Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00121
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00121) is a small, targeted U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding call designed to support collaborative research on wildfire impacts in western U.S. conifer forests. Issued by the Department of the Interior, USGS, this discretionary opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning the work is expected to involve active coordination and shared involvement between USGS staff and the selected recipient rather than operating as a hands-off grant. The overall intent is to strengthen general cooperation between USGS and an eligible CESU partner while advancing analysis related to fire-driven Vegetation Type Conversion (VTC), a process where wildfire contributes to long-lasting shifts from one vegetation type to another, potentially altering forest structure, ecosystem function, and recovery pathways.
The scientific focus centers on the growing wildfire problem in the southwestern United States and, more broadly, in the western U.S. The opportunity highlights that fire size, frequency, total area burned, and burn severity have been increasing across many vegetation types. Because plant species and ecological communities are adapted to particular fire regimes (the typical patterns of fire size, frequency, seasonality, and severity), major departures from historical fire regimes can push ecosystems into new states. In practical terms, when fires become larger, more frequent, or more severe than what local forests historically experienced, post-fire regeneration can fail or shift toward different vegetation assemblages, increasing the risk of conversion away from conifer-dominated forests into shrublands, grasslands, or other vegetation types. The project supported by this award is meant to help analyze these dynamics, contributing to a better understanding of where and why conversion is happening and what conditions make it more likely.
The opportunity description also lays out key drivers behind these intensifying fire impacts in forests that historically experienced frequent, low-severity fire. It points to increased fuel loading and fuel connectivity that allow fire to spread more continuously and intensely across landscapes. It emphasizes weather conditions that raise flammability and accelerate fire spread, alongside land-use legacies such as past excessive grazing and long-term fire exclusion that altered forest structure and fuel conditions. Finally, it underscores the role of contemporary climate change signals, specifically rising temperatures and increased vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which together dry fuels and vegetation and can make both fire behavior and post-fire recovery more challenging. In combination, these factors create conditions where fires can more readily exceed ecological thresholds and trigger lasting vegetation change.
From an administrative standpoint, the award is capped at $35,000 (Award Ceiling) with one expected award, indicating a limited-scope project or a discrete component of a larger research effort. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number provided is 15.808. Eligibility is restricted to CESU partners, with the listing indicating “Others” and directing applicants to additional eligibility language in the full notice. The posting date was July 10, 2019, with an original closing date of July 26, 2019, reflecting a short application window typical of some focused CESU cooperative agreement opportunities.
Overall, this funding opportunity supports a specific research collaboration aimed at improving understanding of fire-driven vegetation type conversion in western conifer forests under changing fuel conditions, land-use legacies, and a warming, drying climate. The deliverable value is primarily scientific and management-relevant: better analysis of the conditions that disrupt historical fire regimes and the mechanisms by which those disruptions can lead to significant, potentially persistent ecosystem change.Apply for G19AS00121
- The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 10, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Colorado Plateau CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00121)?
It is a small, targeted U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding opportunity issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network for the Colorado Plateau CESU. The call is designed to support a focused collaborative research effort on wildfire impacts in western U.S. conifer forests, with particular attention to fire-driven Vegetation Type Conversion (VTC).
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is issued by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism. This means the project is expected to involve active coordination and shared involvement between USGS staff and the selected recipient, rather than operating as a hands-off grant.
What is the main purpose or intent of the award?
The intent is twofold: (1) strengthen general cooperation between USGS and an eligible CESU partner, and (2) advance analysis related to wildfire-driven Vegetation Type Conversion (VTC) in western conifer forests.
What research topic does this opportunity focus on?
The scientific focus is on wildfire impacts in the southwestern United States and more broadly the western U.S., emphasizing analysis of how changing fire patterns can contribute to Vegetation Type Conversion (VTC) in conifer forests.
What is Vegetation Type Conversion (VTC) in the context of this opportunity?
VTC refers to a process where wildfire contributes to long-lasting shifts from one vegetation type to another. In this context, it can mean conversion away from conifer-dominated forests into shrublands, grasslands, or other vegetation types, potentially changing forest structure, ecosystem function, and recovery pathways.
Why is wildfire-driven VTC a concern in western conifer forests?
The opportunity notes that fire size, frequency, total area burned, and burn severity have been increasing across many vegetation types. When these fire characteristics depart from historical fire regimes that local ecosystems are adapted to, post-fire regeneration can fail or shift, increasing the likelihood of persistent changes in vegetation composition.
What does the opportunity say about historical fire regimes and ecosystem adaptation?
It highlights that plant species and ecological communities are adapted to particular fire regimes (typical patterns of fire size, frequency, seasonality, and severity). Major departures from those historical regimes can push ecosystems into new states.
What kinds of changes in fire behavior are highlighted as increasing risk of conversion?
The notice emphasizes that when fires become larger, more frequent, or more severe than what local forests historically experienced, post-fire regeneration may fail or shift toward different vegetation assemblages, raising the risk of conversion away from conifer forests.
What drivers of intensifying fire impacts are identified in the opportunity?
The opportunity points to multiple drivers, including increased fuel loading and fuel connectivity, weather conditions that raise flammability and accelerate fire spread, land-use legacies (such as past excessive grazing and long-term fire exclusion), and contemporary climate change signals.
How do fuels factor into the problem described in the opportunity?
It notes that increased fuel loading and fuel connectivity can allow fire to spread more continuously and intensely across landscapes, which can increase the likelihood that fires exceed ecological thresholds and contribute to lasting vegetation change.
What role do land-use legacies play according to the opportunity description?
Land-use legacies mentioned include past excessive grazing and long-term fire exclusion. These legacies can alter forest structure and fuel conditions, contributing to more severe or extensive fire effects than would occur under historical conditions.
How does climate change factor into this funding opportunity?
The opportunity specifically highlights rising temperatures and increased vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Together, these can dry fuels and vegetation, intensify fire behavior, and make post-fire recovery more challenging, increasing the risk of conversion.
What is vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and why is it mentioned?
VPD is mentioned as a contemporary climate-related signal associated with drying conditions. The opportunity frames increased VPD, along with rising temperatures, as contributing to drier fuels and vegetation that can worsen fire behavior and complicate ecosystem recovery.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award is capped at $35,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates one expected award.
What does the small award size and single expected award suggest about project scope?
Based on the listing, it suggests a limited-scope project or a discrete component of a larger research effort, focused on targeted analysis relevant to fire-driven vegetation change.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.808.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to CESU partners. The listing indicates “Others” and notes that additional eligibility language is included in the full notice.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was July 10, 2019, and the original closing date was July 26, 2019, reflecting a short application window.
What geographic area is emphasized for the research?
The opportunity emphasizes the southwestern United States and, more broadly, the western United States, focusing on conifer forest ecosystems.
What kinds of outcomes or value does the opportunity emphasize?
The stated value is scientific and management-relevant: improving analysis and understanding of where and why vegetation type conversion is happening, and what conditions make it more likely under changing fire regimes, fuel conditions, land-use legacies, and a warming, drying climate.
What is the expected relationship between the recipient and USGS during the project?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, the work is expected to include active coordination and shared involvement between USGS staff and the selected recipient, rather than minimal agency involvement.
Is this opportunity described as discretionary or formula-based?
It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the overarching problem statement driving this opportunity?
The opportunity is motivated by the growing wildfire problem in western forests, including increases in fire size, frequency, area burned, and severity, and the concern that these changes can push ecosystems beyond historical conditions and lead to persistent shifts in vegetation types.
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