ESTCP projects were sought that result in innovative tools, methodologies, or technologies that improve the Department of Defense (DoD) ability to monitor and influence relevant threatened, endangered, at-risk species populations, and invasive species. This topic sought proposals that demonstrated innovative but technically mature technologies, along with associated methodological approaches. ESTCP gave priority to those proposals that addressed the application of inventory and monitoring technologies and methodologies affecting multiple vertebrate species at DoD installations. Of interest were those technologies and methodologies that could be used to inventory species of particular relevance to the DoD.

Proposed technologies and methodologies should have completed all appropriate proof-of principle work as applicable. ESTCP supports demonstration at a scale sufficient to determine the operational performance of the technology or methodology and to estimate its expected full-scale implementation costs. For proposals that involved field work, some species- or site-specific field work was allowed prior to the actual field demonstration if it could be completed during the first year of the project. Specific DoD site(s) could have been suggested in the pre-proposal but were not required to be identified until the full proposal was submitted.

Funded projects will appear below as project overviews are posted to the website.

The DoD manages numerous TES, as well as other species of concern, across roughly 30 million acres. The inability to accurately assess the status of TES populations potentially leads to negative impacts on the DoD’s land utilization and ultimately the mission. Depending on the species, its life history, and life stages, successful population assessment can be challenging. These challenges can be especially acute when the species occurs in inaccessible areas or habitat or are cryptic with respect to their surroundings.