Presenter. Teal Edelen Manager, Central Partnership Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Transcription

1 Credit: NRCS

2 Presenter Teal Edelen Manager, Central Partnership Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

3 Presentation Outline Conservation Partners Program Program Priority Areas (PPAs) Eligibility and Requirements Frequently Asked Questions Questions from the audience

4 Conservation Partners Joint Conservation Priorities of NRCS and NFWF Objective: to better utilize and leverage Farm Bill Conservation dollars as well as other dollars through technical assistance to private landowners in targeted Program Priority Areas (PPAs). Working Lands for Wildlife will be considered beyond the PPA boundaries. Method: Grants to organizations ready to hire wildlife professionals, ecologists, foresters, biologists, etc. to work with NRCS field offices on conservation priorities. Funding: Typical awards will range from $50k-$250k.

5 What is Technical Assistance? Boots on the ground. Help to land users to address opportunities, concerns, and problems related to the use of natural resources and to help land users make sound natural resource management decisions on private, tribal, and other non-federal lands. Photo: NRCS Expertise in comprehensive conservation planning, developing methodologies to monitor, assess, evaluate and report on measurable resource conservation outcomes.

6 CPP Funding In this RFP California Freshwater Systems Upper Miss River Basin Great Lakes Grassland Birds Funding through other NFWF programs Delaware River Basin: Funding Obligated Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Thursday, May 14th Longleaf Pine: Funding Obligated Northeast Rivers and Forests: Thursday, May 14, 2015

7 CALIFORNIA FRESHWATER SYSTEMS Water scarcity in California has become an acute issue for agricultural communities and instream habitat. Maintaining crop yields while conserving and restoring freshwater systems in drought stricken areas of California is a priority.

8 Grassland Birds Great Plains of the United States, including portions of, Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The region supports more than 300 species of breeding, migrating, and overwintering bird species and is a hotspot for about two dozen bird species of high national importance. Grassland birds; focal species include burrowing owl, Baird s sparrow, Sprague s pipit, and chestnut collared longspur Threatened and endangered prairie, grassland, wetland and aquatic species

9 Northeast Rivers and Forests: Restore and sustain healthy forests and rivers that provide habitat for diverse native bird and freshwater fish populations. The program will advance this goal by investing in projects that: Increase populations of keystone species, such as New England cottontail, American woodcock, Bicknell s Thrush and Eastern Brook Trout; and, Create and sustain vital habitat for diverse native freshwater fish and bird populations in New England. Contact John Wright: john.wright@nfwf.org to discuss program priorities

10 Upper Mississippi River Basin Engage farmers and Ag organizations to benefit fish and wildlife Long term reductions in edge-of-field nutrient loss Improve nutrient management new tools to manage inputs Ways to trap and treat nutrient runoff Whole farm planning->better water quality Mussels, fish, other aquatic biota, waterfowl, marsh and shorebirds, grassland birds, T&E prairie, grassland, wetland, aquatic species. MRBI Watersheds within Upper Miss Basin=BONUS POINTS

11 Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Please contact Elizabeth Nellums, Restore the habitats and water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

12 Great Lakes Basin Reducing phosphorus runoff and associated harmful algae blooms. Hire field conservation professionals who will, in collaboration with NRCS field offices, assist private landowners/managers and increase participation in federal Farm Bill programs to reduce phosphorus runoff from agricultural lands and improve the ecological condition of these watersheds.

13 Other Programs With CPP Funding Longleaf Stewardship Chesapeake Bay Delaware River Basin Northeast Rivers and Forests

14 Photo: NRCS Eligibility Non-profit 501(c) organizations, farmer and commodity-led organizations, educational institutions, tribal governments, state/local government. Not eligible: Individuals, federal government agencies and for-profit firms.

15 Average Grant 1.69 FTEs Engaging 195 farmers/ranchers/landowners Impacting 9,525 Acres

16 Example Grants Take a look at the grants we are currently funding through CPP: es_2013.pdf

17 Requirements Identify performance and conservation targets, consistent with NRCS s needs, against which progress will be measured and reported to NFWF. A match of at least 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind is required, but larger match ratios are encouraged. We USED TO require a letter from the appropriate NRCS State Con. No longer needed. However, please communicate with your NRCS state/local office.

18 Photo: NRCS Ineligible Grant Expenses Political advocacy, lobbying, litigation. Fundraising. Legally mandated mitigation projects.

19 What Counts as Match? Non-federal (U.S.) in origin. Directly serve the goals of the project. Voluntary (mitigation, restitution, other permit or courtordered settlements are ineligible). Applied only to the Conservation Partners grant. Spent during the project period of performance. Advice: Larger match ratios tend to make more competitive proposals. But don t get hung up on this!

20 Cash Accepted Match Sources Staff time dedicated to the project Materials and services donated Volunteer time (you can use federal rate here) Cost of recent land acquisition/easement. Indirect costs (with federally-approved rate) You can find our indirect policy here: ect-policy.aspx Other tangible contributions to project goals

21 Period of Performance Match must be spent between project start and end dates Projects should be completed within 2½ years following receipt of a grant agreement; each position will be funded up to 2 years

22 All applications must be submitted online through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation s Easygrants system: Hard copy applications will not be considered for funding Application Process Pre-proposals due: May 12 Full proposals: August 17 For thorough Easygrants instructions, visit: ts/applicants.aspx

23 Evaluation Metrics Activities: Inventories conducted Species monitored Hiring coordinators to work with landowners Landowners reached Landowners engaged Others Outcomes: Increase in species Increase in acres Water quality improvements FTE s employed Landowners enrolled in Farm Bill Programs Acres preserved/ restored Others

24 Frequently Asked Questions 1. Can this be used for regions not identified as priorities? 2. Can this be used for projects/species/habitats not identified as priorities? 3. Can $$ be used for project work rather than technical assistance? 4. Can funding be used for technical assistance on public lands? 5. We already applied for a NFWF grant; should we also apply for this one?

25 Frequently Asked Questions 6. Is it better to submit a coalition grant on behalf of many stakeholders, or go alone? 7. Can a nationwide group submit more than one proposal for its different activities and/or chapters? 8. Can the funding be used for monitoring and assessment?

26 Questions?

27 Artwork: NRCS Contact Information Teal Edelen Manager, Central Partnership Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation