BLM CA Seed Strategy Implementation | L17AS00145

Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00145

The BLM CA Seed Strategy Implementation grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00145) is a Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management discretionary funding program focused on improving how California public lands are restored and managed using native plants and, in particular, genetically appropriate native seed. The core idea is to put the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration into practice within California so that restoration projects use the right native plant materials for the right places, strengthening ecosystem health and helping landscapes and species cope with climate-driven shifts in temperature and precipitation.

This opportunity is built around the BLM's ongoing collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders who contribute scientific and technical expertise to support native plant conservation and land rehabilitation. The work described includes conducting botanical inventories; completing population, genetic, demographic, and life-history studies; and developing habitat models that help identify where plant species and plant communities occur now and where they may persist in the future. A significant emphasis is placed on vulnerability assessments that evaluate how changes in climate variables like heat and rainfall patterns may affect native vegetation. These science products are intended to translate into practical management actions, such as building and implementing decision-support tools, monitoring approaches, restoration strategies, and longer-term restoration and management plans that can be applied on public lands.

A major operational component highlighted in the description is seed-related implementation. BLM indicates it has supported and facilitated seed collection efforts and provided access to public lands to enable research and applied investigations. In the context of the National Seed Strategy, this points to activities that help increase the availability and use of native seed that is genetically appropriate for specific restoration settings, which is crucial for successful establishment, long-term persistence, and maintaining local adaptation. In practice, this kind of work often connects research and planning with on-the-ground restoration needs, ensuring that restoration is not only well-intended but also biologically informed and resilient over time.

The grant is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement by the agency during the project, such as coordination, technical input, review of work products, and collaboration in implementation. The opportunity is listed as unrestricted in eligibility (open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility language in the full notice), and it was structured around a single anticipated award. The award ceiling is $700,000, with an expected number of awards of 1, indicating BLM likely intended to fund one fairly comprehensive effort rather than multiple smaller projects.

Key administrative details included in the listing are that it falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and CFDA number 15.231. The opportunity was created on June 9, 2017, with an original closing date of August 9, 2017. Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted California implementation effort to connect native plant science, seed sourcing and collection, planning tools, monitoring, and restoration execution under the umbrella of the National Seed Strategy, with the broader goals of healthier ecosystems, better wildlife habitat outcomes, and improved adaptation capacity under climate change.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA Seed Strategy Implementation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 09, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 09, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for L17AS00145

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