To support coordinated cooperative research, technical assistance, education and training, and usable knowledge development to inform science-based management of the national park system

This federal Cooperative Agreement award of $170,036.05, provided by 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) program, supports coordinated research, technical assistance, education, and training to inform science-based management of the National Park System. The award facilitates multi-disciplinary science and integrated information products related to park resources, and maintains a comprehensive network of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units to provide geographic and topical coverage for research, technical assistance, and educational activities. The primary awardee is Northern Arizona University, which will leverage its expertise in areas such as environmental monitoring, forestry, and STEM education to deliver the required products and services.

To facilitate multi-disciplinary science and integrated information products related to the resources of the national park system. To maintain a comprehensive network cooperative study units as will provide full geographic and topical coverage for research, technical assistance, and educational activities related to the resources contained in units of the national park system and their larger regions. This project uses wildland fire funding to repair damage caused by severe fire. Severe damage from the 2016 fuller fire has gone UN-addressed due to a lack of specific expertise and resources. The passage of time has increased the risk. Dense, thorny, flash fuels (small diameter and therefore easily ignitable) have multiplied in the interim over vast swaths of land. Once a fire starts in these vast seas of dense, thorny fuels, the fire would RIP through these areas at a dangerous pace and the nature of the fuels precludes safe fire fighting, posing a danger to communities, structures, visitors, and fire fighters. Beneficiaries include state and local governments, federally recognized indian tribal governments, public private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and individuals (including members of the general public).