Native Plant Conservation Initiative
Request for Proposal
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting
proposals for the 2009 Native Plant Conservation Initiative (NPCI)
grants cycle. The NPCI grant program is conducted in cooperation with
the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA), a partnership between the
Foundation, ten federal agencies, and more than 270 non-governmental
organizations. PCA provides a framework and strategy for linking
resources and expertise in developing a coordinated national approach to
the conservation of native plants. Since 1995, the NPCI grant
program has funded multi-stakeholder projects that focus on the
conservation of native plants and pollinators under any of the following
6 focal areas: conservation, education, restoration, research,
sustainability, and data linkages. These 6 focal areas are the
core strategies for native plant conservation, as outlined by the Plant
Conservation Alliance National Framework for Progress. In 2009,
NPCI is particularly interested in projects that focus on the effects of
climate change as it pertains to the conservation, education,
restoration, research, sustainability, and creating data linkages that
facilitate North American native plant conservation in the 21st
century.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include 501(c) non-profit organizations, federally
recognized Tribal governments, and local, state, or federal government
agencies. For-profit businesses and individuals are not eligible to
apply directly to this program, but are encouraged to work with eligible
applicants to develop and submit proposals. Organizations or projects
that have received funding and have been successfully completed under
this program are eligible and encouraged to re-apply.
Project Eligibility
Eligible projects will directly address the plant conservation
priorities established by one or more of the funding federal agencies
(see Funding Sources and Areas of Interest) and fall within at least one
of the 6 focal areas outlined in the Plant Conservation Alliance Native
Plant Conservation Strategies (see below).
In addition:
• Projects in 2009 should include a climate change
component.
• Projects that include a pollinator conservation component
are also encouraged.
• Projects require a minimum 1:1 non-federal match by project
partners, including cash or in-kind contributions of goods or services
(such as volunteer time).
• Projects must be technically sound and carried out by
qualified organizations. Documentation of technical assistance received
or review by appropriate state and federal agencies is encouraged.
• Projects conducted on federal agency land should include
letters of support from appropriate agency program managers familiar
with the work.
Basic research projects are unlikely to be funded unless of direct
relevance to the management of native plants by a participating federal
agency. Projects that primarily involve the control of invasive or
noxious weeds should consider the Foundation's "Pulling Together
Initiative" (PTI), rather than NPCI.
NPCI funds CANNOT be used to:
• support political advocacy or lobbying. "Lobbying" is
defined as "attempting to persuade members of any legislative or
administrative branch, on the federal, tribal, state, or local level, to
enact, defeat, or repeal legislation or regulations."
• support litigation expenses or direct land acquisition
costs.
• supplement shortfalls in government agency budgets. For
example, funds cannot be used for salaries of permanent federal
employees.
Funding Sources and Areas of Interest
Funds for NPCI grants are currently provided by three federal
agencies:
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service funds are available for
native plant conservation projects on National Wildlife Refuges and for
projects on private or public lands that directly benefit the
conservation of FWS trust species (e.g., those plant species formally
listed as Endangered or Threatened by the Service, or protected under
international treaty).
Bureau of Land Management funds are available for
native plant conservation projects on BLM lands, or for work on non-BLM
lands that is of direct relevance to the management of BLM lands. For
BLM investments on private lands, please note that the willing landowner
must voluntarily sign a legally binding agreement with the BLM that will
protect and secure the taxpayers' investment. A statement signed by the
landowner indicating that he or she is aware of the requirement to sign
such an agreement with the BLM must be included with the proposal.
USDA Forest Service funds are available for projects
that directly benefit the conservation of native plants on Forest
Service lands, or for projects on non-Forest Service lands that directly
benefit the Forest Service mission.
Plant Conservation Alliance Strategies
The Plant Conservation Alliance strategies for native plant
conservation are summarized below.
STRATEGY A. CONSERVATION
Bring people and organizations together to share resources and
talents to effectively conserve the nation's native plants.
STRATEGY B. EDUCATION
Provide opportunities for people to enjoy, understand, and value native
plants and plant communities.
STRATEGY C. RESTORATION
Ensure conservation and restoration of native plants and natural plant
communities through ecosystem-based management.
STRATEGY D. RESEARCH
Encourage the scientific community to conduct research and
technology development in support of native plant conservation.
STRATEGY E. SUSTAINABILITY
Encourage practices that support appropriate and sustainable uses of
beneficial plants.
STRATEGY F. DATA LINKAGES
Promote the development and use of coordinated databases and
information-sharing to support native plant conservation.
More information on these Strategies, along with actions for
implementing them, are found in the Plant Conservation Alliance National
Framework for Progress.
Application Process and Schedule
NPCI Applications must complete the online pre-proposal application form
through the NFWF e-grants system (<www.nfwf.org/grantapplication>).
The deadline for pre-proposals is July 1, 2009.
Applicants invited to submit a full proposal will receive
instructions via e-mail for accessing the full proposal form. Full
proposals are due on September 11, 2009.
Formal announcements of 2009 NPCI recipients will be made on December 1,
2009. Please do not contact the Foundation regarding the status of
your proposal prior to this date.
NPCI Program Contact
For information regarding the NPCI program or on-line Easygrants
application procedure, please contact Teal Edelen (<teal.edelen@nfwf.org>) at
202-595-2436.
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