Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Is It the Same Below Ground? | Learn Science at Scitable
Services provided by soils are vital for the well being of humans. The biodiversity-ecosystem services relationship is a hot topic in science but to what extent is it evident in soils?
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Some bamboos run into legal barriers - legislative updates - a wicked inconvenience
The noxious, invasive in some places invasive
bamboo wars continue to grow and spread. In some sense they are 'popping up' as fast as the plant they have identified as their number one here and now enemy of the personal good.
The local weed warriors are challenged because their needs are not obvious to the disinterested rest of us, and because recent history has made an artificial division between agriculture's noxious weeds and ecology's invasive species. To the beleaguered property owner it is all the same destructive incursion and infestations that deny them the use of their property.
Local and state government are slow to act because they count voted and so far the documented infestations of problematic bamboo are dwarfed by species such as mile-a-minute, buffelgrass, tamarisk and kudzu, and because the invaded properties do not yet equal a constituency that can sway elections - mostly because it is fragmented and divided as to particular species of concern or method of control.
Who should pay to clean up the mess is the large elephant in our national political discussion from guns to energy, bamboo to atmospheric gas ratios, we have met the enemy and it is us. We do not want to pay for what we throw over our garden fences whether at the scale of an individual, a corporation or a nation-state.
We face a wicked inconvenience - plants that seem to misbehave are symptoms of our own unwillingness to take responsibility for our own actions.
UPDATED 12-16- 2012
INSTITUTE OF INVASIVE BAMBOO RESEARCH
Delaware:
2.Smyrna, DE
10 foot set back http://search.municode.com/html/12853/level3/PTIITOCO_CH74VE_ARTIVBA.html
3.Lewis Park Newark, DE Bamboo Ban – destroying tennis
court http://www.cityofnewarkde.us/archives/61/Bamboo%20Removal_with%20photos.pdf
New York:
4.Hempstead,
NY
Bamboo Ban http://elmontcivic.com/index.php/town-news/351-hempstead-town-adopts-legislation-to-ban-invasive-bamboo-on-local-properties
5.Brookhaven,
NY
Bamboo Ban
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/bamboo-ban-plans-reach-long-beach-brookhaven-1.3846701
9. Greenport
Village, NY
Bamboo Ban
http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2012/06/32943/greenport-village-considers-a-bamboo-ban/
11.Long
Beach, NY
http://longbeach.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/city-council-votes-to-restrict-bamboo-plantings
12.
Woodsburgh, NY
Bamboo Ban
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/woodsburgh-restricts-bamboo-cats-dogs-1.2819294
13.Babylon
Village, NY
Bamboo Ban http://www.lilanduseandzoning.com/2012/09/11/several-long-island-municipalities-adopt-bamboo-restrictions/
14.New York *called
upon to add to states invasive list
unanimous vote http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-Opinion-i-2012-09-27-93819.112114-sub-Editorial-Council-should-be-the-panda.html
15. Islip,
NY
proposed http://sachem.patch.com/articles/islip-notebook-town-looks-to-limit-bamboo-growth
16.Lake
Grove, NY http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-News-i-2012-09-27-93884.112114-sub-Huntington-Town-seeks-state-aid-with-pesky-bamboo-plant.html
17.Huntington,
NY proposed
Dec 18 2012 resolution hearing
http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-News-i-2012-09-27-93884.112114
New Jersey:
20. Raritan,
NJ
proposed http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2012/10/public_works_superintendent_ba.html
23.Lacey, NJ
http://lacey.going.com/articles/committee-to-vote-on-wild-plant-ordinance-at-meeting-thursday
25.Manchester,
NJ http://manchester-nj.patch.com/articles/environmental-commission-considers-invasive-plants-ordinance
26.Long
Branch, NJ
http://www.app.com/videonetwork759857/1823122521001/Homeowner-speaks-about-invasive-bamboo
Pennsylvania:
27. Concord,
PA
10 foot set back http://delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2012/10/09/garnet_valley_press/news/doc50743effc1905506029621.txt
28.West
Bradford, PA
40 foot set back http://www.westbradford.org/downloads/2011Ordinances/11-01Bamboo.pdf
29.Rutledge,
PA
10 foot set back http://www.rutledgepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bamboo-ord-461-dec-2011.pdf
33.Montgomery
Township, PA proposed
http://www.thereporteronline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20121128%2FNEWS01%2F121129591&template=printart
34.
Doylestown, PA Bamboo
classified Noxious - height 8 inches http://www.doylestownpa.org/Download/Ordinances/No%20%20353.pdf_brush_grass_weeds.pdf
Maryland:
35.Mount
Rainier, MD
Bamboo Ban proposed
36.Cambridge,
MD
proposed http://www.choosecambridge.com/index.php/news/667/208/City-Council-Minutes/
Massachusetts:
38.Cambridge,
MA
proposing possible ban http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x555035388/Cambridge-City-Council-in-60-seconds#axzz2FP8kh9lR
North Carolina:
39.Carolina
Beach, NC
proposed http://islandgazette.net/news-server5/index.php/news/local-and-state-news/local/16908-carolina-beach-considers-prohibiting-uncontrolled-bamboo-growth
Rhode Island:
California:
41. Loma
Linda, Ca Nuisance
abatement
http://www.lomalinda-ca.gov/asp/admin/CityCouncilDoc/getCDoc.asp?ID=293
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Webinar: Anticipating Success: What Happens After You Remove that Invasive from your Ecosystem - understanding and planning for succession
Anticipating Success:
What Happens After You Remove that Invasive from your Ecosystem -
understanding and planning for succession
Please join me for a webinar presentation on December 19th 12pm – 1pm EST
Invasive species removal and control often take place in a flurry of intense activity and satisfaction in the removal of the invader only to be followed by a surprise re-invasion of a new species. Anticipating Success looks at the role of planning in successful management of ecosystem resources and landscapes. The webinar will examine in detail the steps in a management plan that include environmental assessments, IPM and EDRR.
Please click on more details below to follow this link to register: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/989958567
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
USDA Invasive Species Grants for 2013
United States
Department of
Agriculture
U.S.
Department of
Agriculture
(USDA)
Grant and Partnership
Programs
that can
Address Invasive Species
Research,
Technical
Assistance,
Prevention
and Control
Federal Fiscal Year 2013
December 12, 2012
Introduction
This workbook contains
basic information on programs in USDA that could be used to fund and support invasive
species related projects. This list should be a helpful place to start a search
for sources of technical and financial resources for invasive species
activities but may not include all potential invasive species funding
opportunities. USDA contacts for program support listed in the document are
current at the time of publication. The contacts
listed in the “other grant information” section can assist you in determining
which opportunities may fit best with your needs. Please use this workbook to
help in your important and vital work in safeguarding and enhancing natural,
recreational and agricultural resources.
USDA PROGRAMS
Program name: Agriculture
and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program – Controlling Weedy
and Invasive Plants
Agency: USDA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Funding
Method: National competition
Match: Cost sharing or matching may, or may not
be required. See the AFRI FY
2013 Request for
Applications for details (http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html
Authority: Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA)
(Pub. L. 110-246) amends section 2(b) of the
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) to
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Agriculture and Food
Research Initiative (AFRI); a competitive grant program to provide funding for
fundamental and applied research, education, and extension to address food and
agricultural sciences.
Eligible
Entities: Eligible applicants for
Research Projects include: 1) State Agricultural Experiment Stations; 2)
colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees
or higher); 3) university research foundations; 4) other research institutions
and organizations; 5) Federal agencies, 6) national laboratories; 7) private
organizations or corporations; 8) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals,
or permanent residents; and 9) any group consisting of 2 or more entities
identified in 1) through 8). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and
international organizations.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds
Contact Info: Michael Bowers, National
Program Leader (202) 401-4510,
(mbowers@nifa.usda.gov)
Purpose: This
priority area supports projects that focus on compelling scientific questions
underlying current issues in weed and invasive plant management in crops,
managed forests and rangeland including:
·
Ecological processes
related to integrated pest management.
·
The evolution, spread
and mitigation of herbicide resistance based on
an understanding of ecological fitness and gene flow.
·
Other ecological or evolutionary studies that
would inform weed
management strategies, including links between
agronomic practices
and weed problems.
________________________
Program name: Agriculture
and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program – Plant-Associated
Insects and Nematodes
Agency: USDA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Funding
Method: National competition
Match: Cost sharing or matching may or may not
be required. See the AFRI FY
2012 Request for
Applications for details. (http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html).
Authority: Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA)
(Public L. 110-246) amends section 2(b) of
the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b))
to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Agriculture and Food
Research Initiative (AFRI); a competitive grant program to provide funding for
fundamental and applied research, education, and extension to address food and
agricultural sciences.
Eligible
Entities: Eligible applicants for
Research Projects include: 1) State Agricultural Experiment Stations; 2)
colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees
or higher); 3) university research foundations; 4) other research institutions
and organizations; 5) Federal agencies, 6) national laboratories; 7) private organizations
or corporations; 8) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent
residents; and 9) any group consisting of 2 or more entities identified in 1)
through 8). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international
organizations.
Taxa; Plant-associated pest and beneficial insects
and nematodes
Contact
info: Mary
Purcell-Miramontes, National Program Leader (202) 401-5168, (mpurcell@nifa.usda.gov)
Purpose: This priority area supports projects to increase
fundamental and applied knowledge of biological and environmental processes
that affect the abundance and spread of plant-associated pest and beneficial
insects or nematodes in agricultural systems (including managed forests and
rangeland). Research on factors associated with the decline of insect
pollinators and development of solutions to mitigate these problems is
particularly emphasized. While realizing the value of discovery-oriented
research, this priority area will emphasize hypothesis-driven research. Projects that include an evaluation of pest
or pollinator management are strongly encouraged to include an economic
analysis.
Projects in this priority area may develop
integrated pest management or other ecologically-based management programs
(either in the short or long term). Projects on pests of livestock or nuisance
pests in urban systems are not supported.
One of the
following specific focus areas must be addressed:
·
Ecological, chemical, and genetic interactions
between plants, insects
or nematodes.
Functional genomics approaches are encouraged.
·
Mechanisms of plant response to insects or
nematodes. Elucidation of
signaling
mechanisms between plants and insects or nematodes are
encouraged.
·
Transgenic and para-transgenic approaches to limit
the severity of
pests including vectors.
·
Structure and function of genomes of insects that
vector plant diseases
and associated
obligate microbial symbionts.
See http://arthropodgenomes.org/wiki/Framework_for_Sequencing:_Insect_Symbioses.
It is anticipated that one proposal will
be funded for $1 Million over a 5-year period.
Groups with existing international collaboration and leveraging of funds
with international funding agencies are encouraged.
Additional
opportunities for invasive species funding in FY 2012 will be available when
Request for Applications (RFAs) are posted for the AFRI Core Programs. For
more
information please visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html
________________________
Program
Name: Regional Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) Competitive Grants Program
Agency: USDA National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Funding Method: Regional competition
Match: No
matching requirements
Authority: The Authority for funding of
research projects in this grant program is contained in Section 2(c) (1) (B) of
the Act of August 4, 1965, Public Law No. 89-106, as amended (7 U.SC. 450i(c) (1) (B)). Authority for the funding of extension
projects is contained in Section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act of May 8, 1914,
ch. 79, 38 Stat. 372, 7 U.SC. 341 et seq.
NOTE: For combined effort applications, separate awards will be executed
for P.L. 89-106 and Smith Lever funds.
Eligible Entities: Eligibility for research projects
includes: state agricultural experiment stations,
Land Grant
colleges and universities, research foundations established by Land Grant colleges
and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 1, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et
seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. Eligibility
for extension projects is limited to land-grant colleges and universities.
Taxa: Invasive plants/weeds,
plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal
pathogens,
diseases, aquatic species.
Contact Info: Robert Nowierski, National Program Leader (202) 401-4900
Purpose: The
Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Competitive Grants
Program
supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the
implementation of IPM methods from the development of individual pest control
tactics and the integration of tactics into an IPM system, to extension,
education, and training. The Program is administered by the four regions (North
Central, Northeastern, Southern, and Western) of
the
Land Grant University system in partnership with NIFA. The goal of
Regional
IPM Competitive Grants Program is to provide support for projects
that
develop and help users implement IPM systems that 1) are profitable and
environmentally
sound over the long term; 2) reduce reliance on pesticides:
and
3) protect and conserve ecosystem quality and diversity. It is recognized
that
the specific needs of each region vary, and thus specific program
priorities
will vary among the regions.
Program Name: Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
Agency: USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Funding
Method: Within-State
competition based upon State-specific priorities; State
Conservationists, with input
from State technical committees, develop
ranking
criteria based upon broad national guidelines. Options are permanent easement,
30-year easement, and restoration cost-share agreements.
Match: USDA pays 75 to 100 percent of
restoration costs; landowner pays 0 to 25
percent depending on
enrollment type.
Authority: Reauthorized in the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
Eligible
Entities: Landowners of private lands and Tribes
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal
pathogens,
diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: Jessica Groves, NRCS Program
Manager (202) 720-1067, (jessica.groves@wdc.usda.gov)
Purpose: A voluntary program
offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on
their property. The goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and
values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the
program.
Program
Name: Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP)
Agency: USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
administers CRP, while technical
support
functions are provided by USDA NRCS; USDA NIFA; State
forestry
agencies; local soil and water conservation districts; and
private
sector providers of technical assistance.
Funding
Method: Provides annual
payments for establishment of resource-conserving cover on environmentally
sensitive croplands and cost share for establishing and maintaining cover;
restores herbaceous vegetation for 10 years; restores forested vegetation for
15 years.
Match: 50 percent of establishment
costs plus annual rental payment based on soil rental rate;
Authority: Food Security Act of
1985, as amended, and regulations published in 7CFR, part 1410
Eligible
Entities: Individuals and/or
groups who have owned or operated eligible cropland or certain marginal pastureland
for at least one year
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal
pathogens,
diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: Robert Stephenson,
Conservation and Environmental Programs Division,
FSA (202)
720-6221, (robert.stephenson@usda.gov)
and Beverly Preston CRP Program
Manager, (FSA) (202) 720-9563
Purpose: The Conservation
Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the
Nation’s
ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams
and lakes,
improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances
forest and
wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly
erodible
cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative
cover, such
as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or
riparian
buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the
multi-year
contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetation
cover
practices.
Program Name: Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
(WHIP)
Agency: USDA
NRCS
Funding Method: Within-State competition based upon State-specific
priorities; State Conservationists, with input from State technical committees,
develop ranking criteria based upon broad national guidelines. WHIP agreements
between NRCS and the participant generally last from 1 to 10 years from the
date the agreement is signed.
Match: Provides
both technical and financial assistance to establish and improve fish and
wildlife habitat.
Authority: Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 reauthorized WHIP
Eligible Entities: Private agricultural land, nonindustrial
private forest land, and tribal lands.
Public land and public entities are ineligible for WHIP. .
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal pathogens,
diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: Albert Cerna (202) 720-9358, (albert.cerna@wdc.usda.gov)
Purpose: A voluntary program for
people who want to develop and improve fish and wildlife habitat on private agricultural land,
nonindustrial private forest land, and tribal land.
Program Name: Environmental Quality Incentive
Program (EQIP)
Agency: USDA
NRCS
Funding Method: Eligible
producers can apply for financial and technical assistance that may include
assistance to implement conservation practices to manage invasive and noxious
species. Producers compete for program
benefits based upon national, State and local natural resource
priorities and ranking criteria; State conservationists, with input from State
technical committees and other partner stakeholders, develop natural resource
based ranking criteria that proposed projects are scored with. Applications are approved based upon the
environmental ranking score and available funding.
Match: EQIP
may provide financial assistance up to 75 percent of the estimated incurred
costs or income foregone of certain approved conservation practices.
Historically underserved producers (Limited resource, beginning, and socially
disadvantaged individuals or Tribal entities) may be eligible for payments up
to 90 percent of the estimated incurred costs.
Authority: Reauthorized by the Food,
Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246)
Eligible Entities: Persons who are engaged in livestock or
agricultural production on eligible lands or landowners with an interest in
eligible agricultural land may be eligible to apply for EQIP benefits. Other eligibility requirements, such as
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), Payment Limitations, may also apply.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal pathogens,
diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: Mark Rose, EQIP Program Team Leader (202) 690-2621, (mark.rose@wdc.usda.gov)
Purpose: To provide a voluntary
conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural
production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers
financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or
implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.
Program Name: Conservation Reserve Enhancement
Program (CREP)
Agency: USDA FSA with
technical support from NRCS
Funding Method: A specific CREP project begins when a
State, Indian tribe, local government,
or
local non-governmental entity identifies an agriculture-related environmental
issue of State or national significance. These parties and FSA develop a
project proposal to address particular environmental issues and goals.
Enrollment in a State is limited to specific geographic areas and practices.
CREP contracts require a 10- to 15-year commitment to keep lands out of
agricultural production. CREP provides payments to participants who offer
eligible land.
Match: A Federal annual
rental rate, including an FSA state committee-determined maintenance
incentive payment, is offered, plus cost-share of up to 50 percent of the
eligible costs to install the practice. Further, the program generally offers a
sign-up incentive for participants to install specific practices.
Authority: U.S. Code Title 16, Chapter
58, Subchapter IV, Part I, subpart b
Eligible Entities: The program is a partnership
among producers; Tribal, State, and Federal
governments; and, in
some cases, private groups. CREP addresses high-priority conservation issues of
both local and national significance, such as loss of critical habitat for
threatened or endangered wildlife species, soil erosion, and reduced habitat
for fish populations such as salmon. The land must have been owned or operated
by the applicant for the previous 12 months and must have been planted in crops
2 of the last 5 years and be physically and legally capable of being planted in
a normal manner.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds
Contact
Info: County’s
Department of Agriculture Service Center.
Purpose: CREP is a voluntary
land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally
sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard
ground and surface water. Unique State and Federal partnerships allow one to
receive incentive payments for installing specific conservation practices.
Through CREP, farmers can receive annual rental payments and cost-share
assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible land.
Program
Name: Conservation Innovation
Grants (CIG)
Agency: USDA NRCS
Funding Method: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds are
used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or
non-governmental
organizations, Tribes, or
individuals. CIG enables NRCS to work with other
public and private entities to
accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and
approaches to address some of the nation’s most pressing natural resource
concerns.
Match: Selected applicants
may receive grants up to 50 percent of the total project
cost. Applicants must provide nonfederal matching
funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost. An exception allows for
beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers, Tribes and community-based
organizations
representing these
groups to obtain a higher percentage of project matching
funds from in-kind
contributions. The Federal contribution may not exceed $1 million for a single
project.
Authority: CIG was authorized as
part of the EQIP [16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8] under Section 1240H of the Food Security
Act of 1985, as added by Section 2509 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act
of 2008 (Public Law 110-246). The
Secretary of Agriculture delegated the authority for the administration of EQIP
and CIG to the Chief of the NRCS, who is Vice President of the Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC). EQIP is funded and
administered by NRCS under the authorities of the CCC.
Eligible Entities: EQIP funds are used to award competitive
grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes,
or individuals. Project must include participation of producers eligible under
EQIP. Project may be watershed based, regional, multi-state or nation-wide in
scope.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal pathogens,
diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: Gregorio Cruz, Natural Resources
Specialist (202) 720-8071, (Gregorio.Cruz@wdc.usda.gov)
Purpose: Voluntary program to stimulate the
development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies
while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement and
protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG enables NRCS to
work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer
and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the
nation’s most pressing natural resource concerns.
Program Name: Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
Agency USDA NRCS, FSA, and
FS are coordinating this program.
Funding Method: Applications are ranked based on selection
criteria developed in the states following broad national guidelines. Land
eligibility criteria focus on maintaining grassland for grazing uses while
preserving native and natural grasslands and shrub lands
Match: Participants
may choose a 10, 15, or 20-year rental contract with USDA providing annual
payments of not more than 75% of the grazing value of the land covered by the
contract for the length of the rental contract with a $50,000 annual payment
limitation. Or participants may choose a
permanent GRP easement held by either the United States or an eligible
entity. When applicable, 50% of needed
restoration costs up to the $50,000 payment limitation may be paid for rental
contracts and easements held by the United States. For easements held by an eligible entity,
USDA will match 50% of the fair market value.
Authority: Section
2403 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246) amended
the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize this program.
Purpose: Participants
voluntarily limit future development and cropping uses of the land while
retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices and operations related
to the production of forage and seeding, subject to certain restrictions during
nesting seasons of bird species that are in significant decline or are
protected under Federal or State law. A grazing management plan is required for
participants.
Eligible Entities: Expanding land eligibility criteria to
include land that has been historically dominated by grassland, forbs, or shrub
land when it contains historical or archaeological resources, or when it would
address issues raised by State, regional, and national conservation
priorities. Priority for land previously
enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Requirement for implementation of GRP management plan. Added authority for eligible entities to
write, own and enforce GRP easements.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal
pathogens, diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: NRCS: Elizabeth
Crane, GRP Program Manager (202) 720- 0242 (Elizabeth.Crane@wdc.usda.gov) and
FSA: Jim Williams (202) 720-9562 (jim.williams@wdc.usda.gov)
Purpose: The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program for landowners
and operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by
conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrub land, and certain
other lands. The program emphasizes support for working grazing operations;
enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity; and protection of grassland and
land containing shrubs and forbs under threat of conversion.
Program Name: Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)
Agency: USDA NRCS
Funding Method: Assistance is provided to land users for conservation planning purposes
and for applying conservation measures voluntarily; they must also comply with
local or state laws and regulations.
Match: Not
applicable
Authority: Authorized
by 16 U.S.C. 590a-f, 590q, 2005b, 3861, and 3862.
Eligible Entities: Private land users, communities, units of State and local government, and
other Federal agencies are eligible recipients.
Taxa: Invasive plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal
pathogens, diseases, aquatic species
Contact Info: Dan Lawson National Program Manager (202) 720-5322, (Dan.Lawson@wdc.usda.gov). Eligible participants should contact their
local USDA NRCS office to request assistance.
Purpose: The
CTA Program provides technical assistance supported by science-based technology
and tools to help people conserve, maintain, and improve their natural
resources. The CTA Program provides the technical capability, including direct
conservation planning, conservation practice design, and assistance for
practice implementation, that helps people plan and apply conservation on the
land. This assistance is provided to
individuals, groups, and communities who make natural resource management
decisions on private, tribal, and other non-federal lands. The intent of the
program is that conservation technical assistance is to be provided in a
program-neutral fashion. Thus technical expertise is focused first and foremost
on addressing natural resources concerns. Once a conservation plan is in place,
financial assistance programs provide a supporting role in implementing those
plans in order to solve resource concerns on the ground.
The CTA Program provides the proven and consistent conservation technology and delivery infrastructure needed to achieve the benefits of a healthy and productive landscape, and has the following purposes:
The CTA Program provides the proven and consistent conservation technology and delivery infrastructure needed to achieve the benefits of a healthy and productive landscape, and has the following purposes:
·
Reduce
soil loss from erosion,
·
Solve
soil, water quality, water conservation, air quality, and agricultural waste
management problems,
·
Reduce
potential damage caused by excess water and sedimentation or drought,
·
Enhance
the quality of fish and wildlife habitat,
·
Improve
the long term sustainability of all lands, including cropland, forestland,
grazing lands, coastal lands, and developed and/or developing lands, and
·
Assist
others in facilitating changes in land use as needed for natural resource
protection and sustainability.
Program
Name: Plant Materials
Program
Agency: USDA NRCS
Funding Method: NRCS field offices receive technical information and
transfer it to end users, such as farmers and ranchers.
Match: Not applicable
Authority: The program operates under the
basic authority of P.L. 74-46, Apr, 27, 1935,
Ch.,
85, Sec. 1, 49 Stat. 163, 16 U.S.C. 590 [a-f]. Other authorities
include:
7
CFR Part 613, P.L. 95-192, P.L. 74-210 (7 U.S.C. 1010-1011), and 7 U.S.C.
6962.
Eligible
Entities: NRCS provides plant materials assistance for
invasive plant species issues through field offices and conservation
districts. The public is not eligible to directly participate in the
program. The Plant Materials Program website (http://www.plant-materials.usda.gov) includes technical information on invasive species. NRCS does not
provide plants or seed to the public.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal
pathogens, diseases, aquatic
species
Contact
Info: John
Englert, National Plant Materials Specialist, 202-720-0536, (john.englert@wdc.usda.gov)
Purpose: Technical assistance
through plant science technology to NRCS field offices for transfer to end
users, such as landowners and land managers.
The program provides vegetative solutions for natural resource
problems. It develops plant materials
and information technology on how to establish and manage plants. The program emphasizes field-testing to
determine a plant’s value and restoration techniques.
Program Name: Conservation on Private Lands Program
Agency: USDA NRCS
Funding
Method: Competitive grants
administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Match: At least 50 percent
match required
Authority: Soil Conservation and
Domestic Allotment Act, 16 U.S.C. 590a-590f; Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Eligible Entities: Private landowners, primarily farmers
and ranchers
Taxa: Invasive plants/weeds,
plant pathogens/diseases, insects, animals, animal pathogens, diseases, aquatic
species
Contact
Info: Jody Olson, National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, (202) 857-0166 x555, (Jody.Olson@nfwf.org)
Purpose: Conservation and
enhancement of wildlife and natural resources on private lands.
Program
Name: Cooperative Conservation Partnership
Initiative (CCPI)
Agency: USDA NRCS
Funding
Method: The
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enters into partnership
agreements with eligible entities that want to enhance conservation outcomes on
agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands. CCPI is not a grant
program to partners. This is a program whereby partners with approved projects
will enter into multi-year agreements with NRCS to help enhance conservation
outcomes on agricultural lands and private nonindustrial private forest lands.
One purpose of CCPI is to leverage resources of certain Federal government
programs along with services and resources of non-Federal partners to implement
natural resource conservation practices. After announcement, eligible producers
located in an approved project area may submit an application for any of the
following available programs, which may be approved for assistance: Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation
Stewardship Program (CSP), and Wildlife
Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP).
Match: Matching fund
requirements correspond to NRCS States level requirements for donor programs.
Authority: CCPI is Allowed by the 2008 Farm Bill (2008 Act), NRCS may make Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP),
and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) program resources available to
owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands who
are located in an approved CCPI project area component.
Eligible
Entities: CPPI applicants must
be a State or local agency, Federally-recognized Indian tribe, or
non-governmental organization that has a history of working with agricultural
producers. Individuals, private
businesses, and Federal agencies, while not eligible to apply for CCPI funds,
are invited to participate as partners in CCPI projects.
Taxa: The program is not
taxa-specific, nor geared toward particular taxa.
Contact
Info: Avery Patillo, CCPI
Program Manager, (202) 720-7671, (avery.patillo@wdc.usda.gov). Additional information is available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/financial/ccpi/?cid=nrcs143_008308
Purpose: Voluntary program to foster
conservation partnerships that focus technical and financial resources on
conservation priorities in watersheds and air sheds of special significance.
Program Name: Agricultural Management Assistance
(AMA) Program
Agency: NRCS
has leadership for the conservation provisions of AMA. The Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) is responsible for an organic certification cost-share
program. The Risk Management Agency
(RMA) is responsible for mitigation of financial risk through a crop insurance
program.
Funding
Method: Total AMA payments (from
NRCS, AMS, and RMA) shall not exceed $50,000 per participant for any fiscal
year.
Match: The Federal
financial assistance rate is up to75 percent of the cost of the estimated
incurred cost and up to 100 percent of the estimated income foregone of an
eligible practice.
Authority: AMA is authorized under the Agricultural Risk
Protection Act of 2000, Title I, Section 133 Public Law 106-224. Section
524(b), as amended by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, (2002
Farm Bill), and further amended by The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (2008 Farm Bill).
Eligible
Entities: AMA is available in 16
states, where participation in the Federal Crop
Insurance
Program is historically low, to applicants that own or control the
land and agree to
implement specific eligible conservation practices. The 16 states are:
Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont,
West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Taxa: The program is not taxa-specific, nor
geared toward particular taxa.
Contact
Info: Dave Mason, AMA
Program Manager, (202) 720-1873, (dave.mason@wdc.usda.gov)
Additional information is available at:
Purpose: AMA provides financial
assistance payments to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues,
such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating
conservation practices into their farming operations. Producers may
construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures;
plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk
through production diversification or resource conservation practices,
including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to
organic farming. Contracts are for a minimum of one year after completion of
the last practice, but not more than ten years.
Program Name: Conservation
Stewardship Program (authorized in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of
2008 (Pub. L. 110-246)
Agency: USDA NRCS
Funding
Method: Congress authorized the
enrollment of 12,769,000 acres for each fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008,
and ending September 30, 2017. Continuous sign-up for CSP started on August 10,
2009.
Match: No match is required. CSP provides participants with two
possible types of payments. An annual
payment is available for installing new conservation activities and maintaining
existing activities. A supplemental
payment may be earned by participants who also adopt a resource-conserving crop
rotation. Through 5-year contracts,
payments will be made after October of each year for contract activities
installed and maintained in the previous year.
For all contracts, CSP payments to a person or legal entity may not
exceed $40,000 in any year and $200,000 during any 5-year period. Each CSP contract is limited to $200,000 over
the term of the initial contract period with the exception of join operations,
which may qualify for up to $400,000 over the term of the initial contract
period.
Authority: The
Program was created by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Public
Law 110-246), section 2301. NRCS
published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register on July 29, 2009. This Program replaces the Conservation
Security Program.
Eligible Entities: CSP
is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands, as well as
non-industrial private forest lands in 50 States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The program provides
equitable access to all producers, regardless of operation size, crops
produced, or geographic location and it is available on a continuous sign-up
basis to private agricultural land and agricultural Indian lands, including
cropland, pastureland, and rangeland.
Producers
must meet applicant eligibility requirements that include: being the operator
of record in the USDA farm records management system for the eligible land
being offered for enrollment; documented control of the land for the term of
the proposed contract; and being in compliance with the highly erodible land
and wetland conservation provisions of 7 CFR Part 12, and adjusted gross income
provisions.
The
program is available to Non-industrial private forestland is eligible by
special provision, but it can make up no more than 10% of the acres enrolled
nationally in any fiscal year. The
entire operation must be enrolled and must include all eligible land that will
be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract that is
operated substantially separate from other operations.
Land
enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve
Program, Grasslands Reserve Program, and Conservation Security Program is
ineligible for CSP. Additionally, a
participant may not receive payment for land used for crop production after
June 18, 2008, that had not been planted, considered to be planted, or devoted
to crop production for at least four of the six years preceding that date,
unless the land was: previously enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program;
maintained using long-term rotations, such as hay land in rotation; or
incidental to the operation but needed for the efficient management of the
operation.
How
CSP Works: NRCS at the State level,
in consultation with the State Technical Committee and local working groups,
will focus CSP on natural resources of specific concern for a State or specific
geographic areas within a State.
Applicants will be ranked relative to other applicants who face similar
resource challenges. Agricultural land
and non-industrial private forest land will be ranked separately.
Producers
interested complete a self-screening checklist to help them decide whether CSP
is the right program for them. Once
applicant and land eligibility are determined, the NRCS field office assists the
producer in completing the conservation measurement tool (CMT). The CMT estimates the level of environmental
benefit to be achieved. The CMT
conservation performance scoring enables NRCS to determine if the stewardship
threshold requirement is met, to rank applications, and to establish payments.
For a
pre-approved applicant, NRCS will request the applicant’s conservation activity
records and conduct on-site field verification to ensure that information
provided by the applicant was accurate prior to contract approval. Once information is verified, NRCS and the
applicant proceed to develop the contract.
Upon approval, the contract will obligate the participant to achieve a
higher level of conservation performance by installing additional activities
scheduled in their conservation stewardship plan and to maintain the level of
existing conservation performance identified at the time of application.
Taxa: The program is not taxa-specific, nor
geared toward particular taxa.
Contact Info: Jeff White, CSP Program Manager,
(202) 720-3524,
(Jeffrey.White@wdc.usda.gov).
Additional information is available at:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/
Purpose: To encourage producers
to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking
additional conservation activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing
existing conservation activities. CSP
encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing
conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations. CSP
provides opportunities to both recognize excellent stewards and deliver
valuable new conservation.
Program Name: Technical Assistance for Specialty
Crops
Agency: USDA Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS)
Funding Method:
Match:
Authority:
Eligible
Entities:
Taxa:
Contact Info: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/tasc.asp
Purpose: Projects should address
a sanitary, phytosanitary, or related technical barrier that prohibits or
threatens the export of U.S. specialty crops.
Program Name: Pest Detection (Cooperative
Agricultural Pest Survey-CAPS)
Agency: USDA Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Funding Method: Cooperative Agreements
Match: Matching funds are not required, but
are encouraged.
Authority: Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
7701 et seq.)
Eligible
Entities: State Departments of
Agriculture and their cooperating partners (occasionally universities)
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds, plant pathogens/diseases, insects
Contact Info: John Bowers 301-851-2087 (John.Bowers@aphis.usda.gov)
Purpose: The Pest Detection
Program works to ensure the early detection of harmful or economically
significant plant pests and weeds through a nationally-directed survey program
through the CAPS network. The program works with State and university
cooperators through national, regional, and State-level committees to
prioritize survey projects and provides funds for State cooperators to conduct
the agreed-upon surveys. The program also trains and equips State cooperators
to conduct national surveys. For
additional information on the CAPS program, go to http://caps.ceris.purdue.edu
Program Name: Technical Assistance for Specialty
Crops
Agency: USDA Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS)
Funding Method:
Match:
Authority:
Eligible
Entities:
Taxa:
Contact Info: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/tasc/tasc.asp
Purpose: Projects should address
a sanitary, phytosanitary, or related technical barrier that prohibits or
threatens the export of U.S. specialty crops.
Program name: Technology
Development for the Biological Control of Invasive Native and Non-Native Plants
(BCIP)
Agency: USDA
Forest Service Forest Health Protection Forest Health Technology Enterprise
Team (FHTET)
Funding Method: National
competition
Match: Cost sharing or matching is required.
Authority: Section 8 [16 U.S.C. 2104]
Forest Health Protection of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, as
amended by Sec.’s 1215 and 1218 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and
Trade Act of 1990, P.L. 104-624, 104 Stat. 3525 and 3531 Nov. 28, 1990.
Eligible Entities: Projects
will be funded as Cooperative Agreements with State agricultural
experimental
stations, colleges and universities, other research institutions
and
organizations, Federal Agencies, national laboratories, private
organizations
or corporations, and individuals.
Taxa: Invasive
plants/weeds and bio-control agents.
Contact Info:
Dr. Richard
Reardon, National BCIP Program Leader
(rreardon@fs.fed.us), 304-285-1566.
Purpose: FHP/FHTET requests
proposals at the beginning of each fiscal year for innovative projects, which
will advance the development of biological control of invasive plant
technologies. Successful projects will
directly address 1- development of improved rearing, distribution, and
post-release monitoring techniques for a biological control agent,
2-development and /or implementation of technologies for rapid quantitative
assessment of biological control impacts, or, 3-integrated weed management with
a biological control component that is part of a methods development approach
to determine efficacy and is not considered an operational treatment
Instructions for preparing and
submitting proposals are posted on the FHTET website (http://svinetfc8.fs.fed.us/stdp/callLetter/biocontrol_proposal_guideline_2013.doc
).
Proposals will be reviewed by the
BCIP Technical Working Group.
Evaluations are based on scientific merit and the probability of a
timely success. Original innovative
pilot projects, as well as proposals to expand existing technologies are
strongly encouraged. Quarterly and
annual progress reports are required for all projects.
Projects will be funded as
Cooperative Agreements. Indirect charges
will NOT be reimbursed. The cooperator
cost share is 25% of the total project cost (i.e., multiply the Forest Service
contribution x.3333). A portion or all
of this non-Federal contribution can be in-kind costs.
Program Name: Various Plant Health Programs
Agency: USDA APHIS
Funding Method: Cooperative Agreements
Match: Matching funds are not
required, but are encouraged.
Authority: Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
7701 et seq.)
Eligible Entities: State Departments of Agriculture
Taxa: Invasive plants/weeds,
plant pathogens/diseases, insects
Contact
Info: Jeffrey Grode,
Associate Executive Director, Plant Health Programs
301-851-2310; Jeffrey.J.Grode@aphis.usda.gov
Purpose: APHIS conducts a
variety of survey, eradication, and management/control programs for invasive
plant pests, diseases, and weeds. Depending on the program, State cooperators
may conduct portions of the programs through
cooperative
agreements with APHIS. For example, APHIS provides funding for affected States
to conduct eradication activities for certain invasive forest pests. For additional information on plant pest
detection programs, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/pest_detection/index.shtml.
Program Name: Emergency Management Systems
Agency: USDA APHIS
Funding Method: Cooperative agreements
Match: Matching funds are not
required, but are encouraged.
Authority: Animal Health Protection Act
(7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.)
Eligible Entities: State Departments of Agriculture and
Tribal nations
Taxa: Pests and diseases
of livestock
Contact Info: Summer Bailey, 301-851-3494, (Summer.D.Bailey@aphis.usda.gov)
Purpose: The program cooperates
with State partners and Tribal governments to implement and enhance emergency
response capabilities for serious foreign animal disease outbreaks.
Program
Name: Various Animal Health Programs
Agency: USDA APHIS
Funding
Method: Cooperative agreements
Match: Matching funds are not
required, but are encouraged.
Authority: Animal Health Protection Act
(7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.)
Eligible
Entities: State Departments of
Agriculture and Tribal nations
Taxa: Pests and diseases of
livestock
Contact
Info: Associate Deputy
Administrator for National Animal Health Policy and Programs, 301-851-3599
Purpose: APHIS conducts a variety
of monitoring, survey, eradication, and management/control programs for
invasive animal diseases. Depending on the program, State
cooperators
may conduct portions of the programs through cooperative agreements with APHIS.
Program Name: Wildlife Services Operations
Agency: USDA - APHIS
Funding Method: Cooperative agreements
Match: Cooperators provide
matching funds, normally 50 percent of a project’s cost.
Authority: Animal Damage Control
(ADC) Act of March 2, 1931, (7 USC 426-426b, and 426c as amended)
Eligible Entities: State and local agencies,
businesses, and private citizens
Taxa: Invasive animals
Contact
Info: Earl
L. Hodnett, (301) 851-4008, (Earl.L.Hodnett@aphis.usda.gov
)
Purpose: The Wildlife Services
Operations program protects U.S. agriculture, natural resources, property, and
human safety and health from wildlife damage and wildlife-borne diseases. The
program works with affected States to manage certain invasive species, such as
nutria in the Chesapeake Bay area, and to prevent the brown tree snake from
becoming established in Hawaii.
Other Sources of Information on
Grants:
Below are some additional resources
to help in identifying invasive species resource opportunities. This list represents only a sample of what is
potentially out there. Please contact
local, State, and Federal agencies directly for additional possibilities. Several foundations and other non-profit
institutions may also have programs that may assist you in finding resources
for your activities. The best place to
look for Federal grants is the new Federal Grants Portal Website: www.grants.gov
·
Federal Grants website http://www.grants.gov.
There are 26 Federal grant-making agencies and
over
900 individual grant programs that award over $350 billion in grants each year.
The grant community, including state, local and Tribal governments, academia
and research institutions, and not-for-profits, need only visit one website,
Grants.gov, to access the annual grant funds available across the Federal government.
·
USDA’s National Agricultural Library, National
Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) Web site --http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/.
The grants section includes grant and funding information, requests for
proposals, and other funding sources for invasive species control, management
research and education. See http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/toolkit/grants.shtml
·
The
Pulling Together Initiative is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation. It provides a means for Federal agencies to be full partners with
State and local agencies, private landowners, and interested parties in
developing long-term weed management projects within the scope of an integrated
pest management strategy. Contact information: http://www.nfwf.org/programs/grant_apply.htm
Conclusion
Listed below are some additional contact names for USDA. These people are the invasive species coordinators
from the agencies that sponsor or administer the USDA grant programs above.
USDA Senior Invasive Species Coordinator: Hilda Diaz-Soltero (202)
354-1880; cell (202) 412-0478; hdiazsoltero@fs.fed.us
APHIS Invasive Species
Coordinator: Wendy Hall (301) 851-3189; Wendy.F.Hall@aphis.usda.gov
NIFA Invasive Species Coordinator: Robert Nowierski (202) 401-4900;
Rnowierski@nifa.usda.gov
NRCS Invasive Species Coordinator: Doug Holy (703) 235-8069; doug.holy@wdc.usda.gov
The USDA hopes this information is helpful for those working with
invasive species. Partnerships and cost-sharing programs help all of us advance
our goals of protecting our agricultural resources and ensure safe, healthy
land and water for all of us to enjoy. Join with USDA in fighting invasive
species: prepare, protect, and prevent. Thank you for all your hard work and
all your future work in this important area.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S.
Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (in education
and training programs and activities), age, disability, or retaliation. (Not
all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
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