Wildlife Habitat Fencing | USDA FS R13 2024 24 22 WLF 01

Wildlife Habitat Fencing (USDA FS R13 2024 24 22 WLF 01) - FAQs

1) What is the Wildlife Habitat Fencing opportunity?

This is a USDA Forest Service Outreach of Interest (OOI) focused on identifying potential partners and project ideas related to wildlife-friendly fencing on National Forest System lands and, when relevant, across neighboring ownerships. It is intended to help the Forest Service find organizations to collaborate with and potentially develop future projects under partnership agreements.

2) Is this a traditional grant solicitation with a set funding amount?

No. This OOI is not a stand-alone grant competition with a defined award amount. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0 and does not specify the number of expected awards, which reflects that the purpose is to gather interest, build relationships, and surface project concepts that could later move forward through partnership agreements.

3) What is the main goal of the OOI?

The central goal is to increase on-the-ground capacity to improve wildlife habitat by removing, modifying (retrofitting), or installing wildlife-friendly fencing, delivered through partnerships that strengthen co-stewardship and community involvement.

4) What kinds of fencing projects are of interest?

The Forest Service is interested in fencing-related habitat work that improves wildlife outcomes, including:

• Removing outdated or unused livestock fencing to improve habitat connectivity and movement for wide-ranging species.
• Modifying or retrofitting existing fences that are not built to current wildlife-friendly specifications.
• Installing wildlife-friendly fencing where fencing provides habitat benefits (for example, small exclosures).

5) Why does the Forest Service focus on wildlife-friendly fencing?

The Forest Service emphasizes that fences can either help or harm ecosystems depending on placement, design, construction, and the species involved. Poorly designed fences can fragment habitat and populations, block movement across the landscape, and cause direct wildlife injury or mortality. Wildlife-friendly approaches aim to reduce these harms while achieving management or habitat objectives.

6) What are examples of fencing that can be beneficial to habitat?

The opportunity notes examples such as small exclosures designed to protect sensitive aquatic species, riparian areas, or pollinator habitat from impacts like ungulate browsing or recreation.

7) What are examples of fencing that can be harmful to wildlife?

The Forest Service calls out outdated or unused livestock fencing and fences that are poorly designed or not built to current wildlife-friendly specifications. These can fragment habitat, restrict movement, and increase the risk of wildlife injury or mortality.

8) Where are projects expected to take place?

The focus is on National Forest System lands. The Forest Service also indicates interest in projects that connect across neighboring ownerships when relevant, reflecting an "all lands" approach that recognizes ecosystems and wildlife movement do not stop at property boundaries.

9) Who is eligible to respond to this OOI?

Eligibility is broad and includes:

• For-profit entities
• Nonprofits
• Institutions of higher education
• Federal, state, and local governments
• Native American tribal governments
• Special purpose districts (for example: public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports)

10) Does responding guarantee funding or an award?

No. Because this is an Outreach of Interest designed to find and develop future partners (not a conventional grant competition), submitting a response is best understood as a way to be considered for future partnership exploration rather than a guarantee of funding.

11) What does the Forest Service hope to get from responses?

Responses are intended to help the Forest Service identify:

• Potential partners with relevant experience and capacity
• Project concepts related to fence removal, retrofit, or wildlife-friendly installation
• Opportunities that advance habitat connectivity and species needs
• Partnerships that support long-term stewardship outcomes connected to Forest Service lands

12) What should a typical response include?

Based on the opportunity description, a typical response would describe:

• Your project ideas
• Your relevant experience and capacity
• The communities you serve
• How you would contribute to wildlife-friendly fencing outcomes (removal, retrofit, or installation)
• How collaboration would support habitat connectivity, species needs, and long-term stewardship goals on or connected to Forest Service lands

13) How do you apply or respond?

The announcement directs organizations to follow the instructions in the attached Outreach of Interest Template Instructions document. The response process is framed as submitting information using that template, rather than a standard grant application package with pre-set award levels.

14) What is the deadline to respond?

The listing indicates an original closing date of 2025-02-07.

15) Why is the award ceiling listed as 0?

The award ceiling is shown as 0 because this OOI is an interest-gathering and partner-scouting approach, not a traditional solicitation with predetermined award sizes. The intent is to identify project ideas and partners that could later be developed through partnership agreements under the Forest Service's legislative authorities.

16) What is meant by "partnership agreements under the agency's legislative authorities"?

In this context, it means that the Forest Service may explore future projects through formal partnership mechanisms it is authorized to use, rather than making an immediate, stand-alone grant award through this OOI.

17) What does the Forest Service mean by co-stewardship and community involvement?

The opportunity emphasizes partnership-based delivery that strengthens co-stewardship and community participation. The Forest Service is looking for local partners who have a real stake in long-term management outcomes and who can help build shared ownership of project outcomes over time.

18) Is the Forest Service looking to broaden participation from certain communities?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly states an interest in broadening participation, including increasing representation from diverse and underserved communities, and engaging local partners connected to long-term stewardship outcomes.

19) Does the OOI include workforce or training objectives?

Yes. The Forest Service frames the work as more than construction, noting it is also meant to create opportunities for job training, conservation service experience, personal development, and building the next generation of natural resource stewards.

20) What policies or priorities does this OOI align with?

The OOI is described as aligning with:

• The Forest Service 2012 Planning Rule and its "all lands" approach emphasizing cross-boundary ecosystem management
• The Forest Service National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change
• Secretarial Order 3362, focused on improving habitat quality for big game migration corridors and winter range in 11 western states through collaboration among federal land managers, state fish and wildlife agencies, and private landowners

21) How does this relate to big game migration corridors and winter range?

The opportunity references Secretarial Order 3362, which aims to improve habitat quality for big game migration corridors and winter range in 11 western states by strengthening collaboration to identify, conserve, and restore priority areas. Wildlife-friendly fencing and removal of problematic fencing can support these goals by improving movement and reducing barriers.

22) Is cross-boundary work encouraged?

Yes. The OOI emphasizes an "all lands" approach and cooperation among agencies, tribes, and private landowners, recognizing that effective habitat connectivity and ecosystem management often require coordination across land ownership boundaries.

23) What makes a fence "wildlife-friendly" in this opportunity?

The opportunity does not provide a detailed specification, but it does emphasize that fences should be designed and built to current wildlife-friendly specifications to avoid fragmenting habitat, blocking movement, and causing injury or mortality. Responses are expected to explain how proposed work would contribute to wildlife-friendly outcomes.

24) What species or habitat types are highlighted?

The opportunity highlights sensitive aquatic species, riparian areas, pollinator habitat, and wide-ranging species that benefit from improved habitat connectivity. It also references big game migration corridors and winter range in the context of Secretarial Order 3362.

25) What is the practical value of submitting a response?

Submitting a response is a way to put your organization on the Forest Service's radar so the agency can explore fencing-related habitat projects with you that match shared goals on National Forest System lands and, where relevant, across neighboring ownerships.

26) Does the opportunity specify how many awards will be made?

No. The number of expected awards is not specified, consistent with the OOI being used to identify partners and project ideas rather than run a standard, award-based competition.

27) What outcomes does the Forest Service want to see from partnerships?

Based on the description, desired outcomes include improved habitat connectivity, reduced wildlife injury and mortality from fencing, protection of sensitive habitats where fencing is beneficial, stronger local and community involvement in stewardship, and increased capacity and experience for participants through training and conservation service opportunities.