Southwest Border Resource Protection Program

The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) provides financial assistance to NPS units, as well as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with Mexico.

Several National Parks located along the U.S. border with Mexico have recently experienced serious resource damage due to illegal cross border activities including drug traffickers and undocumented persons traversing the parks. Other national park units within the desert southwest have also experienced impacts to their natural and cultural resources. Thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails have been created, major ecological processes and the migration patterns of wildlife have been disrupted, important historic sites have been vandalized, and archaeological sites have been looted. Program funding is available for conducting scientific research and monitoring of species, as well as conservation, interpretation and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border.

Applicants must work with and benefit an NPS unit in the Intermountain Region along the U.S. – Mexico border as well as a protected area in Mexico by addressing cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. These parks include Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Palo Alto National Historic Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument.

Please note that applicants can work with other Intermountain Region parks near the U.S. Mexico Border, or not otherwise listed to support cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries.

The projects and activities will be individually authorized by separate awards, with each project or activity having a separate work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the cooperator. Project categories include:

Research & Monitoring
o Cultural Resource examples:
 Identification, research, and evaluation of archeological and historic sites
 National Register of Historic Places nominations
 National Historic Landmark nominations
o Natural Resource examples:
 Wildlife habitat management
 Inventory and monitoring of invasive plants and animals
 Impacts from climate change to endangered species
 Assessments of the effects of border activities on threatened and endangered species
Conservation & Preservation
o Cultural Resource examples:
 Stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic structures, archeological sites, trails and landscapes
 Conservation of collections
o Natural Resource examples:
 Reestablishment of natural processes and ecological systems
 Monitoring of resource damage caused by human developments
 Protection and conservation endangered and threatened species
 Integrated pest management planning
 Restoration of native wildlife and vegetation, including removal of exotic species
Interpretation, Education & Tourism
o Professional training and exchange such as:
 Student intern programs
 Workshops, seminars, symposia, training programs
 Binational conferences
 Informational network gatherings
 Development of interpretive materials, programs, workshops
 Geotourism