Programming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research, technical assistance, education, and training to inform science-based management of the…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the Department of the Interior National Park Service National Office under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) provides $127,063.00 to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) to conduct a comprehensive inventory of Maryland state rare plants in the Piscataway (PISC) unit of National Capital Parks East. The project will build on previous inventory work and Maryland Natural Heritage Program data to assess changes in the local ecosystem and landscape factors like climate and invasive species that may be impacting state rare plant populations. This inventory work supports the Department of the Interior Secretary's priority to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and protect biodiversity.

Programming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research, technical assistance, education, and training to inform science-based management of the national park system. The study units facilitate multi-disciplinary science and integrated information products across multiple geographic regions of the national park system. This project will conduct a thorough inventory of maryland state rare plants in the piscataway (pisc) unit of national capital parks east. The project will build on previous inventories and maryland natural heritage program data. There has been no inventory since 2011, so a RE-inventory is needed as landscape factors such as climate and invasive species. Also, land management practices have changed the local ecosystem in which state rare plants are found. This is an excellent demonstration of the department of interior secretarys priority to conserve at least 30 each of our lands and waters by the year 2030, protect biodiversity and slow extinction rates. Beneficiaries include state and local governments, federally recognized indian tribal governments, public private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and the general public).