Enhancing Recreation and Conservation in Environments Shared by Humans and Bats Through Input from Visitors in National Parks | P18AS00457

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00457

This funding opportunity, titled "Enhancing Recreation and Conservation in Environments Shared by Humans and Bats Through Input from Visitors in National Parks" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00457), is a National Park Service effort under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on improving how national parks manage and interpret show caves where visitors and bat populations share the same space. The project sits at the intersection of recreation management, wildlife conservation, and public education, with a specific emphasis on caves as sensitive natural resources and bats as ecologically important (and often misunderstood) wildlife. The overall intent is to strengthen park decision-making by adding a stronger social science foundation to how parks design visitor experiences and communicate conservation needs.

The core purpose of the project is to understand what visitors want to do in caves and how they feel about bats and cave stewardship. Rather than treating park visitors as a single group, the project explicitly aims to capture a wide range of perspectives, including school groups, outdoor recreation and education organizations, dedicated cave enthusiasts, and more casual tourists. By gathering input across these audiences, the National Park Service can better understand differences in motivations, knowledge levels, concerns, and willingness to support conservation actions. That kind of information can directly influence how parks manage cave access, set expectations for visitor behavior, and communicate why certain protections are necessary.

A second major focus is evaluating the education and interpretation methods parks currently use to teach visitors about bats and cave resources. This includes looking at what is already being presented to the public and judging which techniques are most engaging, memorable, and effective at improving understanding and encouraging responsible behavior. The goal is not simply to provide more information, but to identify approaches that actually connect with visitors and motivate stewardship. Results from this evaluation are meant to inform future interpretive programs, which could include ranger talks, signage, guided tour content, and other visitor-facing communication.

A third objective is to more deliberately integrate social science into National Park Service education efforts and management decisions. In practice, this means using structured methods such as surveys, interviews, observation, and other forms of visitor research to produce evidence that can guide policy and programming. Instead of relying mainly on anecdotal feedback or assumptions about visitor attitudes, parks can use the findings to make more defensible choices about how to balance access, enjoyment, and protection of cave ecosystems and bat populations.

The project also emphasizes relationship-building and developing a shared understanding of what it means to balance stewardship with enjoyment of public lands. Caves are singled out as particularly unique and valuable resources, which often require careful management due to their fragile geology, specialized ecosystems, and the sensitivity of wildlife that depends on them. By involving visitors and considering their perspectives, the effort aims to reduce conflict, improve trust, and encourage a culture where people see cave conservation as part of a high-quality park experience rather than an obstacle to recreation.

Another explicit outcome is educational and professional development for University of Tennessee staff and students. The project is designed to provide real-world experience in national parks, allowing participants to apply their training in social science and related fields to practical conservation challenges. This creates benefits on both sides: parks gain additional capacity and expertise to conduct visitor-focused research and improve programs, while students and professionals gain hands-on experience working in applied conservation and public lands management.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement within the Natural Resources activity category (CFDA 15.945). The anticipated funding is relatively modest, with an award ceiling of $46,104 and one expected award. Importantly, this notice is not an open call for applications. It is a notice of intent to partner with the University of Tennessee under an existing cooperative agreement, and it states that no applications will be accepted. In other words, the funding is intended for a specific partnership arrangement rather than a competitive grant process.

In summary, the opportunity funds a targeted collaboration to collect and apply visitor input about caves and bats in national parks, assess and improve how parks educate the public about these resources, and strengthen management decisions through social science. It also supports workforce development by involving University of Tennessee professionals and students in on-the-ground work that connects visitor experience design with conservation outcomes in sensitive cave environments.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhancing Recreation and Conservation in Environments Shared by Humans and Bats Through Input from Visitors in National Parks" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 23, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Notice of intent to partner with University of Tennessee under existing cooperative agreement. No applications will be accepted.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $46,104.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for P18AS00457

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