BLM CA Wildlife Resource Management | L19AS00018

Opportunity Information: Apply for L19AS00018

The BLM CA Wildlife Resource Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L19AS00018) is a Bureau of Land Management, California-focused cooperative agreement program designed to support on-the-ground wildlife conservation and habitat work on BLM-administered public lands. Its central goal is to help maintain self-sustaining wildlife populations and preserve a natural abundance and diversity of species for long-term public benefit, including recreation and other compatible uses. Because BLM lands in California contain some of the nation’s most ecologically diverse habitats and support thousands of species across mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates, the program emphasizes practical, place-based projects that protect, restore, and conserve both species and the habitats they depend on.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its partnership model. BLM indicates it will work closely with States, Tribes, other federal agencies, and a broad range of organizations under a “shared conservation stewardship” approach. Projects are expected to be collaborative and coordinated with federal and state wildlife agencies and other partners, with an emphasis on aligning conservation outcomes across jurisdictions. The program also highlights the use of modern geospatial tools and wildlife data-sharing to improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and help partners work from consistent information when planning, prioritizing, or evaluating habitat and species actions.

The funding priorities described for the 2019 cycle focus on linking wildlife habitat improvements to broader public and land-management benefits. Proposed work can include habitat restoration and conservation actions that improve conditions for key wildlife groups such as upland game, waterfowl, big game, and “watchable wildlife” species. BLM also signals interest in work that expands hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities and identifies locations where access can be increased for these uses, while still meeting conservation objectives. Another priority theme is supporting state wildlife population objectives through coordinated actions, and connecting wildlife-related improvements to rural community benefits, including economic opportunities associated with wildlife recreation and related activities.

The opportunity also explicitly supports projects that create employment opportunities for youths and veterans, suggesting that workforce development components can be a valued part of a proposal when they directly contribute to project delivery and outcomes. In addition, BLM notes a desire for “consistent data” that can help streamline permitting and planning processes, including energy and grazing permitting and land use planning more broadly. In practice, this points to activities such as improved wildlife and habitat datasets, standardized survey approaches, shared mapping products, or other deliverables that reduce uncertainty and speed up analysis while maintaining conservation safeguards.

From a land management perspective, BLM emphasizes the multi-benefit nature of vegetation and habitat work. The Wildlife Program expects to leverage funds alongside other BLM programs to implement vegetation restoration actions that simultaneously improve wildlife habitat, increase forage for livestock, improve water quality, remove invasive weeds, and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. This framing suggests a strong preference for integrated projects that deliver measurable habitat gains while also advancing rangeland health, watershed function, and fuels or invasive species management goals.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, with the funding activity category listed as Natural Resources and CFDA number 15.247. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; other Tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding nonprofits that are institutions of higher education in the 501(c)(3) category, as stated). The announcement anticipated roughly 20 awards, with an award ceiling of $150,000 per award.

The application window for this specific posting opened June 18, 2019 and closed August 19, 2019 at 4:30 PM Eastern, with two submission rounds: a first-round deadline of July 18, 2019 at 4:30 PM Eastern and a second-round deadline of August 19, 2019 at 4:30 PM Eastern. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a partner-driven habitat and wildlife management funding vehicle for California BLM lands, prioritizing collaborative stewardship, actionable restoration work, improved data and planning efficiency, and tangible benefits to wildlife-dependent recreation and rural communities.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA Wildlife Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.247.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 18, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 19, 2019 Open from June 18, 2019 to August 19, 2019, 430 PM EST. Round One Applications Due July 18, 2019, 430 PM EST. Round Two Applications Due August 19, 2019, 430 PM EST.. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

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