OR/WA 2020 Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Projects | L20AS00007

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00007

The OR/WA 2020 Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Projects grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00007) is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), specifically through its Oregon/Washington offices. It is designed to support on-the-ground conservation work and applied science that improves the status of imperiled wildlife and plant species found on or connected to BLM-managed public lands in Oregon and Washington. The program is framed around building strong conservation outcomes through collaboration, with an emphasis on leaving a long-term stewardship legacy by expanding partnerships, improving habitat conditions, and increasing public involvement in conservation.

At its core, the opportunity funds projects that assist with the conservation and recovery of species that are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act, species that are candidates for listing, and species considered sensitive by the Bureau. Supported conservation actions are broad and practical, including efforts to gain better knowledge about species and their habitats (such as surveys, inventories, distribution mapping, and monitoring), actions that directly protect or improve habitat (such as management changes, site protection, or reducing threats), and hands-on work to restore, enhance, or reconnect habitats. The description also signals that augmentation activities may be eligible where appropriate, which can include actions intended to bolster populations or improve their resilience when consistent with applicable laws, policies, and species recovery needs.

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which generally indicates an expectation of substantial involvement by BLM in project planning, coordination, or implementation compared to a more hands-off grant. Projects are expected to align with BLM conservation priorities in Oregon and Washington and are intended to produce measurable benefits such as better habitat connectivity, improved ecological resiliency, and stronger capacity for long-term monitoring and management. The program also highlights a people-focused component by encouraging volunteer service and youth engagement on public lands, suggesting that proposals incorporating community science, stewardship crews, youth conservation corps, or structured volunteer participation may fit well when they also deliver meaningful ecological outcomes.

A wide range of applicant types are eligible, reflecting the partnership-driven nature of the program. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). This eligibility list is broad enough to accommodate many common conservation partners, including universities, watershed councils, conservation nonprofits, local governments, and tribal entities that are actively involved in species recovery and habitat work.

Funding is available up to an award ceiling of $500,000 per award, and BLM anticipated making about 30 awards under this opportunity. The program falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.246. The opportunity was posted on November 20, 2019, and used rolling monthly cut-off dates on the 19th of each month, with the final closing date on July 19, 2020. In practical terms, that rolling structure was intended to let partners submit proposals on a predictable schedule across several months rather than forcing all applications into a single deadline.

Overall, this BLM OR/WA funding opportunity supports collaborative, science-informed conservation and recovery work for threatened, endangered, candidate, and sensitive species. It emphasizes tangible habitat and species benefits, better information for management decisions, and stronger partnerships that can carry stewardship forward over time, while also creating avenues for volunteers and youth to participate directly in conservation on public lands.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OR/WA 2020 Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.246.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 19, 2020 Rolling cut-off dates monthly on the 19th until July 19, 2020.. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, 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.

Apply for L20AS00007

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