L26AS00064 FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps - Bureau wide      

The Headquarters Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices have collaborated with Qualified Youth Corps, as authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC), to accomplish natural and cultural resource-focused projects for numerous years. This program"s projects provide opportunities to gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management. Through their BLM experience, youth gain an appreciation for public lands, learn about natural resource management careers, and become the next generation of public lands stewards. The BLM Youth Program helps the agency accomplish projects across all program areas in support of the BLM"s multiple-use mission. The BLM Youth Program partners with qualified youth corps through the Public Lands Corp (PLC) Program to engage individuals between the ages of 16 and 30 (inclusive) and veterans up to age 35 (inclusive), including tribal members. The PLC program mandates employing youth who are interested in working on natural and cultural resource projects that protect public lands.Projects available under the PLC Program are developed in collaboration with the State Youth Program Lead and District/Field Office project coordinators. The projects emphasize hands-on engagement in on-the-ground projects, skill development training, and mentorship opportunities for participants. These projects create jobs that strengthen America"s economy and foster relationships with youth corps organizations striving for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.Proposed projects within this funding opportunity notice will support the goals of the PLC Program and may also incorporate the goals of the Indian Youth Service Corps Program through outreach to Indian tribes and tribal-serving youth corps organizations. Projects will include the following:Enhancement of recreation opportunities through trail building, maintenance and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities (e.g. kiosks, campgrounds, signage etc.).Monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data as well as timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat and overall forest health.Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc.Development and implementation of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational materials for visitors.Studies such as resource inventories, historic or archival research, archaeological excavation or stabilization, oral histories, historic preservation, habitat surveys, etc.Preservation of cultural resources, including historic structures.Seed collection for restoration of lands affected by natural disastersReduction of wildfire risk to communities, watersheds, and other public land ecosystems.Production of materials and programs on natural, cultural, and/or paleontological resources, communication, education, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources.In-house projects, such as cartography, records management, realty or wildland fire support, must demonstrate a clear benefit to natural or cultural resources and include a field component of at least 120 hours.

Broadly, the objective is to develop partnerships to improve access to, and use of, heritage resources, and promote their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational values in a manner that meets U.S. Department of the Interior priorities and Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program goals. Individual projects shall meet one or more of the following objectives.Conduct studies, including inventory, excavation, records research, and collections-based research to improve the understanding of America"s natural and cultural history;Monitor at-risk heritage resources to track trends in condition and project effectiveness;Stabilize at-risk heritage resources;Train future cultural resource management practitioners and paleontologists through research projects, field schools and internships that highlight BLM resources;Assist with cultural heritage data and records management activities such as organizing, maintaining, and scanning site and survey records; creating, digitizing and maintaining geospatial data; and performing data entry;Preserve existing collections at recognized curation facilities through such activities as archival housing, stabilization or conservation;Broaden public access to museum collections;Promote engagement with Native American communities and foster partnerships with tribal governments and programs;Promote public engagement, learning opportunities, and conservation/preservation ethics through heritage resources education and outreach programs, events, and products;Develop and maintain historic sites with interpretive and educational potential.Partner to support BLM"s Tribal consultation efforts

The Rangeland Management program conducts inventories, assessments and evaluations of soil and vegetation conditions and land health. Monitoring data is collected and analyzed to ensure progress toward meeting land health standards.Funded projects under this program will focus on high priority work effecting the program nationally by crossing state boundaries, such as, activities that support maintaining or achieving land health and productivity, increasing soil carbon sequestration, and creating resilient landscapes to benefit current and future generations. These activities could include, but are not limited to, such things as:Facilitating the restoration of rangelands.Soils mapping and development of ecological site descriptions.Engagement of community members and other stakeholders, through mentoring, training, and educational programs.