The Interagency Joint Fire Science Program has announced its Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for wildland fire research priorities.
Nearly $11 million will be awarded to federal, state, Tribal, and local governments, other Tribal entities, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private groups to advance wildland fire research and scientific exchange.
The funding opportunity is supported by annually appropriated funds and the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Joint Fire Science Program aims to provide scientific studies to support land management and address issues associated with wildland fire, fuel, and fire-impacted ecosystems.
This year, the Joint Fire Science Program is soliciting proposals in three areas: Primary, Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN), and Regional Fire Science Exchange.
Details of the proposals can be found on the “Funding” tab at firescience.gov.
The Primary announcement seeks proposals on several topics, including accelerating science to action in fire-prone ecosystems, cultural burning, interactions between invasive plants and fire regimes, and social equity and wildland fire impacts.
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) anticipates awarding up to $6 million in funding under this category.
The Graduate Research Innovation category invites current master’s and doctoral students studying wildland fire or related sciences to apply.
Proposals will be considered on topics such as fuels management, fire behavior, emissions, air quality, fire effects, and post-fire recovery.
The BLM expects to award between $300,000 to $500,000 in this category.
The Regional Fire Science Exchange announcement focuses on leading and executing regional fire science exchanges in five geographic areas: Alaska, Great Basin, Northern Rockies, Northwest, and Pacific.
The BLM anticipates awarding close to $4.1 million for this initiative, depending on program funding availability.
The Fire Science Exchange Network is a collaboration of 15 regional fire science exchanges.
It provides the latest wildland fire science information to land managers within similar ecological regions.
It connects fire managers, scientists, and other stakeholders to address regional fire management needs and challenges.
Proposals are due by September 19, 2024, through https://www.firescience.gov.
