to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, 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.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to work closely with at least one of nine NPS units located near the international border in the formulation of the project.

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.

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.

Several national parks located along our border with Mexico, such as Organ Pipe National Monument, 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 and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border.