Sec. 8. Grasslands conservation grant program
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Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and other heads of relevant Federal agencies, shall establish a competitive grant program through which the Commission shall award amounts to eligible entities to carry out eligible projects to support voluntary grasslands conservation projects, including projects— to conserve intact grasslands at risk of conversion to cropland or residential or commercial development; to restore degraded grasslands and improve grasslands health; to restore marginal cropland or idle land back to grasslands; to increase carbon sequestration and ecological function in soils and improve the resilience of grasslands; to support habitat and habitat connectivity for native grasslands and sagebrush birds, pollinators, plants, and other wildlife, including big game species; to restore and enhance watersheds through grasslands restoration, management, and conservation; to increase adoption of grasslands conservation, restoration, and management practices; and carried out by Indian Tribes to protect culturally significant flora and fauna through the use of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to grasslands ecosystems.
To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Council an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director determines appropriate, which shall include a description of the project the eligible entity intends to carry out with such a grant. In awarding grants under the Program, the Commission shall prioritize grants to eligible entities the intended projects of which advance the goals of the Conservation Strategy.
In awarding grants under the Program, the Commission shall consider the recommendations made to the Commission by the Council under section 9. An eligible entity may use a grant awarded under the Program to carry out grasslands conservation projects, including— voluntary conservation easements; grasslands restoration; management activities, including— voluntary incentives to producers for prescribed burns; removal of pinyon juniper, eastern red cedar, salt cedar, or any other encroaching woody species; management of invasive species; maintenance and monitoring of new or ongoing grasslands conservation projects; advanced grazing management activities; drought monitoring and preparedness activities; management activities informed by Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, including through cultural burns to manage ecosystems to manage, conserve, or restore native flora and fauna; and such other restoration and management activities identified in the Conservation Strategy or otherwise determined appropriate by the Director; grasslands ecosystem education, outreach, and conservation stewardship assistance, which may include— field days; grazing management training programs; conservation planning; and education and outreach relating to— grazing management; control of invasive species; beneficial fire; native seed crop systems research, in accordance with the research carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 10; land access, generational land transfers, and ensuring ranchland viability; best management practices relating to grasslands ecosystems; participation in carbon and ecosystem markets; payment for ecosystem or conservation services; and safeguarding and ensuring the perpetuation of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to grasslands ecosystems; and such other activities that— benefit grasslands and associated wildlife and enable increased adoption of grasslands conservation, restoration, and management practices; and are consistent with the Conservation Strategy.
For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), any restoration activity shall prioritize a diverse mix of appropriately sourced native grasses and forbs, with such exceptions as the Director determines to be appropriate for ecologically appropriate noninvasive and nonnative species. An eligible entity that carries out a project pursuant to a grant awarded under the Program shall be eligible with respect to such project for a safe harbor agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Director shall grant or otherwise provide up to 10 percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under section 13(a)(1) to Federal agencies, eligible entities, and other individuals and entities, including foreign land management agencies, for the purpose of assisting such agencies, entities, and individuals in carrying out grasslands conservation projects in Mexico and Canada that— have been recommended by the Council; and meet the goals of the Conservation Strategy.
For each fiscal year, of the amounts made available to carry out the Program, the Director shall set aside not less than 10 percent of such amounts to provide grants to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations working with 1 or more Indian Tribes. Subject to paragraph (2), the non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out an eligible project using amounts from a grant awarded under the Program— shall be not less than 25 percent, including in-kind contributions; and may not be derived from a Federal grant program.
The Director shall waive the cost-share requirement under paragraph
(1)for grants awarded under the Program to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. The Council shall establish waiver criteria under which the Commission may waive the cost-share requirement under paragraph (1), in whole or in part, for grants awarded under the Program to eligible entities other than Indian Tribes. An eligible entity that is awarded a grant under this section may use such grant award for reasonable administrative costs relating to that grant.