Natural Resources requests proposals to identify and protect amphibians

He Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) opened a request for proposals (RFP) for a biodiversity assessment to identify amphibians that will help manage their conservation throughout Puerto Rico, the acting secretary reported this Thursday. Roberto Mendez.

Specifically, the proposals that the DRNA Habitats and Biodiversity Conservation Bureau requests are included in the federal grant titled “Puerto Rico Biodiversity And Conservation Database Program (T-11)”. The submission deadline is October 25, and proposals must be received by rlrivera@drna.pr.gov. Questions should be directed to the same email.

Through a press release, it was reported that, In the required evaluation, bioacoustic monitoring techniques must be used (through analysis of recordings). In addition, a population density and distribution map of all detected species must be created.

Likewise, it is requested to monitor areas that overlap with the distribution of amphibian species in greatest need of conservation, according to the State Wildlife Plan (SWAP, in English). The DRNA will request recommendations for the management of amphibians of conservation interest throughout the island.

A minimum of 400 sampling points must be selected throughout Puerto Rico, including Mona, Desecheo, Vieques and Culebra.. No less than 400 recorders should be installed at selected sampling points and recordings of amphibians should be collected for a minimum of two months at each point, for one year. Likewise, the recordings obtained must be analyzed to determine the species present, population density and biodiversity metrics; and create a map of the density and distribution of amphibians sampled throughout the study.

According to the statement, the proposals received will be evaluated by officials from the DNER’s Habitats and Biodiversity Conservation Bureau. For the contract process, if a proposal is chosen, the entity or person must be registered as a professional services provider in the General Services Administration and the Grants Management System (SAM). Proposers will be notified of the final determination by email.

The project should be led by a researcher with experience carrying out similar bioacoustics monitoring studies and capable of processing large amounts of data from amphibian recordings.. The expected results must be available on a web page. Additionally, the results must be presented and reviewed to DNER officials and other interested parties in at least one workshop and one meeting. The product must be contained in a detailed final report.

For more information, go to this link or the DRNA social networks.

State Wildlife Plan