[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29515]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 30, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2119]

 

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program: Request for Proposals for 
the Tropical Ecosystems Directorate

    The Tropical Ecosystems Directorate (TED) of the U.S. Man and the 
Biosphere Program (U.S. MAB) announces a call for research and activity 
proposals addressing the theme of sustainable use of tropical forest 
resources. A total of $60,000 is available to support a small number of 
research and activity grants, in the range of $10,000 to $20,000 which 
will be awarded in the summer of 1995. Preference will be given to 
proposals which focus on the Tri-National Region of Belize, Guatemala, 
and/or Mexico and complement the core project activities of the TED. 
Persons interested in applying for these grants are encouraged to first 
obtain a copy of the TED core project, ``A Regional Approach for 
Sustainable Development and the Conservation of Natural Resources in 
the Maya Tri-National Region of Belize, Guatemala and Mexico,'' from 
the U.S. MAB Secretariat.

Funding Objectives

    The U.S. MAB/TED small grant program is intended to directly foster 
cross-border cooperation, research, and exchange of information to 
promote the sustainable management of tropical forests in the Tri-
National Region. Given limited available funding and the purpose of the 
program, U.S. MAB/TED places highest priority on activities that are 
bi- or tri-national in nature. In addition, U.S. MAB/TED funding can 
assist research teams and/or activity projects to: add a national 
researcher to their effort; better integrate conservation and 
sustainable development; add a particular discipline to an ongoing 
research project; explore the application of ongoing site-specific 
research to an additional site in the Maya Tri-National region; or 
carry out activities complementary to the TED project in the region. 
U.S. MAB/TED funding will not be provided for planning purposes.

Focal Issues

    Within the broad thematic focus of sustainable use of tropical 
forest resources in the Maya Tri-National Region, U.S. MAB/TED 
encourages research projects and activities addressing focal issues 
such as community-based production systems, tropical forest management 
for timber and/or non-timber products, economic valuation and 
accounting of tropical forest products and services, benefits and costs 
of low impact uses such as ecotourism, or integration of biodiversity 
conservation with production forestry. Proposals which focus on other 
issues should be consistent with and complementary to the U.S. MAB/TED 
core project activities.

Proposal Content

    Each proposal should have a title page, a one-page synopsis of the 
proponent's existing research project if any, a one-page synopsis of 
the proposed activities, and up to five pages detailing the proposed 
use of U.S. MAB/TED funds that would be complementary of the TED core 
program, and a one-page itemized budget including personnel, travel, 
operations, equipment/supplies, and justification. All sources of 
income for the project must be included in the budget. No funds are 
available for institutional overhead; only direct costs can be 
supported.

Evaluation and Review Process

    A review panel of the U.S. MAB Tropical Ecosystems Directorate will 
evaluate the proposals based on the following criteria:

--Degree of relevance to TED core program objectives;
--Bi-national or tri-national nature of the research or activity;
--Applicability to promoting sustainable use of tropical forest 
resources in the Maya Tri-National Region;
--Degree of involvement of host country investigators;
--The quality and demonstrated productivity of the principal 
investigators.

    Persons interested in applying should first submit a one to two 
page project prospectus by January 31, 1995. This prospectus should 
provide a brief description of the proposed project and explain how the 
project meets U.S. MAB/TED selection criteria. The prospectus should 
include a simple four-item budget (salaries, equipment/materials, 
travel, other costs). The U.S. MAB/TED will review the prospectuses and 
invite full proposals by March 10, 1995.
    Invitees will have until June 16, 1995 to submit a full proposal. 
The U.S. MAB/TED will evaluate all proposals and make final decisions 
by July 14, 1995. Funds will be committed to the managing institutions 
identified in the proposals during August 1995. Principles will receive 
from the U.S. MAB Secretariat copies of all U.S. MAB/TED review 
evaluations of their proposals and a written notification of the 
directorate's decision on their proposal.
    For further information contact Dr. Roger Soles, U.S. MAB 
Secretariat, OES/EGC/MAB, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522. 
Tel. (703)-235-2946, Fax. (703)-235-3002.

Submission of Proposals

    Mail prospectuses and proposals to: U.S. MAB Secretariat, OES/EGC/
MAB, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20522. Attention: 
Tropical Ecosystems Directorate.
    The deadline for prospectus is January 31, 1995. The deadline for 
invited proposals is June 15, 1995.

    Dated: November 14, 1994.
Roger E. Soles,
Executive Director, U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program, Office of 
Global Change.
[FR Doc. 94-29515 Filed 11-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M