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

Transcription

1 Credit: NRCS

2 Presenter Teal Edelen Manager, Central Partnership Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Panelists: David Gagner Director, Government Relations National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Donn Waage Director, Central Partnership Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

3 Presentation Outline Conservation Partners Program Working Lands for Wildlife Program Priority Areas (PPAs) Eligibility and Requirements Frequently Asked Questions Open Discussion

4 Conservation Partners Joint Conservation Priorities of NRCS and NFWF Objective: to better utilize and leverage Farm Bill Conservation dollars (e.g., CRP, WHIP, EQIP, WRP, FRPP) 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.

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7 Pacific Salmon Rivers Goal is to protect the most vulnerable populations of salmonids in Pacific coast watersheds and strengthen those populations that are still robust. In order to improve water quality and habitat at the scale needed to reach these goals, Conservation Partners will encourage private landowners to sign-up and implement Farm Bill programs on their lands that can have measureable conservation outcomes for salmonids. Improve estuarine habitat, including shorelines and critical watersheds; improve forest health and productivity for the benefit of salmon; improve fish passage and cold-water flows. Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Summer chum, Steelhead.

8 Northern Great Plains/ Prairie Pothole Region The goal is to improve soil health, keep water clean, reduce flooding, and provide essential wildlife habitat for abundant as well as threatened species. Conservation Partners seeks to help interested partners integrate ranching practices, soil health, water quality and prairie/grassland restoration across the landscape ensuring that keystone species and ecological processes thrive and private landowners reap economic benefits from managing for wildlife. Identify and direct incentive programs toward priority landscapes that will support species of conservation interest and maximize financial incentives for ecosystem-scale grassland conservation and restoration. Pronghorn, black-tailed prairie dog, black-footed ferret, swift fox, sage grouse, Sprague's pipit, waterfowl, marsh and shore birds, and other grassland birds, threatened and endangered species.

9 Northeast Forests Goal is to work with land owners to enhance the long-term economic, recreational, social, and environmental benefits provided by forested ecosystems in Northeastern U.S., such as clean water, job creation, and habitat for both declining and recreationally important wildlife. Forest habitat created, restored or protected. Early successional forests established. Water quality benefits. Bog turtle, golden-winged warbler, American woodcock, New England cottontail

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.

11 Upper Mississippi River Basin Priorities

12 Additional Conservation Partners Awards CPP funding is supplementing some pre-existing grant programs to address additional Program Priority Areas: Sustain Our Great Lakes-RFP available January 2014 Longleaf Pine Stewardship Fund-RFP available Fall 2013 Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund-RFP available Fall 2013 Short Grass Prairie Stewardship Fund-RFP available April 2013 Check NFWF website for more information as to grant cycles and program leads for these programs.

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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: px#.uvn6jtcvhky

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. Obtain a letter of commitment from the NRCS State Conservationist(s).

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

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.

20 Cash Accepted Match Sources Staff time dedicated to the project Materials and services donated Volunteer time Cost of recent land acquisition/easement. Indirect costs (with federally-approved rate) 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 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