Terra Incognita

Terra Incognita is a non-profit organization registered to receive federal contract and grant awards since December 29, 2003. As a corporate entity with tax-exempt status, Terra Incognita specializes in providing natural resource management and conservation services to federal agencies, particularly the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. The organization's expertise lies in conducting botanical surveys, inventorying and mapping non-native invasive plant species, and supporting ecological restoration efforts across various national forests and protected areas.

Terra Incognita has been awarded multiple prime federal contracts, primarily through Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) calls with the USDA Forest Service's Southern Region. These contracts involve a range of services, including botanical surveys for rare plant species, non-native invasive plant inventories and mapping, and support for specific conservation projects. Notable examples include a $9,343.05 contract for botanical surveys related to the 2024 Highway 130 Project, a $7,832.75 contract for surveys in the Andrew Pickens Ranger District, and an $18,196.92 contract for invasive plant mapping in the Francis Marion National Forest. The majority of these contracts are set aside for small businesses, reflecting Terra Incognita's status as a specialized, small-scale service provider. The organization's work supports the Forest Service's ongoing conservation activities, land management, and research initiatives within the Southern Region, demonstrating Terra Incognita's crucial role in maintaining and studying the biodiversity of these protected areas.

In addition to its contract work, Terra Incognita has also received federal grant funding to support larger-scale conservation efforts. A significant example is a $324,500 cooperative agreement awarded by the USDA National Resources Conservation Service under the Soil and Water Conservation CFDA program. This three-year grant, running from September 30, 2022, to September 29, 2025, tasks Terra Incognita with identifying Carolina bays in South Carolina that have potential for restoration. This project aligns with the organization's expertise in ecological assessment and conservation, while also supporting the broader goals of improving soil and water quality in the state. Through this grant, Terra Incognita is able to contribute to conservation efforts on a larger scale, working to identify suitable candidates for ecological restoration and potentially influencing long-term environmental management strategies in the region.