FY2022-LSR-Project-Narrative-Form-20210624.pdf

USDA Forest Service Eastern Region State and Private Forestry Fiscal Year 2022 Landscape Scale Restoration Competitive Process

Request for Applications Project Narrative Form

Project Title: Provide a uniquely descriptive title for this project. Use this full title consistently on all submission communications and documents, including letters of support.

Project Applicant: Enter the name of organization applying for Federal funding.

Program Contact: Name and contact information for lead project contact, i.e., for implementing the project if funded.

Name:

Email:

Phone:

Brief Project Overview and Purpose: 5 lines of text or up to 540 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

Provide a brief overview and purpose statement for the project, addressing the Landscape Scale Restoration program purpose: "To encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes."

Is this a multistate project (sponsored by more than one State)? Yes No

If multistate, please select one:

All Federal funds will go directly to the lead State or organization (applicant listed above). The lead State may pass funds to other States or third-party partners to implement components of the project. This is preferred.

Federal funds will go directly to multiple States and/or partners, as indicated in the Budget Spreadsheet and outlined in the Project Description.

Is this a cross-regional project? (i.e., includes sponsors from Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance States and from Western/Southern State(s)). Yes No

Clearly and concisely respond to each section. For the longer sections we encourage you to include sub-headings, line spacing, and/or other formatting for ease of reading (rather than fill every line with words). You may format text in MS Word and then copy and paste it into this Form. Some text formatting is available in the PDF form, e.g., bold, underline, and italic. To format text in the Form: Highlight the text, right click, and select “Text Style.”

Project Description This field accommodates 46 full lines of text or up to 5,000 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

Provide a comprehensive but succinct overview of the proposed project that includes basic details of who is doing what, where, and why (in context of need documented elsewhere). Clearly articulate the methods employed, timelines, and resources needed. Address the project’s suitability as the most appropriate scale of response (local, statewide, multistate, or national) to the issue addressed. Projects should effectively address the purpose statement: "To encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes."

Priority Issues and/or Landscapes in the State Forest Action Plan (25 Points) This field accommodates nearly 45 full lines of text or up to 5,000 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

Projects will be based on an analysis within the State or region that identifies the issue or landscape being addressed as a priority in the State Forest Action Plan(s) or equivalent restoration strategy.

• Demonstrate focus on a significant issue and/or priority landscape in the respective State Forest Action Plan(s).

• Describe how the project will bring a State or region to a desired future condition, goal, or strategy as articulated in the respective State Forest Action Plan(s).

LSR Objectives the Project Addresses (select one or more):

Projects shall prioritize funding and other resources toward one or more of the national LSR objectives below. This is for reference and clarity and not for scoring purposes, e.g., strong projects that address one objective can score just as well as projects that address multiple objectives.

Reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires.

Improve fish and wildlife habitats, including for threatened and endangered species.

Maintain or improve water quality and watershed function.

Mitigate invasive species, insect infestation, and disease.

Improve important forest ecosystems.

Measure ecological and economic benefits including air quality and soil quality and productivity.

Measurable Outcomes (35 Points) Provide the output amount for at least one of the quantitative accomplishment measures listed below.

You may also list additional specific measurable results that show how the Federal investment will lead to outcomes on the landscape. In the narrative section on the next page, describe less quantifiable return on investments.

Quantitative Accomplishment Measures Output Unit

Tons of forest products produced (biomass) Tons

Board feet of forest products produced (timber) Board feet

Acres treated to reduce hazardous fuels Acres

Acres

Acres

# of People

Acres treated for insects and disease

Acres treated for invasive plants

Private landowners reached through technical assistance in more than one interaction, who have benefited in some significant and lasting way

Acres of silvicultural practice exclusive of other reported treatments Acres

AcresAcres under new forest management plans

Acres

Miles of riparian forest treated to enhance water quality Miles

Miles of riparian forest treated to enhance wildlife habitat Miles

Acres treated to enhance wildlife habitat Acres

Acres of trees and seedlings planted to enhance water quality

Measurable Outcomes Narrative This field accommodates nearly 45 full lines of text or up to 5,000 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

Describe how project outcomes will result in science-based restoration of priority landscapes.

To complement the table above, also describe less quantifiable return on investments.

Reviewers will assess if outcomes are commensurate with the budget.

Collaboration and Integrated Delivery (20 Points) This field accommodates 27 full lines of text or up to 3,000 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

• Identify partners that have demonstrated a commitment and add value towards planning and carrying out the project, and describe what these partners contribute.

• Seek to improve the delivery of public benefits from forest management by coordination with or proximity to complementary State and Federal programs and partnership efforts when possible, e.g., Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, landscape areas designated for insect and disease treatments, Good Neighbor Authority, stewardship contracting projects, Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, Shared Stewardship agreements, and appropriate state-level programs.

• Describe land ownerships for the project area and cross-boundary goals, which can include a combination of Tribal, State, local government, and private land ownerships, e.g., multiple private landowners, private and State landowners, State and Federal landowners, State and local government, State and Tribal landowners, etc..

• Demonstrate residual positive benefits, as a result of collaboration, related to capacity, skills, knowledge, infrastructure, or a replicable approach, among others.

Collaboration may be qualitative in nature, and the contribution of the partners may be more important than the number of partners involved.

Leverage (10 Points) This field accommodates 15 full lines of text or up to 1,625 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

Projects should maximize S&PF funding by using it to leverage contributions from both Federal and non-Federal entities.

Project applications need to clearly identify the LSR Competitive Allocation funds requested and the associated non- Federal contributions in the SF-424A and Budget Spreadsheet. Provide details about leveraged contributions, including match from partners and additional non-match leveraged contributions. Note: Collaboration with a for-profit Conservation Finance partner can be a powerful leverage multiplier, but this requires careful budget segregation to ensure Federal grants are not earning income.

Knowledge and Technical Transfer (10 Points) This field accommodates 15 full lines of text or up to 1,625 characters and spaces with no carriage returns.

Technical transfer is defined as the sharing of knowledge, tools, and innovations for practical application. As specifically as possible, describe how others will learn from the work done on this project. Describe the project’s potential to inform practitioners and enhance the effectiveness of similar initiatives. Knowledge and technical transfer need not necessarily be between States, but should aim to share innovation across the landscapes of importance wherever it can be utilized.

Projects should include a component of outreach, training, lessons learned, or related opportunities so that carrying out the project results in skills and capability that extend beyond the life of the grant.