Award funds to grasslans charitable foundation (grasslans), as the recipient, and to authorize grasslans through this agreement and through its enrollment in the automated standard application for…

Award funds to grasslans charitable foundation (grasslans), as the recipient, and to authorize grasslans through this agreement and through its enrollment in the automated standard application for payments as a fiscal agent for qualifying sub-recipient landowners for habitat improvement projects and any required archaeological surveys conducted for the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS) partners for fish and wildlife program. Work under this cooperative agreement supports several of the goals of the department of interiors FY 2026-2030 strategic plan draft framework: (1) under goal 2 of the framework is objective 2.1, interior resources protect people and property. Proposed work will reduce hazardous fuels and threat from wildfire, protecting human habitation while also reducing subsequent erosion and sedimentation, thus providing economic and ecological safety. (2) under goal 3 of the framework is objective 3.3: restore lands and waters. The goal of this agreement is to restore or enhance 200 acres of privately owned riparian and upland habitats. (3) under goal 4 of the framework is objective 4.2: work collaboratively with states, partners, and governments. Under this CA the service will be working with many internal and external partners to secure, develop, and maintain high quality habitat restoration projects on private lands. These partners may include the recipient, local tribes, department of agriculture natural resources conservation service, new mexico state historic preservation office, new mexico department of fish and game, local soil and water conservation districts (swcds), state forestry, watershed alliances, the nature conservancy, audubon society, educational institutions, and private landowners. There will be economic benefits through contracting with local labor, local equipment rental, and local purchases, as well as working with educational programming for local community and youth organizations. All the projects will include involvement (partnering with technical assistance or in-kind services, with various agencies or organizations. The USFWS PFW program biologist will be substantially involved in these projects. The projects will enroll approximately 200 upland acres, all on private lands in new mexico.