Deadline: 31 May 2016
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals from state wildlife agencies to fund for the management of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS).
Objectives
- Increase survival of bats and persistence of colonies facing WNS;
- Stop or slow the spread of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd);
- Prevent the arrival and establishment of Pd in non-affected areas while preparing for its potential arrival;
- Maintain and support populations of bats in the regions where the WNS is now endemic.
Priority Areas
- Implement actions to curtail the spread of WNS;
- Support WNS-related research activities;
- Monitor bat populations and WNS progression;
- Conduct outreach on WNS and bats,
- Participate in the Service’s 2017 annual WNS Workshop.
Funding Information
- Up to $1 million will be available to assist states with developing their capacities to respond to WNS.
- Grant requests between $2,500 and $40,000 per applicant will be considered for awards.
- Only one application will be considered for each state.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants for this competitive grant program include fish and wildlife or natural resources agencies in all states.
- Eligible applicants must also be established grantees with the USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program.
- An eligible proposal is a plan of action to address WNS in the applicant’s state using grant funds.
- The proposal must include a grant request for specified activities and a clear plan and proposed timeline for completing these activities within a one year.
- Funds may be used to support activities addressing WNS including population monitoring, disease surveillance, containment (decontamination and controls on cave access), management of WNS affected bats, and outreach.
- The use of grant funds for such activities requires adherence to established protocols and methodologies developed or espoused by the national WNS working groups for surveillance, diagnostics, conservation and recovery, and disease management.
- Applicants must be in good standing on previously awarded Federal grant agreements, with no outstanding reports or obligations and a record of successful use of funds from previous WNS grants to states awards.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply by downloading the application packages available on the given website.
For more information, please visit White-Nose Syndrome.
