Summary:

The purpose of this program is to improve the management of wildlife and their habitats by supporting activities that maintain functioning wildlife habitats, develop and implement restoration projects, and inventory and monitor priority habitats and species to track trends and use on public lands. To provide for the long-term conservation of wildlife and biodiversity on public lands, this program uses a science-based approach to manage public lands to identify projects that support meeting land health standards and designed resource objectives for priority species and habitats, as outlined in land use plans. This program is focused on addressing habitat connectivity issues and implementing projects that consider climate change impacts to short- and long-term objectives.

The priorities of this program include:

• Identifying and supporting projects that address wildlife habitat restoration that are in alignment with restoration landscapes, address habitat land health standards, and improve habitat connectivity supporting wildlife migration such as big game and migratory birds
• Projects that support collaborations with state and tribal wildlife agencies to address data gaps and implement coordinated landscape or regional monitoring to inform populations status and trends tied to public lands administered by BLM
• Projects that will assist BLM with using existing assessment or data to understand climate change impacts on landscape or priority ecosystems important to achieving short- and long-term habitat objectives, such as water availability during extended droughts or new or emerging impacts for invasive species
• Inventorying priority wildlife species and habitats to inform distribution, condition, trend, and utilization of wildlife and special status plant resources to inform preparation of environmental impact statements (EISs), environmental assessments (EAs), resource management plans (RMPs), activity plans, and certain resource management authorizations
• Identifying regional or landscape restoration opportunities that address or incorporate priority habitat desired outcomes, and/or address habitat connectivity for priority wildlife populations that depend on BLM management lands
• Collaborating with state wildlife agencies to attain wildlife population goals for priority species, including recreational species, and identifying and managing for habitat connectivity, migrations, stopover habitats, critical water sources, and refugia
• Collaborating with state wildlife agencies to develop an inventory and status of wildlife infrastructure such as water developments, fencing, perches, enclosures, and bat gates, and addressing climate effect such as drought
• Collaborating with tribal governments to develop management strategies for conserving wildlife resources on public lands
• Working with local governments, communities, private landowners, and conservation organizations to develop partnership opportunities, leverage resources, implement projects, and improve recreational access for hunting and fishing on public lands
• Developing and sharing science-based strategies for wildlife conservation through professional workshops, meetings, and work groups

Refer to pages 3-4 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding the priorities of this program.

This program uses a multiscale approach that involves coordination with BLM offices and other programs; federal, state, and tribal governments; and non-governmental partners to accomplish projects and coordinated management at appropriate scales. This program has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with national or regional efforts across state boundaries for the focus areas listed on page 5 of the NOFA file.

Projects must assist BLM in meeting one or more of the funding agency's priorities, which can be found online at www.doi.gov/ourpriorities, as well as one of the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration listed on pages 5-6 of the NOFA file. Projects must also state a benefit to the public and must address national effects across the BLM crossing state boundaries.

Eligibility is limited to projects that take place in BLM Restoration Landscape areas, which include select areas in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Refer to page 2 of the FactSheet file for a map of BLM Restoration Landscape areas.