North and West Alaska

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

Peter FixAssistant Professor, SNRAS

Lois Dalle-MolleResearch Coordinator, NPS

o CESUWhat is it? Why is it?

o National NetworkRegions, Universities, Agencies

o NWA CESUAgenciesUniversity and Partners

o Benefits – (what’s in it for you?)

o How does it work?

Government/university partnerships based on university campuses, organized into a national network

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units

Legislative Directiono In 1998 P.L. 105-391 (§203) authorized and

directed the Secretary of the Interior “to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including but not limited to land grant schools, in partnership with other federal and state agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research…”.

o Thus, a network of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units was developed.

CESU Mission

A network of cooperative research units established to provide

research

technical assistance

education

To resource and environmental managers

federal land management

environmental and research agencies

potential partners

cooperative• Multiple Federal agencies and universities are among the

partners in this program. Each CESU involves several agencies and several universities and partners.

ecosystem studies involves disciplines needed to address resource issues and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context

• biological sciences

• physical sciences

• social sciences

• cultural sciences

resources encompass natural and cultural resources.

Participating Agencies

US Fish & Wildlife Service

US Geological Survey Bureau of Land

Management Bureau of Reclamation National Park Service Agricultural Research

Service USDA Forest Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service

National Marine Fisheries Service

Department of Defense Department of Energy Environmental Protection

Agency National Aeronautics &

Space Administration other agencies to be added

in the future

First Inventory of CESU Projects

Figure 2. Number of Projects by Project Discipline,CESU National Network, CYs 99-01

(N=508 Projects)

122

51

45

81

209

0 50 100 150 200 250

Interdisciplinary

Cultural

Social

Physical

Biological

ProjectDiscipline

Number of Projects

Key Elements of Each CESU

host university

multiple federal agencies

partner institutions (at least 1 minority institution)

role and mission statement

managers committee

strategic plan and annual work plans

agencies provides research needs

university provides research expertise

Basic Strategy for CESUs universities provide space, faculty expertise,

students and educational services agencies provide scientists, project funds individual scientists supervised by their

participating agency oversight of support, project funds by participating

agency agencies and universities collaborate on projects network led by national CESU Council

Federal Agency

• research needs

Universities

• research expertise

CESU

Facilitates collaborative projects

Benefits to Agencies broadened scope of scientific services multidisciplinary problem-solving at several

ecological scales increased collaboration among federal agencies,

universities and scientists increased research, technical assistance and

education for resource managers

access to new technology

Benefits to Agencies (continued)

increased diversity of scientists, disciplines and institutions

professional development opportunities for agency scientists and employees

improved collaboration between natural and cultural resource managers

reduced costs through collaborative research, technical assistance and education

expanded constituency for federal science

The “real deal”

Bureaucracy 101…

Benefits to Universities

increased collaboration among faculty, students and agency scientists

augmented faculty for teaching and graduate student supervision

increased opportunity for multi-agency research projects and continuing education

increased opportunity for faculty to provide technical assistance to agencies

Benefits to Universities (continued)

increased opportunities for graduate student research, participation in federal projects, internships and employment

consistent and comprehensive cooperative agreements that maximize opportunities for federally-sponsored research

increased role in establishing research agendas of participating agencies

The “real deal”

from the university perspective

A blanket Interagency Memorandum of Understanding was created by the national CESU Council.

Based on biogeographic regions, 12 CESU units were established in first “round”.

The North and West Alaska CESU added in second round of competition.

Where do we fit?

We competed to host the NWACESU.

Joint venture agreement is in now in place.

Individual projects, that meet the NWACESU criteria, are modifications to the joint venture agreement.

Where do we fit?

North and West Alaska CESU

Mission statement The North and West Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (NWACESU) seeks to provide cooperative technical assistance related to natural and cultural resource decision making focused on north and west Alaska through partnerships, education, research and knowledge of biological, physical, social and cultural aspects of relevant ecosystems among NWACESU

members and the national CESU network.

North and West Alaska CESU

o University Partners University of Alaska Fairbanks – host University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Southeast University of New Hampshire Alaska Sealife Center

University of Alaska Anchorage

o Agency Partners National Park Service Bureau of Land Management US Forest Service USGS – Biological Resources Division

What does it all mean?o These four agencies, in this CESU, will be

better able to work with the University partners of the CESU to accomplish research on their lands.

o Remember what you learned in Bureaucracy 101… Ecosystem emphasis Cooperative planning of projects More responsive collaboration Better science for managers

Who are the Agencies – and where are the lands?

NWA CESU

National Park Service

o Denali National Parko Gates of the Arctic National Parko Yukon Charley National o Cape Krusenstern national Monumento Noatak National Preserveo Kobuk Valley National Parko Bering Land Bridge National Preserveo Aleutian World War II National Historic Site

Denali National Park

wildlife – natural resources

scenery

wilderness

visitors

subsistence

Access

I&M

Gates of the Arctic National Park and

Preserve

wilderness

natural, cultural resources

subsistence

access

Yukon Charley National Preserve

subsistence

natural resources

historical resources

recreation

Kobuk Valley National Park

natural resources

cultural resources

recreation

subsistence

Noatak National Preserve

natural and cultural resources

subsistence and sport hunting

access for nearby development

Cape Krusenstern National Monument

cultural resources

coastal threats

nearby mineral development

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

limited access

cultural uses, hot springs

subsistence

beach erosion

Aleutian World War II Historic Area

Japanese Attack on Dutch Harbor! June 3, 1942

Affiliated Area – NPS and Onalashka Corporation

•Historical resources

•Tourism

•Cultural affiliation

Bureau of Land Management

• 86 million acres

•Cadastral survey

•Wildland Fire management

•Conveyance management

•Energy and solid minerals

•Resources, lands, planning

Bureau of Land Management

US Forest Service

• Watershed Health and Restoration

• Sustainable Forest Management

• National Forest Road System

• Recreation

USGS - BRD

Provide biological information and research findings to resource managers, policymakers, and the public to support sound management of biological resources and ecosystems in Alaska.

Where are we now? We’re OPEN for business…

o Implementing specific procedures Agency work/task orders Accounting procedures (somebody needs to get paid) Criteria for projects

o Great new web pages (thanks to Steve)

o Looking for input and comments