This Project Grant award from the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (CFDA 15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories) provides $285,934.46 to the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to strengthen the territory's biosecurity framework and resilience against invasive species. The key products and services to be delivered include:
- Conducting stakeholder engagement meetings with local agencies, the Department of Defense, and community partners to foster collaboration and proactively address invasive species threats.
- Finalizing and implementing the CNMI Biosecurity Plan to provide a comprehensive framework for preventing and managing invasive species.
- Planning and executing CNMI biosecurity training to equip staff, stakeholders, and partners with the necessary skills and knowledge.
- Expanding the biosecurity team by recruiting additional port-of-entry inspectors to strengthen surveillance and enforcement capabilities.
- Developing and delivering targeted training programs for port-of-entry inspectors on species-specific detection, identification, and management techniques.
- Investing in advanced tools and technology, such as new high-resolution microscopes, to enable accurate verification and identification of invasive species.
The award period extends from January 8, 2025 to September 30, 2029.
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