• Maintain strong renewable resources programs within the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources by focusing on integration of disciplines and management of the total landscape.
  
  
• Enable landowners, managers, and communities to clarify goals and objectives for owning and managing renewable resources, evaluating natural resources in a holistic manner and utilizing integrated management approaches.

• Conduct educational programs for landowners and managers to identify, plan, and apply integrated renewable resource management practices for conservation and profit.

• Provide objective, reliable information to public interest groups and to policy makers about renewable resource issues.

• Inform landowners, managers and communities of land use policy decisions and provide objective analysis of the available management methods and their impacts on ranch or forest operations.

• To promote the use of 'best management practices' on public and private wildlands through educational programs utilizing workshops, field demonstrations, training sessions, and published information manuals.

• Demonstrate relevance to UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources program priorities and target issues.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

A Technical Advisory Committee will review proposals. Education and Extension must be the main goal of the proposals. Research proposals will not be considered.

Reviewers will use the following criteria when evaluating and ranking the proposals:

RREA projects will be awarded for the federal fiscal year of October 1-September 30. Proposal submitters will be notified of funding decisions by late October 2007. Funds must be expended by September 30, 2008. Funds are available for both short and multi-year projects. For multi-year projects, funds will be awarded on a yearly basis subject to availability and satisfactory progress and continuing need of the project.

Who may apply:

One of the primary purposes of the California RREA program is to build internal capacity of Cooperative Extension Advisors and Specialists to respond to renewable resource issues. Both Cooperative Extension Advisors and Specialists are eligible to apply. Agricultural Experiment Station and other researchers/faculty are also eligible for funding when working with Cooperative Extension Advisors or Specialists.

A secondary but important purpose of RREA funding is to build natural resource programming capacity within Cooperative Extension. To this end, the resulting projects funded by RREA should result in CE advisors and specialists engaged in natural resource programs. Projects that result in this kind of involvement will receive priority for funding. Using RREA funds for outside consultants or projects where the major effort is not from CE is discouraged except in unusual circumstances.

Application Procedure:

Please address the project selection criteria (number shown in parentheses) within the proposal section indicated below. A complete proposal includes:

1. Cover Sheet

Use the web-based form provided.

2. Project Description

Please limit this section to no more than 5 pages and include the following:

A) Background Rationale

Explicitly and succinctly describe the problem or opportunity addressed by this proposal and its significance. (Criterion 1)

B) Purpose and Objectives

What is the overall purpose of the project? The list of objectives should be brief and logically related to the solution of the problem or the opportunity identified. (Criteria 1 & 2)

C) Related and Current Work in the Area

What work has already been done or is underway to solve this problem? (Criterion 3)

D) Methods

Describe how you plan to achieve each objective. Describe the role of each of the major participants and include a general schedule for major work items. (Criterion 4)

E) Justification/Relevance

How will the project benefit and sustain natural resources in your County or the State? Briefly describe community interest/support. (Criteria 2, 5)

F) Impact Evaluation & Information Transfer

What methods will be used to measure and evaluate the short-term and long-term benefits to natural resources? Describe how the results of the project will be disseminated to the intended audience. (Criterion 6)

3. Proposed Budget (including Budget Narrative)

The budget must be completed, including a narrative that describes the proposed costs, such as type and duration of positions, type and location of travel. A complete explanation of all current and pending support (cash or in-kind) listing the source, amount and effective dates should also be provided. To what other organization(s) has this proposal been submitted? (Criterion 7)

Many RREA projects result in products such as publications, videos and other communication media related to natural resources. Development costs and production costs can be included in RREA proposal requests. However, ANR Communication Services Unit should be consulted regarding costs and timeline. Whenever possible, the ANR publications process, including peer review by the program identified Associate Editors, is encouraged and this will be considered when funding decisions are made. ANR Communication Services will provide estimates regarding printing and other cost estimates. These should be included in the proposal with a clear indication of their purpose and how they were derived. Note that printing and other associated production costs will not be included in funded proposals but will be set aside for direct billing with ANR Communication Services. If production outside of the ANR Communication Services Unit is necessary, a strong justification should be included in your proposal.

Some RREA projects include costs for meetings, including room rentals, refreshments, AV equipment, speaker travel, etc. It is expected that a reasonable meeting fee should be charged to recover these costs and they should not be part of the RREA proposal request. They should be listed as additional support for the project. In limited cases, some or all of the meeting costs might need to be borne by the meeting organizers. If RREA funding will be used for these expenses, clear justification of need should be included in your proposal.

4. Applicant History

Provide a brief history of the applicant, including other related project information. (Criterion 8)

5. Additional considerations:

• The general funding range is from $6,000 - $12,000.

• Projects that include matching funds or funds from other sources are encouraged.

• Equipment purchases are not generally allowable. If equipment is essential for this project, a complete justification, including disposition of equipment at the end of the grant, must be included.

• Funds used for salaries must cover employee benefits associated with general assistance hire.

• All allocated grant funds must be used by September 30, 2008 and no extensions will be considered.

• Multiple year projects will be considered. Projects requiring multi-year funding must submit renewal applications each year.

Submit completed application online by 5:00 pm on September 10, 2007. Awards will be made by late October 2007.