NM Plant Conservation and Restoration Management | L20AS00060

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00060

The NM Plant Conservation and Restoration Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00060) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement program under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on improving conservation and restoration outcomes on public lands in New Mexico. It supports applied, on-the-ground habitat management and research that strengthens ecosystems and restores habitats important to keystone wildlife and game species. The overall aim is to make restoration efforts more effective and more durable over time by pairing field implementation with science-based improvements in plant materials, seeding methods, and long-term ecological understanding.

A major emphasis is developing and scaling genetically appropriate native plant material for habitat restoration. That includes working directly with growers and partners to ensure native seed and plant supplies match local or regional genetics and are suited to the conditions where they will be used. Projects can cover the practical side of building reliable native plant supply chains, from selecting and evaluating seed sources to improving propagation techniques and agronomic production practices that increase availability without sacrificing genetic integrity.

The opportunity also funds studies designed to improve how restoration is planned and carried out. Examples specifically highlighted include plant ecology and ecophysiology research, seed bank persistence work (understanding how long seeds remain viable in soils and under what conditions), and evaluations of traits or seed sources to determine which materials perform best across different environments. It also calls out the development and testing of seeding treatments and tools, which can include innovations in planting equipment, seed coatings or conditioning methods, and other techniques meant to increase establishment success in challenging landscapes.

Pollinator-focused work is another eligible area, reflecting the role pollinators play in maintaining resilient plant communities and functioning habitats. Alongside the scientific and field components, the program places value on public education and outreach that translates findings and best practices into usable products. This can include information bulletins, handbooks, webinars, and apps, with an explicit interest in efforts that strengthen citizen science connections between the BLM and its partners, helping the public participate in data collection, monitoring, or stewardship activities tied to restoration and plant conservation.

This is a discretionary funding opportunity in the Natural Resources category (CFDA 15.245) and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement or collaboration during project execution. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. The original posting dates show it was created February 25, 2020, with an original closing date of April 27, 2020. The award ceiling is $300,000, and the BLM expected to make about five awards under this opportunity.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NM Plant Conservation and Restoration Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.245.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 25, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for L20AS00060

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