraction and/or translocation projects), Pacific bycatch assessment/mitigation; Hawaiian petrel – in situ colony protection, new colony establishment (social attraction/translocation); Laysan albatross – high island colony establishment (social attraction), Pacific bycatch assessment/mitigation; Newell’s shearwater – in situ colony protection, new colony establishment (social attraction); Townsend’s shearwater – in situ colony protection (Socorro & Clarion).
Funding Information
- The Seabird Conservation Program has approximately $2,000,000 to award in funding for grants this year. While upper and lower thresholds have not been strictly defined in previous RFP’s, in 2021 awards should generally fall within a range of $25,000 to $450,000. A minimum of a 1:1 match (federal and non-federal match are eligible) of cash and/or in-kind services is required. Project period of performance may range from one to three years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include: non-profit 501(c) organizations, U.S. Federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, educational institutions, international organizations and businesses.
- Ineligible applicants include unincorporated individuals.
For more information, visit https://www.nfwf.org/programs/seabirds/seabird-conservation-program-2021-request-proposal