Hi All! Congrats to Bat Conservation International on their funding from the BLM for a coop agreement for the Conservation and Management of Bat Resources on BLM-managed lands.
Please forward to anyone who you think might be interested in this information. Below is the funding information that was released today: This is a notice of intent to make an award to Bat Conservation International FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Project Background Information: The conservation of bats is extremely important to proper ecosystem function due to their role in pollination, as seed dispersers, and as primary predators of night-flying insects, including many harmful crop pests. BLM-administered lands, particularly in the western U.S., provide essential habitat for more than 80% of the bat species known from the U.S., including endangered species. Bats are more susceptible than ever to activities that affect their habitat and populations because of White-Nose Syndrome, a devastating disease that causes massive die-offs of bats. This fungal disease has been rapidly spreading across the U.S. and Canada since it first appeared in upstate New York in 2006. So far, it has not reached western BLM lands, but has spread as far west as Oklahoma. Many of the multi-resource uses of BLM lands can have substantial effects, both positive and negative, on bat habitat and populations, this includes energy development (e.g., wind power, oil and gas, and solar); grazing; abandoned mine reclamation and active mining; recreational use of caves and other underground features; and other land management actions. The negative effects of these resource uses on bat populations and habitat can be ameliorated through the development and application of Best Management Practices, habitat protection and enhancement measures, and mitigation. Specialists who work on developing and applying conservation measures on public lands across the U.S. will be able to help the BLM to conserve, restore, and enhance bat resources on BLM-administered lands. The purpose of this assistance agreement is to improve the conservation of bats by developing and implementing specific tasks on BLM-administered lands in the U.S. Project Objective: Develop best management practices that can be considered and incorporated, where appropriate, in to BLM wildlife policy, planning, and management actions at the national, state, and field office levels. Develop technical assistance, training, and other tools to assist BLM staff with the evaluation of proposed and ongoing land management actions, as well as changing climate, on bat habitats and populations. Develop bat education and awareness outreach materials to communicate within the BLM and to partners and the public about the importance of bat resources on public lands and to encourage cooperative efforts to conserve bat habitats and populations. Facilitate the BLM’s involvement in cooperative efforts to conserve bats including local, regional, and national bat conservation plans, programs, and initiatives; state and regional bat working groups; State Wildlife Action Plans; national, state, and regional WNS recovery efforts; and the North American Bat Monitoring Initiative. Period of Agreement: 5 years from notice of award. Estimated Total Program Funding: $500,000 Assistance Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
