Plant Conservation and Restoration Management

 

This program continues to advance the Administration's priorities to tackle the climate crisis. This Program was created in response to large-scale wildfires in the Western US. Due to lack of native seed in 2001 Congress directed the BLM to establish a native plant material program recommending that federal and non-federal partners coordinate efforts through the Plant Conservation Alliance established in 1994. BLM provides leadership in identifying, maintaining, and restoring Western native plant communities on public lands. Public lands contain a diversity of wildlife that need habitat of native plant communities comprised of over 50 ecoregions across public lands. In the future, BLM will continue to work with partners to focus on more diverse forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitat and rehabilitation after wildfires. This program also supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58, Section 40704(b) Ecosystem Restoration.

Active 15.245 Bureau of Land Management, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants; M - Training Fiscal Year 2017 BLM worked with the Plant Conservation Alliance to develop The National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration to ensure the availability of genetically appropriate seed to restore viable and productive plant communities and sustainable ecosystems throughout the US. The Strategy fosters collaboration between private, tribal, state, local, and federal partners to guide the development, availability, and use of seed needed for timely and effective rehabilitation and restoration. BLM Plant Conservation & Restoration Program works with partners to focus studies on native plant materials development to get more diversity of native plant materials to the growers in ecoregions, including the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Mojave, and Pacific Northwest. Working with the Sustainability in Prison Program in the Great Basin, BLM PCRP grows locally sourced sagebrush plants for use after wildfires in sage-grouse, mule deer, and other game species habitat restoration projects. Seeds of Success has made over 23,000 collections of 5,500 unique taxa since 2000. The Plant Conservation & Restoration Program has moved more than 200 native species into commercial production by the private sector, making them available for restoration projects. BLM PCRP increased the capacity of the BLM National Seed Warehouse System to 2,600,000 pounds, which serves 40 BLM Field Offices and streamlines seed procurement through the Working Capital Fund (inventory value ≈ $12 M).
Fiscal Year 2018 Monitored, protected, increased understanding and restored habitat that supports more than 1700 rare plant species, more than 400 of which are found exclusively on BLM public lands. Worked with partners to implement priority species and conservation actions. Assisted BLM programs such as Fuels and Emergency Stabilization and Restoration in restoring public lands and integrating more wide spread use of native plant materials. The BLM manages these resources and other vegetation management activities in cooperation with states, tribes, other federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
Fiscal Year 2019 Data unknown
Fiscal Year 2020 Institute for Applied Ecology, Sagebrush in Prisons - This project works with 19 prisons in 8 western states to grow seedlings for restoration of wildlife and game species habitats after wildfire on BLM lands. This is year 2 of a multi-year agreement. NatureServe, Rare Plant Data - This project monitors and updates the status of BLM Special Status Plants. This information will help the Bureau with NEPA compliance and conservation and recovery.
Fiscal Year 2021 Institute for Applied Ecology, Sagebrush in Prisons - Work with 10 prisons in 5 western states to grow sagebrush seedlings for post-fire restoration projects on BLM lands. Year 3 of a multi-year agreement. NatureServe, Rare Plant Data - Monitor and update the status of BLM special status plants to assist the BLM with NEPA compliance and conservation and recovery. Year 2 of a multi-year agreement. Natural Areas Association, Outreach - Improve technical capacity of BLM staff in managing seed resources and rare and special status plants. Year 5 of a multi-year agreement. State University, Pollinator Project - Raise the awareness of both seed collection programs and the relationship between native plants and pollinators. Year 1 of a one-year agreement. Society for Ecological Restoration, Seed Science and Technology - Improve the technical capacity of staff in State, tribal, Federal agencies, including, BLM in all aspects of native plant materials development, native seed supply chain, and restoration. Year 1 of a multi-year agreement.
Fiscal Year 2022 The program will continue to work to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the plant program.
Fiscal Year 2023 The program will continue to work to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the plant program. Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) 43 U.S.C. §1737 (b)
Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements (aka The Wyden Amendment) 16 U.S.C. 1011 Not applicable. All Public Land users. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart C--Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards. A Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, Standard Form 424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, and a written proposal, budget spreadsheet, a budget narrative/breakdown, and any other requirements specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Notice and submitted through www.grants.gov. State plan is not required for this application. All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program funding announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. State and District Office level and funding recommendations are made through the State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity announcement. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Land Management will provide all applicants with information on why their proposal was not selected for award. Not applicable. First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements. Projects are primarily conducted on lands administered by the BLM but may also be conducted on other public or private lands. Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska. Assistance can be used to help protect, restore, and enhance native plant communities and rare plants, and to provide related public contact/education opportunities. No regular discretionary fund is available. Funding is highly variable each fiscal year. Performance Reports: Shall submit at the minimum an annual Performance Report in accordance with the 2 CFR, Part 200.328 within 90 days after the anniversary date or as indicated in the Notice of Award. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final report no later than 120 calendar day after the award end date: Not applicable. All recipients of Federal awards shall maintain project records in accordance with 2 CFR 200.333 Retention requirements for records. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities must not impose any other record retention requirements upon non-Federal entities, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.333. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. No specific restrictions. However, most projects are funded on a year to year basis and no more than five years. Funds are expended during a particular fiscal year. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes Frequency of recipient payments will be determined for each awarded assistance agreement at time of award. None/Not specified. Forestry, Rangeland, and Plant Conservation
760 Horizon Drive, Suite 324
Grand Junction, CO 81506 US
mdraper@blm.gov
Phone: (208) 373-3812 https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities 14-1109-0-1-302 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$7,046,681.00; FY 23 est $3,500,000.00; FY 24 FY 21$3,400,926.00; FY 20$361,125,949.00; FY 19$8,196,485.00; FY 18$8,964,833.00; - Past partnership projects have ranged from $10,000 to $1,000,000. BLM's Plant Conservation and Restoration Program is generally guided by provisions in 43 CFR Part 4000 and Part 6000; as well as the H-1740-2 - Integrated Vegetation Management Handbook, which can be found on the BLM website. A variety of public interest publications on BLM's Plant Conservation and Restoration Program, as well as the National Seed Strategy, are available free of charge by contacting the appropriate State Office; Endangered Species Act of 197; and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Fiscal Year 2017 WY Sage Grouse as it pertains to Native Plant Project, AK Seeds of Success, University of Utah Rare and Native Plant, Pollinator And Restoration Project
Fiscal Year 2018 OR/WA Rogue Basin Native Plant Partnership, Sagebrush in Prisons Partnership to grow sagebrush for restoration after wildfires.
Fiscal Year 2019 NM Statewide Implementation of the Native Seed, Pollinator and Rare Plant Strategy UT Configuring Landscape America to Support CPNPP Communication and Outreach CA Support of Nattional Seed Strategy to Produce Ecologically Native Plant
Fiscal Year 2020 CO Plant Conservation and Restoration, NV Eastern Nevada Plant and Seed Collection, Cleaning and Curation, OR/WA Twin Prairie Restoration, UT Canyon County Public Lands Restoration
Fiscal Year 2021 Restoring or improving native plant communities, wildlife habitat or reducing threats to habitats or species; Developing genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration; Inventory and prioritization of plant populations; Implementing and assessing restoration efforts through monitoring; Collaborating with farmers and conservationists to increase BLM stock and -foundation seed amounts to use on larger Seed Increase IDIQ contracts; Initiating or refining Source Identified Seed Certification programs via partnerships with state seed certifying agencies; Inventorying, monitoring and restoring rare plant species and their associated communities; Increasing and improving pollinator habitat; Expanding public education programs and outreach.
Fiscal Year 2022 Restoring or improving native plant and wildlife habitat or reducing threats to habitat or species; Developing genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration; Establishing native seed collection programs, seedbanks, and greenhouses for conservation and restoration on BLM and Tribal lands; Conducting native seed research to improve restoration success; Inventory and prioritization of plant populations; Implementing and assessing restoration efforts through monitoring; Collaborating with farmers and conservationists to increase BLM Stock and Foundation seed amounts to use on larger Seed Increase IDIQ contracts; Initiating or refining Source Identified Seed Certification programs via partnerships with state seed certifying agencies; Inventorying, monitoring and restoring rare plant species and their associated communities; Increasing and improving pollinator habitat; Expanding public education programs and outreach.
Fiscal Year 2023 Data is unavailable.