Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

May 15, 2016

NPS Funding Opportunity: Midwest NNL Gap Analysis

National Park Service

Midwest Region

National Natural Landmark Program

Call for Statement of Interest

Project Title: Midwest National Natural Landmark Gap Analysis

The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program administered by the National Park Service (NPS) recognizes and encourages the conservation of sites that contain outstanding biological and geological resources, regardless of landownership type. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. NNLs are owned by a variety of public and private land stewards, and participation in the program is voluntary.

The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) program is interested in cooperating with CESU partners to systematically identify potential NNLs (PNNL) in the midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  Project components will include a gap analysis of the biological and geological features (natural history themes) not yet represented by current designated NNLs, development of criteria to prioritize gaps in representation utilizing elements of landscape scale conservation, and identification and description of the top 2-3 sites to potentially fill these gaps.

The NNL Program utilizes a Natural History Theme Classification System developed and utilized by the National Park Service.  The basis for the gap analysis will be an investigation of the representation of existing sites within this classification framework. Project cooperators will develop prioritization criteria to apply to identified gaps in theme study classifications with the goal of supporting conservation at the landscape scale.  The objective is to utilize landscape ecology concepts to identify theme classifications that are in the greatest need of conservation and provide the greatest conservation value. Landscape ecology concepts used in prioritization could include critical habitat, connectivity, migration routes, and climate change adaptation potential.  Natural history classifications deemed high priority will be the focus of the next step in the project, PNNL identification.

Project cooperators will seek out and suggest 2-3 sites that contain attributes that align with high priority theme study classifications for consideration as PNNL areas. Project cooperators will prepare a brief write-up and potential boundary map for each suggested PNNL. This prioritization project will assist the NNL program with achieving the goals of identifying gaps in resource representation, advancing the landmark system in Midwest Region towards a more complete representation of the diversity of biological and geological resources and furthering conservation at the landscape scale.

A project report should include the following:

  1. Gap analysis: identification of natural history themes not presently represented by designated sites in the Midwest region states of interest.
  2. Development of criteria to prioritize gaps in natural history theme representation using landscape conservation elements.
  3. Prioritized list of theme study classifications identified in gap analysis employing developed prioritization criteria.
  4. Two-three suggested sites to consider as PNNLs for each of the high priority classifications, including a brief description of the resource and proposed boundary for each.
  5. Brief write-up describing methods used to conduct gap analysis, landscape conservation elements used for prioritization and the selection of PNNL sites.

Project Funding:

Funds Available Project funds available are approximately $20,000. The actual amount of funding for the second fiscal year is contingent on future appropriations. The funding includes the CESU overhead rate of 17.5 percent. The project will be funded by the National Park Service. Only universities or organizations within the CESU network are eligible to apply.

Statement of Interest:

The statement of Interest (SOI) should describe your research interest(s) in the projects, past projects that are similar in topic and/or form, and any relevant experience, along with a copy of a resume or vita for the Principal Investigator. Please include your name, affiliated organization(s), and contact information. Please try and limit SOI’s to 2 pages.  SOIs should be sent to Leo Acosta (Leo_Acosta@nps.gov) by June 15, 2016. Additional questions can be answered by contacting Leo Acosta, NNL Coordinator, Midwest Region, National Park Service (402-661-1870).