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…

FEDERAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT SUMMARY

Sky Island Alliance received a Cooperative Agreement award of $109,101 from the National Park Service (NPS) Intermountain Region under the Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (CFDA 15.963), effective June 11, 2025, with a completion date of December 31, 2026. The organization will monitor wildlife occurrence and movement patterns in response to border infrastructure along 90 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Deliverables include quantification of wildlife use of crossing structures, evaluation of landscape characteristics influencing movement patterns, and evidence-based recommendations for optimal placement and design of wildlife passage structures to enhance cross-border animal movement.

In addition to the primary research objectives, the project incorporates workforce development and public engagement components. Sky Island Alliance will engage local students through paid internships to foster future conservation professionals with expertise in data management and research methods. The organization will also disseminate project findings to stakeholders and borderland communities through bilingual outreach materials in English and Spanish, providing land managers with critical data to inform wildlife passage enhancement strategies and raising public awareness about conditions on public lands along the international border.

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. Sky island alliance will monitor wildlife occurrence and movement patterns in response to border infrastructure along 90 miles of the U.S.-mexico border. The project will quantify wildlife use of crossing structures and evaluate landscape characteristics influencing these patterns, leading to recommendations for optimal placement and design of these structures. Local students will be engaged through paid internships, fostering future conservation professionals skilled in data management and research methods. The project aims to raise public awareness by sharing findings in english and spanish, providing land managers with critical data to enhance wildlife passage and informing borderland communities about public land conditions.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.