Cooperative Agreement P23AC02417

THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES QUALIFIED NON-PROFIT YOUTH- AND VETERAN-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO CARRY OUT APPROPRIATE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND EDUCATION PROJECTS ON DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR LANDS THROUGH AUTHORIZED NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROGRAMS. THIS PROJECT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) AND THE OREGON NATURAL DESERT ASSOCIATION (ONDA) WILL FOSTER COLLABORATION IN ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION, PARTICULARLY IN SAGEBRUSH STEPPE AND RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS, WHILE ALSO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH CAREER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE TRIBAL STEWARDS PROGRAM. BY COMBINING THE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES OF NPS AND ONDA, AND A QUALIFIED YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS ORGANIZATION, THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, PROTECT NATURAL LANDSCAPES, AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF INDIGENOUS CONSERVATION LEADERS IN THE JOHN DAY BASIN OF OREGON AND ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION OF INTEREST TO NPS INCLUDING IN THE KLAMATH BASIN AND MODOC PLATEAU OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IN THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, IDAHO. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES QUASI-PUBLIC NON-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT CAREER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION IN THE AREAS OF NATURAL AND OR CULTURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT. INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL RECEIVE A BENEFIT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF THESE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.