Opportunity Information: Apply for L14AS00312
Apply for L14AS00312
- The Bureau of Land Management in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Northern Arizona University CESU Biocrust Restoration Project." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 13, 2014 and posted on Aug 13, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 27, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $80,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $80,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Northern Arizona University CESU Biocrust Restoration Project (Funding Opportunity Number L14AS00312) was a discretionary Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grant offered as a cooperative agreement under the Environment and Natural Resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.231, Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). Posted on August 13, 2014, it had an original and final application deadline of August 27, 2014, and was later archived on September 30, 2014. The opportunity anticipated making a single award, with an estimated total funding amount of $80,000. The award ceiling was $80,000 and the award floor was $1,500. No cost sharing or matching funds were required, which meant applicants were not expected to provide non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the award.
The main purpose of the project was to continue and advance research on biological soil crusts (biocrusts) as a practical restoration tool for dryland ecosystems. Biocrusts are communities of organisms such as cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, and fungi that live on the soil surface and can play major roles in soil stability, water retention, and nutrient cycling. The BLM was specifically interested in developing and refining ex situ cultivation techniques, meaning methods for growing or propagating biocrust material outside of the field in controlled settings (for example, in greenhouses, growth chambers, or other laboratory or nursery-like environments). The underlying idea was to make restoration more scalable and reliable by producing biocrust inoculum or mats that could later be applied to damaged landscapes.
The opportunity emphasized that the resulting biocrust restoration technology could be applied in two broad types of conditions where land managers routinely struggle to recover ecological function. First, it targeted disturbed drylands that have lost their biocrust cover due to impacts like surface disturbance, off-road vehicle use, grazing pressure, construction, recreation, or other soil-disrupting activities. In these places, the loss of biocrust can increase erosion risk and slow natural recovery, so an effective cultivation-and-application pipeline could help accelerate stabilization and ecological rebound. Second, it highlighted areas impacted by forest fire, where burn severity and post-fire erosion can damage or remove surface crust communities and leave soils vulnerable to wind and water erosion. The project was framed around continuing research, suggesting it built on existing work and sought to move biocrust restoration closer to operational use by land management agencies.
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the CESU (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) model that often connects federal agencies with university-based research capacity to address applied conservation and resource management needs. The announcement directed applicants to use the application materials available through the listing (via the application tab) for full instructions and required package elements. For access issues or questions related to the announcement, the listed point of contact was Ruth A. Raisanen at the Bureau of Land Management (phone 303-239-3605, email rraisane@blm.gov).
FAQs: Northern Arizona University CESU Biocrust Restoration Project (L14AS00312)
What is the official name and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled the "Northern Arizona University CESU Biocrust Restoration Project" and the Funding Opportunity Number is L14AS00312.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What type of award was used for this funding?
The funding was offered as a cooperative agreement.
What funding activity category does it fall under?
The opportunity was listed under the Environment and Natural Resources funding activity category.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 15.231, "Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management."
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 13, 2014.
What were the application deadlines?
The original application deadline and the final application deadline were both August 27, 2014.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The listing was archived on September 30, 2014.
How many awards was BLM expecting to make?
The opportunity anticipated making a single award.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $80,000.
What were the minimum and maximum award amounts?
The award ceiling was $80,000 and the award floor was $1,500.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching funds were not required, meaning applicants were not expected to provide non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the award.
What was the main purpose of the project?
The purpose was to continue and advance research on biological soil crusts (biocrusts) as a practical restoration tool for dryland ecosystems, with an emphasis on improving how biocrust restoration can be implemented by land managers.
What are biocrusts?
Biocrusts (biological soil crusts) are communities of organisms such as cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, and fungi that live on the soil surface and can play major roles in soil stability, water retention, and nutrient cycling.
What specific research area was BLM most interested in supporting?
BLM was specifically interested in developing and refining ex situ cultivation techniques for biocrusts, meaning methods for growing or propagating biocrust material outside of the field in controlled settings.
What does "ex situ cultivation" mean in the context of this project?
Ex situ cultivation refers to producing biocrust material outside the restoration site in controlled environments such as greenhouses, growth chambers, laboratories, or nursery-like facilities, with the goal of generating biocrust inoculum or mats that can later be applied to damaged landscapes.
Why was ex situ biocrust cultivation important for restoration?
The project described ex situ cultivation as a way to make restoration more scalable and reliable by enabling production of biocrust inoculum or mats that could be deployed to support recovery on disturbed sites.
What kinds of landscapes were highlighted as targets for the resulting restoration technology?
The opportunity emphasized two broad conditions: (1) disturbed drylands that have lost biocrust cover due to surface disturbance and related impacts, and (2) areas impacted by forest fire where burn severity and post-fire erosion can damage or remove biocrust communities.
What types of disturbances were mentioned as causes of biocrust loss in drylands?
The announcement cited impacts such as surface disturbance, off-road vehicle use, grazing pressure, construction, recreation, and other soil-disrupting activities.
Why are post-fire areas a focus for biocrust restoration?
The opportunity noted that forest fire can damage or remove surface crust communities and leave soils vulnerable to wind and water erosion, especially after severe burns and during post-fire erosion periods.
Did the announcement indicate whether this project was new or a continuation?
It was framed as continuing research, suggesting it built on existing work and aimed to move biocrust restoration closer to operational use by land management agencies.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
How does the CESU connection relate to eligibility?
The eligibility limitation aligns with the CESU (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) model, which often connects federal agencies with university-based research capacity to address applied conservation and resource management needs.
Where were applicants directed to find full application instructions and required materials?
Applicants were directed to use the application materials available through the listing (via the application tab) for full instructions and required package elements.
Who was the point of contact for questions about the opportunity?
The listed point of contact was Ruth A. Raisanen at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
How can the point of contact be reached?
Ruth A. Raisanen could be reached by phone at 303-239-3605 or by email at rraisane@blm.gov.
What should applicants do if they had access issues with the announcement materials?
The announcement indicated that the listed point of contact could be used for access issues or questions related to the announcement.
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