To support the implementation of biosecurity and policy initiatives, and the leadership development of natural resources management staff

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), under the Department of the Interior, awarded $278,598 to the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on November 6, 2025, under the Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories program (CFDA 15.875). The grant supports implementation of biosecurity and policy initiatives within the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), specifically targeting the integration and enhanced operation of the Invasive Species Program and the Coral Reef Initiative (CRI) Program through September 30, 2029.

The project deliverables include strengthening biosecurity efforts, developing community and stakeholder awareness initiatives regarding the value and usage of coral reefs, and implementing leadership development programs for natural resources management staff. These efforts are designed to build institutional knowledge and management capacity within the CNMI while addressing invasive species control and coral reef protection—priority focus areas under the OIA's territorial development mandate for resource management and environmental stewardship.

Under the dlnr's office of the secretary are the invasive species program and coral reef initiative (CRI) program. This project will support the further integration and operation of these two vital programs under dlnr as they pertain particularly to biosecurity efforts, supporting efforts to increase community and stakeholder awareness of their value and usage of coral reefs, and supporting staff in their leadership development in order to retain institutional knowledge and management capacity for the cnmi.