The North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NALCC) is a coordinated network of natural resource managers and partners in the Northeast Region. The NALCC Priority Science Program invests in landscape conservation by leveraging the regional expertise and funding resources to best understand and protect the natural resources shared across the region. The NALCC has announced a request for proposals for research to support two priority topics ? floodplain assessment and rare plant conservation.

The floodplain habitats of rivers are one such shared, valuable resource in the Northeast.  Floodplain ecosystems are valuable because of their rich biological diversity and the many ecological benefits they provide, such as habitat for a large variety of wildlife and plants and their ability to dissipate the power of streams and rivers during flood events. Recently, conservationists have developed methods to consistently assess these areas and evaluate how their high quality habitats can be sustained and provide long-term water quality benefits and reduce the damage from floods. The North Atlantic LCC is seeking proposals to apply consistent assessment of river corridors and floodplains throughout the region in order to prioritize conservation action.

Rare plants are a critical component of biological diversity but are typically under-represented in conservation planning due to limited federal and state funding for rare plants. A collaborative effort to identify conservation priorities for plants across the Northeast U.S. and Maritime Canada could raise the profile of rare plants, result in a more refined assessment of which species need specific conservation action at the regional scale, and advance efforts in support of their conservation. The North Atlantic LCC has actively supported and participated in successful efforts to identify regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need for species of fish and wildlife. A comparable effort for plants would complement efforts for animals and could inform regional conservation planning and design efforts (e.g., Regional Conservation Opportunity Areas).

There is up to $100,000 available to support floodplain research and $50,000 in funding for rare plant projects. Projects are expected to be completed within 2 years. Proposals are due September 18, 2015.  Please read the RFP for more information.