OpportunityTitle: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS- White Nose Syndrome Repsonse-THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FIR APPLICATIONS- Non-Profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS- Cave Research Foundation- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
Description: The project will help NPS manage its cave and karst resources during a period when White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is having a tragic adverse impact upon the cave roosting bat species of the Ozarks. Buffalo National River (BNR) contains over 400 documented cave and karst resources which provide roosting habitat to three bats listed as Endangered and one which is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In addition to these species, BNR is home to four additional species of cave roosting bats. Three of these four species are expected to be candidate or listed species within the next 5 years. BNR requires a much better understanding of the cave and karst resources and the bats which use them for roosting. To this end, BNR has entered into a cooperative agreement with Cave Research Foundation (CRF) to assist with locating, documenting, and mapping caves; maintaining a database of cave and karst features; maintaining a database of cave biological occurrences; conducting bat surveys in caves; developing WNS outreach information for visitors, schools, and others; placing signs on caves used as roosts by bats; and monitoring temperature and relative humidity at important bat roosts via electronic dataloggers. NPS provides equipment, supplies, housing, and directs the work on a day to day basis. NPS approves all products. NPS collaborates with CRF to plan each year&#8217;s activities and also collaborates for publications and presentations. CRF was selected because they have over 50 years experience assisting NPS with documenting and managing cave and karst resources. CRF has skilled cave mappers, cartographers, database managers, biologists, and many other specialists who are willing to donate their time and money to help manage the BNR. No other organization in this area has the capacity or breadth of experience and knowledge that CRF possesses. Because this is a continuation of a project, BNR feels justified in providing an assistance award to CRF under this circumstance.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: noel_miller@nps.gov
GrantorContactText: Noel Miller &lt;br/&gt;Grants Management Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 402-661-1658