Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU | G19AS00100

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00100

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00100) is a discretionary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding announcement from the Department of the Interior focused on science and technology research. It is administered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) and is intended to support a targeted research project on how drought is affecting the regeneration of dryland forests across the U.S. Southwest, with a central emphasis on ponderosa pine forests within the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) region.

The core problem driving this opportunity is that ponderosa pine forests in the region are already showing decline, and their long-term persistence is increasingly uncertain under a warming and drying climate. While forest decline has been studied for years, USGS points to growing evidence that a major, underappreciated risk is not only adult tree mortality, but the possibility that these forests will not successfully regenerate as conditions become less favorable. In practical terms, even if some mature trees survive, the ecosystem may still transition away from ponderosa pine dominance if seedlings and saplings cannot establish and persist through repeated drought stress.

The opportunity also highlights a strong management relevance. Land managers are actively trying to maintain or improve forest resilience using approaches such as thinning tree stands and thinning the understory, actions often intended to reduce competition for scarce water, lower stress on remaining trees, and potentially create conditions that help seedlings establish. At the same time, the announcement makes clear that the factors controlling ponderosa pine regeneration are not fully understood, which leaves real uncertainty about when, where, and how these management actions actually support regeneration, and whether they will remain effective as droughts intensify or become more frequent in the future.

USGS frames the research need as an investigation of the multiple biotic and abiotic drivers that support or limit regeneration. Abiotic factors implied by the description include drought severity, temperature, soil moisture availability, and broader climatic suitability. Biotic factors can include competition with other vegetation, interactions with understory plants, and other living influences that affect seedling survival and growth. A specific scientific emphasis is placed on understanding population-level stress tolerance, meaning the project is expected to consider how different populations of ponderosa pine may vary in their ability to withstand drought and establish successfully, rather than treating the species as having a single uniform response across the region.

Another major deliverable implied by the announcement is improved predictive capability. USGS indicates interest in enhancing predictive modeling related to ponderosa pine regeneration, suggesting the work should help translate field and experimental findings into tools or model improvements that can better anticipate regeneration outcomes under different climate scenarios and management treatments. This modeling focus is meant to support decision-making by providing stronger forecasts of where regeneration is likely to succeed or fail as conditions change.

The project is also described as being shaped by on-the-ground partner needs. The research topics were identified through discussions with land management cooperators, specifically the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and The Nature Conservancy. This signals that the work is expected to be applied, collaborative, and aligned with real management questions, rather than purely theoretical.

From an administrative standpoint, funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal agency during the project period. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $95,000, with one expected award. It was created on July 9, 2019, with an original closing date of July 26, 2019. The CFDA number is 15.808. Eligibility is broadly categorized as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 09, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2019. (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 $95,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G19AS00100

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: