This research focuses on the following objectives:
This work requires regional invasive plant and herbicide expertise in support of habitat restoration on Air Force installations located in Florida to comply with the Sikes Act. Installations of concern are Avon Park AF Range (south central FL), Cape Canaveral AFS (Cocoa Beach), Eglin AFB (Destin), Homestead ARB (Homestead), MacDill AFB (Tampa), Patrick AFB (Cocoa Beach), and Tyndall AFB (Panama City). The Cooperator will have the ability to evaluate current, EPA and state-approved herbicides against Florida-specific invasive weeds, such as, but not limited to Brazilian pepper trees. Collaboration requires a detailed comprehension of integrated pest management, the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide and Rodenticide Act, Florida state law, problematic regional invasive plants, and protected and endangered species within the installations listed above. The Cooperator must have an ability to communicate via Internet with AF Active Duty, Civil Service and commercially contracted pest management personnel who may work invasive plant management on AF installations located within the state. The Cooperator will have the ability to travel and gain access to Florida AF installations, evaluate invasive plant types and regional distribution specific to the installations, and perform bioassays of current herbicides with a focus on determining alternatives to glyphosate. Additionally, the Cooperator will have the capacity to develop online training (live and recorded) for AF natural resources, pest management, and Florida-certified commercial weed management herbicide applicators. The Cooperator will have the ability to establish online training concerning invasive plant control to bolster habitat restoration benefiting protected species, which may and do occur in areas under Air Force stewardship.
Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: The RSOI are required to be out for a minimum of 10 working days. Review of Statements of Interest will begin 21 July 2021.
ELIGIBILITY: This funding opportunity is ONLY available for Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units under the Gulf Coast Region, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast Region, and South Florida-Caribbean Region.