Guidance for Developing Effective Science and Research Partnerships and Products that Support BLM Management Decisions

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240http://www.blm.gov/March 30, 2016 In Reply Refer To:1104 (100) P EMS TRANSMISSION 04/12/2016Instruction Memorandum No. 2016-074Expires: 09/30/2019 To:                    All Washington Office and Field Office Officials                         Attn:  Science Coordinators; Grant, Agreement, and Contract Specialists; State Office Program Leads From:                Acting Deputy Director, Operations Subject:            Guidance for Developing Effective Science and Research Partnerships and Products that Support Bureau of Land Management Management Decisions Program Areas:  All program areas Purpose:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) directs program staff to use the guidance attached for initiating and managing science-based partnerships and products that respond to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) science information needs in support of management decisions. Policy/Action: All BLM program staff will implement the attached guidance for initiating and managing science partnerships.  This guidance will help BLM field managers succeed in fulfilling the BLM’s mission by effectively initiating and maintaining science partnerships that provide timely and relevant science information for making management decisions. When seeking to fill a management need for science information, staff are directed to search the BLM Directory of Science Partners first to identify if any existing partnerships currently meet that need, or could be leveraged to do so.  Similarly, new partnerships must be input into the directory to ensure that other staff has the best opportunity to leverage existing partners and products.  The science partnership website includes various partnership resources, including a desktop guide for establishing partnerships, Statement of Programmatic Involvement (SPI), and links to highlighted science providers and partnership examples. Timeframe:  This IM is effective upon receipt.  Budget Impact:  This guidance will have minimal impact to budgets. Background: The BLM managers use science (along with other information and considerations) in making land-use management decisions.  The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, or the BLM’s Organic Act), which gave the BLM its basic land management mission, calls for the use of interdisciplinary, integrated science information, and for cooperative scientific investigations, studies, and experiments.  Similarly, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 mandates a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to ensure an integrated use of natural and social sciences during planning and decision-making. Increasingly diversified public interests and demands are making the management of BLM lands and the related decision making process more complex.  The BLM must have access to a wider variety of products and services and must respond to changing ecological conditions while continuing to maintain the health of public lands. More than ever, the BLM needs current and relevant scientific information to safeguard the land’s environmental, scientific, and economic benefits most effectively.  Scientific partnerships and collaborations will continue to help the BLM obtain the information and assistance it needs.  Across the landscape and at the local level, these partnerships and collaborations are critical to the BLM’s continued resource management success.  At the local level, collaboration and partnerships help develop and foster shared management strategies, public awareness, and the support needed for effective resource stewardship.  Partnerships are equally vital at the broader, landscape level, where the diversity of land ownerships (federal, tribal, state, county, municipal, and private) can complicate effective responses to widespread environmental challenges. Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None. Coordination: This IM has been coordinated with all Assistant Directors, the Field Committee, Core Science Team, the National Science Committee, and Grant and Agreements Specialists.  Contact: Heidi Hadley, National Science Advisor (WO-200), Matt Preston, Science Advisor, National Conservation Lands (WO-400), or Stephanie Miller, Program Manager (OR-933).  Signed by:                                                               Authenticated by:Mike Pool                                                                Robert M. WilliamsActing, Deputy Director, Operations                       Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870  2 Attachments        1 – Initiation and Management of a Science Partnership (6 pp)       2 – Desk Guide for Initiation and Management of a Science Partnership (2 pp)