15.963: southwest border resource protection programsam.GOV link: click here for the SAM.GOV assistance listingthis program provides financial assistance to educational institutions, nonprofit…

15.963: southwest border resource protection programsam.GOV link: click here for the SAM.GOV assistance listingthis program provides financial assistance to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with mexico. This project aims to address the complex issue of livestock trespass in big bend national park, where illegal livestock presence poses a significant resource threat while also serving as a vital income source for local ranchers. The goal is to understand the ecological, psychological, and social factors contributing to this problem through community engagement. Workshops and interviews will be conducted with ranchers in ejidos along the RIO grande bravo to document root causes and explore community-based solutions. A final report summarizing findings and potential funding sources will be published in both spanish and english, and formal meetings will be held with managing agencies to discuss implementation of solutions.once interviews and workshops are completed, a final report that summarizes identified root causes of trespass livestock and community-based solutions identified from each of the workshops will be published in spanish and english. The report will be distributed to each of the focus ejidos and communities as well as to bibe and others. A list of potential funders who have expressed willingness to review proposals in support of the solutions will also be included in the report. Formal meetings will be held with bibe and mexicos national commission of protected areas (conanp) to summarize findings and begin working on implementing possible solutions and next steps. Beneficiaries include profit organizations, public nonprofit institutions organizations, private nonprofit institutions organizations, non-federal government entities, industry and public decision makers, research scientists, engineers, and the general public.