Description
The New Mexico/Oklahoma/Texas/Kansas (NM) State BLM offices have partnered with Youth Conservation Corps to accomplish priority stewardship, restoration, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historical, archaeological, recreational, or scenic resource conservation projects over the past twenty years. Projects completed under these agreements have provided participants an avenue of employment in addition to opportunities to gain experience and knowledge in public lands and natural resources issues and promote their continued interest in the BLM. Youth agreements assist BLM with diversifying the workforce while exposing participants to the complex cultural and natural resource issues faced by managers of the National System for Public Lands.The primary objective of the BLM-NM youth program is to work with a qualified Youth Conservation Corps to engage youth, veterans, tribal youth, and others ages 16-30 from local and surrounding communities across NM to assist completing projects that help protect and promote multiple-use conservation projects on public lands. Projects made available under this NOFO are developed in collaboration with the NM Youth Program State Lead and District/Field Offices with an emphasis on providing valuable on the ground projects, training and mentorship opportunities to participants. The BLM-NM is committed to connecting diverse youth to their public lands and natural and culture heritage through providing service projects, recreational experiences, and especially natural resource-based employment and educational opportunities, including scientific studies. These projects will also promote job creation that will strengthen Americaâ¿¿s economy and foster relationships with Youth Conservation Corps advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands. Participants will be mentored by BLM professionals to acquire new skills and gain experience in natural and cultural resource management. Through their BLM experience they will also gain an appreciation for public lands and learn about conservation-related career fields.In addition, the public will have improved access to sustainable recreation, hunting, and wildlife opportunities on BLM administered lands within the BLM-NM. Projects developed within this funding opportunity are in support of DOI priorities. Projects developed for this fiscal year are include Section B4, but not limited to: â¿¢Enhance recreation opportunities by trail building; maintenance and other restoration; other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities; kiosks; campground improvements; and installation of signsâ¿¢Monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data, timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat and overall forest healthâ¿¢Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc.â¿¢Studies such as scientific, historic, archival, archaeological digs, oral histories, historic preservation, and habitat surveys etc.â¿¢Developing and implementing natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or developing educational and informational materials for visitors.â¿¢Performance of studies such as resource inventories; historic or archival research; archaeological digs; oral histories; historic preservation, habitat surveys, etc.â¿¢Preservation of cultural resources, including historic structures.â¿¢Reduction of wildfire risk to communities, watersheds, and public land ecosystems.â¿¢Monitoring and studies of rare plant populationsThe focused projects are organized: 1) in a crew-based format where the participants work collectively and intensely together under supervision of trained and experienced crew leaders or conservation professionals; or 2) as individuals or small teams under the direction of conservation professionals on specific individual tasks, which requires dedicated attention.In either case, participants should be directly supervised by trained and experienced crew leaders or staff from the partner organization. BLM conservation professionals may provide project guidance and mentoring, but may not serve as direct supervisors. While there is no maximum number of hours that a Public Lands Corps (PLC) participant may serve, an individual may not be assigned to the same PLC project for more than two years for part-time work, and no more than one year for full-time work.