BLM Arizona Strip District CESU Student Intern Program

A. Project Background Information:

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network is a national consortium of federal agencies, academic institutions, tribal, state, and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations (300 partners).

The Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CPCESU) is a cooperative network, transcending political and institutional boundaries, which creates innovative opportunities for research, education, and technical assistance in support of the management and stewardship by partner agencies of the Colorado Plateau’s natural, cultural, and social resources

The CPCESU has a unique collaborative relationship with research scientists, end users of research products, the public, and educators who are trained to bridge the gap between researchers, science users and educators.

The BLM Arizona Strip District desires to enter into new agreement with a CPCESU partner to provide students, interns, volunteers, or entry-level professionals for the following reasons;

1) Provide a basis for high quality scientific research and technical assistance for recreation, natural and cultural resource management on public lands.

2) Provide the most up-to-date scientific research on recreation, natural and cultural issues on public lands.

3) Create an on-going effective and efficient partnership between the BLM and a CESU University.

4) Enable undergraduate and graduate students to interact with Federal agency personnel and to experience on-the-ground resource management.

5) Assist the BLM in efficient and cost effective public land management by inventorying, monitoring, assessing, interpreting, educating, and informing natural, recreational and cultural resources, settings, and conditions so that these public lands and the NLCS units can continue to be managed for the public benefit.