Shorebird Conservation Project | F18AS00317

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Shorebird Conservation Project (F18AS00317)

1) What is the Shorebird Conservation Project (F18AS00317)?

The Shorebird Conservation Project is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) discretionary grant under the Department of the Interior. It focuses on protecting key coastal habitat for migratory shorebirds on Chiloe Island, Chile.

2) Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?

No. The notice is a Notice of Intent to make a single-source award. It is not an open competition, and there is no full funding announcement attached.

3) How many awards does the Service plan to issue under this notice?

The Service plans to issue one grant award under this notice.

4) What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $68,226.

5) Who is the intended recipient of the award?

The intended recipient is the National Audubon Society.

6) If eligibility lists 501(c)(3) nonprofits, can other nonprofits apply?

Based on the notice, no. While the eligibility field lists 501(c)(3) nonprofits, the agency states it has already selected the recipient due to unique qualifications and an established partnership, and the notice is not an open competition.

7) Why is this a single-source award instead of a competitive solicitation?

The notice explains that a single-source award is appropriate because of the National Audubon Society's unique qualifications, including a decade-long collaboration with the Centro de Estudio y Conservacion del Patrimonio Natural (CECPAN) and existing coordination capacity with local partners and investors on Chiloe Island.

8) Where will the project take place?

The work is geographically centered on Chiloe Island, Chile, with emphasis on coastal wetlands and connected watersheds that support migratory shorebirds and resident waterbirds.

9) Which bird species are specifically highlighted in the project description?

The notice specifically highlights Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels as focal long-distance migratory shorebirds that rely on safe coastal wetlands and shorelines during migration and nonbreeding periods.

10) What conservation problem is the project trying to address at roost sites?

A core goal is reducing disturbance at important roost locations that are already protected or are being brought under protection. The notice notes that repeated disturbance can push birds off safe sites, increase energy expenditure, and reduce survival during demanding migration cycles.

11) What types of sites are being targeted for protection or improvement?

The project targets important coastal roost sites used by migratory shorebirds, particularly within coastal wetlands and shorelines on Chiloe Island, including sites already protected and sites in the process of being protected.

12) What is the Derecho Real de Conservacion and how does it relate to this project?

Derecho Real de Conservacion is described as a newer Chilean legal mechanism that allows landowners to place conservation easements (or easement-like, legally binding conservation rights) on their properties. The project supports using this mechanism to secure conservation commitments on private lands with high value for migratory shorebirds.

13) Does the project focus only on land protection, or also on implementation capacity?

It addresses both. The notice states the grant supports building local capacity to use the Derecho Real de Conservacion effectively, meaning the work includes strengthening the practical ability of partners to negotiate, implement, and steward long-term conservation commitments, not only immediate site protection.

14) How does the project describe benefits to local communities?

Through conservation easement-like agreements, private land can be managed to maintain and enhance ecosystem services that benefit local communities in Chile while also safeguarding habitat values important to wildlife.

15) What role do landowners and local partners play in the project?

The project emphasizes maintaining and expanding a network of landowners and coastal conservation partners on Chiloe Island, reinforcing cooperation among community members, organizations, and agencies involved in habitat management.

16) Is monitoring included, and what is it intended to measure?

Yes. The grant supports monitoring of shorebirds to track use of roost sites and evaluate outcomes over time. The monitoring is intended to help measure whether conservation actions are working, support adaptive management, and demonstrate effectiveness.

17) Which organizations are referenced as key partners in the project?

The notice references the National Audubon Society and the Centro de Estudio y Conservacion del Patrimonio Natural (CECPAN), and also mentions collaboration with local conservation partners and international investors.

18) How long has the National Audubon Society been collaborating with CECPAN, according to the notice?

The notice describes a decade-long collaboration between the National Audubon Society and CECPAN.

19) What broader federal priorities does the notice say this project supports?

The notice references Secretarial Priority 1 (building a conservation stewardship legacy through balanced stewardship efforts that connect public initiatives with conservation on private lands) and Secretarial Priority 3 (restoring trust with local communities by expanding communication and collaboration).

20) What legal authorities are cited for funding and program authority?

The notice cites several U.S. statutes, including the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017.

21) When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The opportunity was created on August 20, 2018, and the original closing date was August 27, 2018, reflecting the administrative timeline for issuing a single intended award rather than running a competitive cycle.

22) Is there a full funding announcement (FOA) attached with application instructions?

No. The notice states there is no full funding announcement attached.

23) What does the grant aim to build besides legal protections?

Beyond legal and land protection tools, the project emphasizes relationship-building and durable local conservation infrastructure, including maintaining and expanding networks of partners and improving coordination for long-term habitat management.

24) What is the main conservation outcome the notice is trying to achieve?

Based on the notice, the main outcome is securing and improving key coastal roost habitat for migratory shorebirds on Chiloe Island and reducing disturbance at those roost sites to support survival during migration and nonbreeding periods.