Call for Applications: Wildlife Habitat Fencing (US)

The outreach of interest functions as an outreach mechanism to cultivate relationships and connect with potential partners. This OOI is intended to solicit responses to explore future projects meeting the needs and interests of potential partners through partnership agreements within legislative authority with USDA Forest Service.

This initiative seeks to increase their representation including from diverse and underserved backgrounds. New partnerships will foster co-stewardship between the USDA Forest Service through better representation of the public the agency serves, and with a shared commitment to wildlife conservation on USDA Forest Service lands.

Your submission signals an opportunity for USDA Forest Service to explore with you your ideas/projects/programs and potential partnership opportunities. USDA Forest Service is committed to fostering a strong, collaborative partnership that benefits their fisheries and wildlife resources, and their habitats. Collaborative efforts are vital to wildlife conservation.

Aims

• Wildlife habitat improvement for terrestrial and aquatic species is a key focus area for the USDA Forest Service. One way this is accomplished is through the addition or removal of fences. Fences can be ecologically beneficial or detrimental depending on site specific conditions, design, project objectives, and affected species. For example, small scale exclosures may be designed to protect sensitive aquatic species or pollinator habitat from ungulate, recreational or other impacts, while removing old livestock fencing that’s no longer in use, can increase connectivity for wide ranging species. Fences that are improperly placed or poorly constructed without current wildlife friendly specifications in mind can also lead to fragmented wildlife populations and habitat, as well as direct mortality to species moving across the landscape.
• This project supports the USDA Forest Service’s 2012 Planning Rule which emphasizes an “all lands” approach to managing ecosystems that transcends land ownership boundaries. Cooperation and collaboration among the USDA Forest Service, other agencies, tribes, and private landowners can help to enhance wildlife connectivity and ecologically resilient habitat. It also supports the USDA Forest Service’s National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change and Secretarial Order 3362 “to improve habitat quality of big game migration corridors and winter range on lands administered by the Department of the Interior in the 11 western states.” The order is intended to improve collaboration with state fish and wildlife agencies and private landowners to identify, conserve, and restore priority winter range and migration corridors. Current workload for wildlife habitat related fencing projects exceeds capacity. The project would engage community members and cultivate a vested interest in long term success and shared ownership in final outcomes; provide opportunities for job training, personal development, conservation service, and natural resource appreciation while cultivating the next generation of natural resource stewards.

Objectives

• The purpose of partnerships would be to conserve and enhance wildlife habitat (including terrestrial and aquatic habitat) through fence removal, maintenance and or upgrades and replacements. Selection of areas would be of mutual interest to local USDA Forest Service units and partners, but ultimate site selection and approved design would be the responsibility of the agency. The USDA Forest Service would provide project oversight and facilitate cross program coordination with other program areas as needed, such as watersheds, botany, and rangeland management.
• The objectives for potential projects would include:
  • Installing Protective fencing (enclosures/exclosures) to protect and restore natural waterbodies (e.g., vernal pools, springs, wetlands etc.) and or other areas such as those undergoing active revegetation or plantings to alleviate negative impacts from browsing, herbivory, invasive species, and trampling.
  • Replacement and or modification of existing fences to most current wildlife friendly design specifications. For example, smooth bottom wire, addition of “goat bars “or replacement of mesh fencing.
  • Installation and/or removal of Right of way/fencing setbacks (removal and or installation) installation and/or removal.
  • Removal and disposal of old fencing that is no longer needed (i.e., legacy fencing).

Priorities

• Priority will be given to projects that are designed to support USDA Forest Service in the following areas:
  • Improve water quality and quantity and integrity for wildlife;
  • Support the conservation of indigenous species;
  • Restore resilient landscapes; nurture thriving communities;
  • Enhance sustainable recreation opportunities;
  • Build diversity and inclusion; and identify workforce development opportunities in conservation stewardship and natural and cultural resources;
  • Support, benefit, or engage communities that are historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (pursuant to Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
  • Communities through the Federal Government).
  • Informs fuels reduction activities under the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and revegetation under the Reforestation Act.
  • Informs or complements ongoing habitat enhancement work including projects supporting migratory joint ventures, grassland restoration, bat conservation and nonnative invasive species removal.
  • Benefits special status species and or culturally significant species.

Duration

• Awards under this announcement are typically 1 to 5 years in length. Projects of greater complexity may be awarded for a longer period, not to exceed 5 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants include for profit; non-profits; institutions of higher education; federal, state, local, and Native American tribal governments; foreign governments and organizations and special purpose districts (public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports).

For more information, visit Grants.gov.