Native Plant Community Restoration | P19AS00183

Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00183

The Native Plant Community Restoration grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00183) is a National Park Service discretionary funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the park and the recipient are expected to work closely together during planning and implementation rather than operating as a fully independent contractor. The overall purpose is to support on-the-ground natural resource work in Bryce Canyon National Park focused on helping native plant communities rebound after recent wildfire and ongoing human-related impacts.

The project goal is straightforward: accelerate recovery of native vegetation and improve ecosystem condition in areas disturbed by fire and by past or current human use. The work is framed around four main objectives. First, the project aims to reduce the amount and dominance (relative cover) of invasive, non-native plant species in mixed conifer forest areas that have recently burned. Post-fire environments can be especially vulnerable to invasion because disturbed soils and reduced competition give fast-spreading exotics an opening, so the project emphasizes preventing invasive plants from taking hold and outcompeting native species as the forest regenerates.

Second, the project focuses on restoring native grassland meadow communities that have been changed over time by historic land uses and by long-term wildfire suppression. When natural fire cycles are interrupted, plant composition can shift, woody plants can encroach, and meadow structure and diversity can decline. This objective centers on steering these altered meadow systems back toward a more natural native plant mix and function, reflecting the park's ecological restoration goals.

Third, the opportunity supports reintroducing high-value native plant species that are important for protected wildlife. In practice, this typically means re-establishing native plants that provide key habitat benefits such as forage, cover, nesting materials, or support for pollinators and the broader food web. The emphasis on wildlife benefit signals that restoration is not just about plant cover, but about rebuilding habitat quality and ecological relationships that native species depend on.

Fourth, the project targets restoration in and around visitor use areas, where foot traffic and concentrated recreation can damage soils, compact ground surfaces, and reduce or fragment native vegetation. This objective combines impact reduction with active restoration: limiting ongoing damage to soils and plants while re-establishing native species to improve the natural look and ecological condition of heavily used areas. The intent is to protect resources while maintaining a healthier and more resilient landscape in places that visitors see and use most.

In terms of administrative details, the opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and is associated with CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 15.931. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, positioning universities and similar entities as the intended partners for the park. The funding ceiling is $69,750, with one award expected, indicating a single, relatively targeted project rather than a large multi-award program. The opportunity was created on May 22, 2019, with an original application closing date of May 31, 2019, reflecting a short application window and a likely need for timely implementation aligned with seasonal field conditions and post-disturbance restoration timelines.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Native Plant Community Restoration" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 22, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $69,750.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for P19AS00183

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