Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Utah Threatened and Endangered Species | L20AS00009

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00009

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah Threatened and Endangered Species grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00009) is a discretionary funding program designed to support on-the-ground conservation work for rare plants and animals on BLM-managed public lands in Utah. It is offered as a cooperative agreement, which usually means the BLM expects to stay actively involved during the project (for example, through coordination, shared planning, access to data or sites, or other forms of substantial federal participation), rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The overall purpose is to conserve and help recover species that are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), species that are candidates for listing, and species considered sensitive by the Bureau, while also supporting work on other rare species to reduce the chance they will need to be listed in the future.

The opportunity is grounded in the reality that BLM lands are central to species recovery nationwide. The BLM manages habitat associated with more than 430 species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA and at least 15 candidate species, and for many of these species, public lands administered by BLM represent some of the best remaining habitat and, in certain cases, the only places where the species still occur. Because of that, conservation actions taken on BLM lands can have an outsized impact, either by stabilizing and rebuilding populations of listed species or by keeping at-risk species from declining to the point where federal listing becomes necessary.

Projects supported under this program can cover a wide range of conservation activities, as long as they directly contribute to species and habitat outcomes. Eligible work can include building better knowledge of species status and habitat needs (such as inventories, surveys, mapping, and targeted research), implementing protective or active management measures (such as habitat management, threat reduction, or site protection), augmenting or improving populations where appropriate, and restoring or enhancing habitat used by rare species. The program also highlights priorities like species and habitat monitoring, restoration that improves habitat connectivity, and actions that increase ecological resiliency, which are often key to long-term recovery in the face of land-use pressures and environmental change.

A major theme of the announcement is partnership and public benefit. BLM Utah is specifically looking to work with partner organizations, and eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of entity types may apply (subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full notice). The program is intended to strengthen state and local partnerships, expand volunteer service and youth engagement on public lands, and increase opportunities for the public to learn about and experience wildlife and native plants through education, outreach, and scientific work. The announcement emphasizes that every award must benefit the general public, tying the investments to improved conservation outcomes, healthier ecosystems and ecosystem services, and better public understanding and enjoyment of wildlife and habitats.

From a funding and timing standpoint, the award ceiling is $100,000, with an expected five awards. The opportunity opened January 16, 2020, and closed May 15, 2020, with two application due dates: Round One due March 16, 2020, and Round Two due May 15, 2020 (both at 4:30 PM Eastern). The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 15.246. Overall, the opportunity is positioned as a practical conservation investment on Utah public lands, supporting both immediate species recovery needs and proactive work meant to keep additional species from becoming listed under the ESA, while also delivering clear public benefits through stewardship, restoration, and engagement opportunities.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Utah Threatened and Endangered Species" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.246.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 16, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2020 Open from January 16, 2020 through May 15, 2020, 430 PM ESTRound One Applications Due March 16, 2020, 430 PM ESTRound Two Applications Due May 15, 2020, 430 PM EST. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for L20AS00009

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