NSRC Releases 2023 RFP for Northern Forest Research Funding
CRSF is pleased to share news that the Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC) has announced the release of their 2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) for research across the Northern Forest in support of a vibrant and thriving economy and culture rooted in forest health. CRSF represents the University of Maine’s collaboration in this regional cooperative, which encompasses the 26-million-acre forested region spanning the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
NSRC expects to award nearly $5.5 million in funding for projects that will begin in spring 2024. Research projects may range from small seed grants to three-year research efforts, with budgets ranging from $75,000 to $500,000. The expectation is that NSRC will be able to fund between 15 and 25 projects in response to this RFP.
NSRC seeks proposals addressing (1) the state of the forest, (2) measuring and quantifying impacts, (3) developing tools for response, and/or (4) rural community and economic development.
“The Forest Service looks forward to building our partnership and research collaborations in the Northern Forest, and we look forward to the good work emanating from NSRC research,” stated US Forest Service NSRC Federal Coordinator Dr. Daniel Dey.
Successful proposals will clearly articulate the research question, the rationale for why that question is important, and the strategy for making research results actionable.
Participation in this RFP is open to scientists, resource managers, policymakers, and others pursuing research relevant to forest lands in Maine, New Hampshire, the northern tier of New York, and Vermont. Participation by US Forest Service personnel in projects is encouraged. Special conditions apply to Forest Service employees who submit proposals as PIs or Co-PIs.
“NSRC has provided vital regional research funding for nearly two decades. Ongoing challenges to Northern Forest communities require comprehensive, cutting-edge science and research to provide the understanding needed for our communities to thrive,” noted Aaron Weiskittel, Director of UMaine’s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests.
Proposals that are led by and/or are relevant to Indigenous and Tribal Nations communities in the region and that have regional applicability are encouraged. A separate RFP for the NSRC Indigenous Forest Knowledge Fund is forthcoming.
For more information on the current RFP, ongoing projects, and previous awards, visit the NSRC website.
Timeline: Interested researchers are required to submit a letter of intent by August 28, 2023; proposals are due September 26, 2023. Letters of intent are required to be eligible to submit a proposal, but there will be no assessment of the intellectual or technical merit of the proposed project. Notification of final proposal selections will be made in February 2024, and funding will be awarded in time for the 2024 field season.
###
The Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC) is a competitive grant program for Northern Forest research, jointly directed through the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, and a designated institution in each of the four Northern Forest states: the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire, the Center for Research on Sustainable Forests at the University of Maine, the Department of Sustainable Resources Management at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the State University of New York. Funding is provided by the US Congress through the USDA Forest Service. The NSRC and its partner institutions are equal opportunity providers.