New England Forests and Rivers Fund 2020 Applicant Webinar, March 25, 2020 Eastern Brook Trout
A GENDA 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM 1. Staff Roles 2. About NFWF (10:35) 3. Overview of Program and Process (10:40) 4. Review of Request for Proposals (10:50) 5. Metrics (11:15) 6. Calculating Indirect Costs and Budgeting Best Practices (11:20) 7. Using EasyGrants (11:40) 8. Questions (11:45)
1. NFWF Staff Roles Amanda Bassow , Director, John Lamoreux, Director, Fish Northeastern Regional Office and Wildlife Conservation Scott Hall, Senior Scientist, John Wright, Manager, Bird Conservation Northeastern Regional Office Kristen Byler, Senior Staff Scientist, Marine Conservation
2. About NFWF Who We Are • Chartered by Congress in 1984 • 30 member Board appointed by Secretary of the Interior, • Includes FWS Director and NOAA Administrator Bald eagle What We Do • Sustain, restore and enhance wildlife NFWF is • Bring collaboration among federal • An implementer – we fund agencies and private sector projects How We Do It NFWF is not • Leverage public funding with private • An advocacy organization that money – average 3:1 engages in lobbying or litigation
Overview of NFWF Funds Invested FY 1984 – FY 2019 FY 2018 FY 2019 Federal Funds $ 106.7 million $ 141.0 million $ 1.42 billion Non-Federal Funds $ 196.1 million $ 366.0 million $ 2.04 billion Grantee Matching Funds $ 156.4 million $ 245.0 million $ 2.63 billion Total Funds Invested $ 459.2 million $ 752.0 million $ 6.09 billion # of Projects Awarded 758 931 18,670 $800,000,000 $700,000,000 $600,000,000 NFWF Conservation $500,000,000 $ in millions Investments $400,000,000 FY 1984 – FY 2019 $300,000,000 $200,000,000 $100,000,000 $- 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Federal Funds Non-Federal and Grantee Matching Funds
• 18,670 Investments • 5,000 organizations • All 50 states
3. 2020 Program Overview Grants between $50k and $200k to restore and sustain healthy forests and rivers throughout New England Approximately 12 to 15 grants awarded each year 1:1 non-federal match strongly encouraged Nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, and educational institutions are eligible
2020 Funding Available Approximately $1.5 million total American Forest Foundation Avangrid Foundation Eversource Energy USDA’s Forest Service USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Application, January-March : RFP development and issuance Review and Award Process April: Grant proposals due Late-April to Mid-May: Technical Review • NFWF Review • Subject matter experts from state and Federal agencies, academia and NGOs • NFWF synthesizes reviews and makes awards decisions Mid-June to Mid-August: Notifications • Congress is notified of recommended grants. 30 days to comment. • NFWF Board reviews grants in early August. August: Grant awards announced
4. R EVIEW OF R EQUEST FOR P ROPOSALS • Goals Geographic Focus • • Program Priorities • Metrics • Eligibility • Evaluation Criteria Compliance • • Timeline Important Reminders •
Conservation Goals • Improve the management of public and private forestlands to create a mosaic of mixed age forests in the region • Strengthen habitat conservation on working forests through technical assistance • Targeted riparian and stream restoration • Reduce barriers to fish passage and increase fish access to high quality habitat • Increase populations of species representative of forest and river system health
Geographic Focus • Throughout CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT • Lake Champlain and Upper Hudson watersheds in NY NOTE : Fish passage projects in CT and/or water quality projects in the Connecticut River watershed are encouraged to apply to the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF)
2020 Priorities (on pages 2-4 of RFP)
1. Restore and Manage Forest Blocks Forest management on public and private lands to enhance age and structural diversity Assessment/planning Forest Block Restoration Pollinator Habitat Outreach and Technical Assistance SIGNAGE!
Working with family-owned woodlands Projects that work with non-industrial private landowners
Working with family-owned woodlands Projects that work with non-industrial private landowners
2. Healthy River Systems Restore river function , water quality , and enhance long-term persistence of native aquatic species Restore connectivity Restore riparian and in-stream habitat, water quality Technical assistance to private landowners and local government Conduct native trout inventory and assessments
Healthy River Systems Continued: NOTE: In NH, projects are encouraged that develop watershed plans meeting the criteria for NRCS ’ National Water Quality Initiative EPA’s Clean Water Act Section 319 program (A-I plan or Approved Alternative Plan) See: New Hampshire 319 Guidance
3. Healthy Forests AND Rivers Projects that demonstrate the connection between healthy forest and river systems . Demonstrate forest management prescriptions that minimize impacts on water and maximize benefits to aquatic and upland species Demonstrate synergistic restoration opportunities that use wood products from forest management activities to create in-stream habitat structure Target opportunities to restore forested riparian and wetland buffers to maximize benefits for both aquatic species and riparian-dwelling birds
5. Metrics NEFR - Tool development for decision- Assessment/ making - # tools developed Planning NEFR – Improved management practices Forest Block – Acres under improved management Restoration STRATEGY 1: Restore and Manage Forest NEFR – Outreach/Education/Technical Blocks Assistance - # people reached Provide Outreach and Technical NEFR – Outreach/Education/Technical Assistance Assistance - # people with changed behavior
5. Metrics (continued) NEFR - Fish passage improvements - # passage barriers rectified NEFR – Fish passage improvements - # miles of stream Restore Connectivity opened NEFR - Fish passage improvements - Acres of lake habitat opened NEFR – Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation for nutrient or sediment reduction – lbs avoided (annually) Restore Riparian STRATEGY NEFR – BMP implementation for road improvements – Habitat, In-stream 2 : Restore Miles of roads improved Habitat, and Water NEFR – BMP implementation for livestock fencing – Healthy Quality Miles of fencing installed River NEFR – Riparian restoration – Miles restored Systems NEFR – Instream restoration – Miles restored NEFR – Number of people reached NEFR – Number of people with changed behavior. Provide Outreach and Technical Assistance Number of landowners receiving land management recommendations from a professional. Inventory and NEFR - Eastern Brook Trout - Research - # sites Assessments assessed Monitor Native Trout NEFR - Monitoring - Miles being monitored and River Herring
5. Metrics (continued) NEFR - Number of habitat units improved Habitat improvement Strategy 3 : Restore NEFR - Acres occupied by the species projects NEFR - Miles of habitat occupied by Healthy Rives and species Forests Wildlife population NEFR - Acres monitored monitoring NEFR – Volunteer Participation -# Engaging volunteers in restoration activities volunteers participating Other Activities NEFR - # studies completed whose Research findings are used to adapt management/ inform management decisions
Eligibility Eligible and Ineligible Entities • Eligible: non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes and educational institutions • Ineligible: Federal government agencies, businesses, unincorporated individuals and international organizations Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds • Political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations • Efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements
Evaluation Criteria Program Goals and Priorities Technical Merit and Work Plan Conservation Plan and Context Monitoring Long-term Sustainability Budget Cost Effectiveness Matching Contributions
Compliance 2020 funding is a mix of federal and non- federal sources Grantees receiving USFWS funds will need to comply with NEPA, ESA, NHPA Grantees will not know until after awards are announced if they are receiving USFWS funds It’s best to assume you will need to comply You may review NEPA, ESA and NHPA templates at www.nfwf.org/newengland in order to plan time and resources accordingly
T IMELINE RFP Issued - 3/10/20 Applicant Webinar - 3/25 @ 10:30 am Proposals Due - 4/28 @ 11:59 pm Review Period - May – July Awards Announced - Mid-August Cycle will repeat in 2021!
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