Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Threatened and Endangered Species Program

Overview

The BLM Headquarters (HQ) Threatened and Endangered Species Program works to conserve and recover over 330 federally-listed and over 2,700 Bureau sensitive animal and plant species and their habitat on public lands in collaboration with other BLM programs and partners. The Headquarters office is looking for projects that are regional in scope or projects that provide a programmatic approach for improving the Bureau effectiveness or efficiency. The (HQ) program is looking for projects that will result in or facilitate national implementation or outreach of tangible on the ground actions that will improve species populations (numbers, representation, or resilience) or reduce population level threats. The (HQ) Office supports efforts to implement the Program’s Strategic Goals (below). This program supports project funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Section 40804 (b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI. 

The Program’s Strategic Goals include: 

• Conserving and recovering federally-listed and BLM sensitive species; Implementing conservation and recovery actions that result in a direct on the ground population or conservation benefit; 
•  Providing complete, current and accurate information on the distribution and abundance of BLM Special Status Species and their habitats to increase professional and public knowledge and understanding of these resources; 
• Collecting data and other information to assess threats and species/habitat responses to proactive conservation and recovery efforts or best management practices/design features for BLM Special Status Species. 
•  Increasing public knowledge of BLM Special Status Species and their habitats; 
•  Increasing public awareness and understanding of BLM Special Status species and their habitats on public and private lands; and, 
•  Engaging youth, citizen-scientists, and students in monitoring and directed research of various BLM Special Status species and their habitats. 

The BLM (HQ) Threatened and Endangered Species Program focuses on implementing the Department of Interior’s priorities by emphasizing actions that: protect biodiversity; increase resilience to climate change and help leverage natural climate solutions; contribute to conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by the year 2030; support State agencies to meet State listed and sensitive species population objectives; engage communities of color, low income families, and rural and indigenous communities to enhance economic opportunities related to wildlife; and use the best science and data available to make decisions. The BLM (HQ) Threatened and Endangered Species Program has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with: 

•  Contributing to the above-described Program strategic goals. 
•  On-the-ground actions that conserve and recover federally-listed, Bureau sensitive, and rare wildlife and plants. 
•  Targeted inventory and monitoring to determine species status and conservation opportunities. 
•  Gaining knowledge about federally-listed, Bureau sensitive, and rare species and their habitats including, but not limited to, propagation, genetics, ecology and threats. 
•  Providing for protection or management of federally-listed, Bureau sensitive, and rare species and their habitats. 
•  Augmenting federally-listed, Bureau sensitive, and rare species through translocations, seed collections, and/or propagation. 
•  Increasing program efficiencies and effectiveness in Endangered Species Act Section 7a2 consultations and Section 7a1 conservation programs. 
• Increasing public knowledge of federally-listed, Bureau sensitive, and rare wildlife and plants on BLM managed lands, including with a targeted focus on communities of color, low-income families, and rural and indigenous communities. 
•  Communications including program outreach, education, and Program website updates.

The recipient should expect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have substantial involvement in the project. Prior to submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to contact the Wildlife Resources Program Lead at the BLM state, district, or field office where the work is proposed to take place to discuss proposed projects in order to determine eligibility under the BLM priorities and criteria.