FY2024-LSR-Project-Narrative-Fillable-20230814.pdf

USDA Forest Service Eastern Region, State, Private, and Tribal Forestry Fiscal Year 2024 Landscape Scale Restoration Competitive Process Request for Applications

Project Narrative (Optional Format)

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: 6 lines of text or up to 640 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 this PDF: Highlight the text, right click, and select “Text Style,” then select formatting desired, e.g., bold, underline, and italic.

Location of Rural Lands for the Project: Briefly list the location, e.g., town(s) or county(ies), and landownership type for the on-the-ground outcomes. Use the LSR Project Eligibility Tool to confirm the land is rural (population of 50,000 or less). If project locations are not known at this time, provide a statement to verify that all on-the-ground outcomes funded with the Federal LSR will take place on rural lands.

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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) Do not alter this table. Simply fill in the section(s) relevant for the project.

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. For less quantifiable return on investments, describe in the narrative section on the next page.

Quantitative Accomplishment Measures Output Unit

Tons of forest products produced (biomass) Tons

Board feet of forest products produced (timber) Board feet

Acres of rural forest land treated to reduce hazardous fuels Acres

Number

Acres

# of People

Number of trees, saplings, and/or seedlings planted to enhance water quality

Acres of rural forest land treated for insects and diseases

Number of forest landowners reached through technical assistance in more than one interaction and benefited in a significant and lasting way

Acres invasive plant/weed management in rural forests Acres

AcresAcres of rural forest land under new forest management plans

Acres

Miles of rural riparian forest treated to enhance water quality Miles

Acres of rural forest land treated to enhance wildlife habitat Acres

Miles of rural riparian forest treated to enhance wildlife habitat Miles

Acres of trees and seedlings planted to enhance water quality

Since a project may have multiple accomplishments on the same acres/miles, as relevant, provide the total acres and/or miles below, e.g., removing invasive plants on 100 acres also improves wildlife habitat on the same 100 acres; the total acres of rural forest land improved is 100.

Total acres: Total miles:

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. Describe outcomes in relationship to the proposed budget. In the budget spreadsheet, provide a brief description to justify each budget category requested.

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 toward 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.

Benefit to Underserved Communities/People (6 Points) Note: If benefit to underserved communities/people is not a focus of this project, leave this page blank.

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

A. Description of Benefiting Communities or Recipients Use data or other evidence to describe the population demographics and/or community vulnerabilities of the underserved communities or recipients the project will benefit.

When the project locations are not known at the application stage, describe if and how equity and serving socially vulnerable or underserved populations will be considered in selecting project locations/benefiting communities.

B. How the Project Benefits or Engages Underserved Communities/People