ENTS,
Don Bertolette's point below is worth considering. With the change in the
administration, this may be an opportunity for ENTS to enter into a broader
Memorandum of Understanding with various federal agencies concerning ENTS
research work on public lands. One example of how this works is with the Cave
Research Foundation.
The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) grew out of the efforts of cave explorers
working in the Mammoth Cave area of Kentucky in the late 1940's. It is a
private, nonprofit organization dedicated to:
1.. facilitating research, management, and interpretation of caves and
karst resources.
2.. forming partnerships to study, protect, and preserve cave resources and
karst areas.
3.. promoting the long-term conservation of caves and karst ecosystems.
Most of CRF's work is conducted on state and federal lands under a Memorandum
of Understanding with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the
Interior.
There are several examples of similar MOU's with various research groups.
Essentially the CRF has virtual exclusive access to caves in the NP system.
They have an agree ment that allows them to survey, map, and study the caves in
the park system. ENTS does not need to have any type of exclusive access, but
an agreement that would allow us to not only map, but to climb tree, collect
limited samples (such perhaps cores data), and so forth. With an agree ment of
this type we would not need to fill out permit forms for everything we do
there. The CRF and the national Speleological Society has similar agreements
with the BLM, with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies.
Since we are an informal organization we might need to someone submit a brief
one page or so proposal to ENTS for any sample collections they are proposing
to bypass the NPS forms in order to prevent a free-for-all. In any case this
may be a case where we need to strike while the iron is hot.
Each memorandum is unique. Here is the pertinent parts of one the CRF has with
the BLM:
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Information_Resources_Management/policy/ib_attachments/2006.Par.19934.File.dat/ib2006-130attach1.pd
BLM Memorandum Of Understanding
This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) is hereby entered into by and among the
U.S. Department of the. Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM), hereinafter
referred to as the BLM; the National Speleologicd Society (NS S), hereinafter
defined to as the NSS; and the Cave Research Foundation(CRF), hereinafter
referred to as the CRF to facilitate cooperation and enhance the study,
protection, restoration, education, and management of cave and karst resources
on BLM managed lands....
The purpose of the MOU is to establish a framework for the development of
cooperative management and volunteer agreements between the BLM and the NSS ox
the CRF. These types of agreements provide official recognition to cooperators
and volunteers, and encourage these organizations to make a greater commitment
in aiding BLM's management of unique, nonrenewable cave and karst resources on
public lands....
A. The Bureau of Land Management will:
1. Provide non-exclusive access to BLM administered lands for cave karst
related projects.
2. Inform the NSS and CRF of opportunities for caviars related research.
3. Cooperate in conducting studies and other cave karst related projects on BLM
lands. These projects may include but are not limited to cave exploration,
restoration, administration assistance, interpretation,mapping, and the
development of cave management documents.
4.Acknowledge the work products and data gathered by the NSS and CRF under this
agreement in all pertinent BLM publications and any transmittal of such
material outside the BLM.
B.The NSS and CRF will:
1. Provide to the designated BLM managers reports on their work and other
activities on BLM lands and any other information acquired from their
activities on BLM lands done under this agreement that is considered helpful in
the preservation, management or interpretation of caves and karst.
2 Acknowledge the BLM in their publications and other works resulting from NSS
and CRF activities under this agreement.
3 Encourage graduate research in caves and karst through fellowships and grants.
4 Make no public statements on cave and karst related matters relating to BLM
lands or policy without first gaining BLM approval in writing.
Don Bertolette has a broad experience in the NPS, Will obtained some agreements
with the NPS. I am sure Lee Frelich has worked out stuff in his research. I
think we should at least consider trying to develop a broad formal agreement
with various federal agencies.
Edward Frank
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both. "
Robert Frost (1874-1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.
----- Original Message -----
From: DON BERTOLETTE
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 11:38 PM
Subject: [ENTS] Re: Congaree 2009
Bob-
Somebody with NPS connections should try contacting Congaree folks and see if
there isn't a "partnering" opportunity...many times NPS program managers are
faced with undo-able tasks, with no money and no volunteers...perhaps the
changing of the guard this January, there might be opportunities for ENTS
volunteers, if not by February, then in other locations elsewhere.
-DonRB
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