The Great Ape Conservation Fund is a financial assistance program that supports projects that deliver measurable conservation results for great ape populations in Africa and great and lesser ape populations in Asia. Pursuing an evidence-based approach, we publish strategic geographical and thematic priorities and application guidelines in a Notice of Funding Opportunity. All proposals go through a rigorous and competitive evaluation process. Once project support is confirmed, we engage in a partnership with the grantee, providing technical support as needed, communicating on a regular basis, and playing an active role in monitoring and evaluating the project's success. This helps ensure that our limited funding is effective and enables us to improve the impact of the Great Ape Conservation Fund through adaptive management.
Background
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The International Affairs Program delivers on this mission through its financial assistance programs by supporting strategic projects that deliver measurable conservation results for priority species and their habitats around the world. In response to the decline of ape populations in Africa and Asia, the U.S. Government enacted the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000. The Act provides for the conservation and protection of apes by supporting conservation programs in countries within the ranges of ape species and the projects of persons and organizations with demonstrated expertise in ape conservation. We work closely with national governments, U.S. agencies, and a range of other partners to ensure a strategic, results-based approach to ape conservation in Africa and Asia.
Great Ape Conservation Fund Requirements
Africa
Proposed objectives should align with one or more of the desired results identified below:
- Conservation and management of protected areas and other ape habitat, including corridors connecting habitats;
- Enhanced protection of at-risk ape populations;
- Reducing trade in, and consumer demand for, illegally taken apes, including live apes and ape products;
- Development and execution of ape conservation management plans;
- Strengthening local capacity to implement ape conservation programs that lead to conservation stewardship;
- Increased knowledge of ape populations and their habitats through applied research, including surveys and monitoring;
- Compliance with applicable treaties (such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES]) and laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of apes or regulate the use and management of ape habitat;
- Improved law enforcement through increased wildlife inspection, investigative and forensics skills;
- Reduction of human-ape conflict;
- Ape-relevant conservation education and community outreach;
Proposed project work should occur within ape range or, if work is to be conducted outside of the range, the proposal should demonstrate a clear relevance to wild ape conservation. Projects involving great ape habituation and/or release/reintroduction of captive apes into the wild should demonstrate adherence to applicable IUCN Best Practice guidelines. Proposed projects should demonstrate how they address applicable ape conservation action plans.
Asia
The Great Ape Conservation Fund supports projects that promote conservation through:
Development and execution of ape conservation management plans;
Reducing trade in, and consumer demand for, illegally harvested apes and ape products;
Applied research on ape populations and their habitats, including surveys, monitoring, and disease;
Conservation and management of protected areas and other ape habitat, including corridors connecting habitats;
Strengthen local capacity to implement ape conservation programs that lead to conservation stewardship;
Compliance with applicable treaties (such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES]) and laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of apes or regulate the use and management of ape habitat;
Improved wildlife inspection, law enforcement and forensics skills;
Enhanced protection of at-risk ape populations;
Reduction of human-ape conflicts;
Ape-relevant conservation education and community outreach;
Transboundary ape conservation;
Emerging issues
Proposed project work should occur within the ape range or, if work is to be conducted outside of the range, the proposal should demonstrate a clear relevance to ape conservation. Applied research projects should address specific management needs and actions, and/or threats from emerging issues, such as disease and habitat loss, that affect the species and their habitats.
Eligibility
Applicants can be individuals; multi-national secretariats; foreign national and local government agencies; non-profit non-governmental organizations; for-profit organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; U.S. territorial governments; and Tribes and Tribal organizations.
Process
States and Territories must submit applications through Grantsolutions.gov. Detailed guidance on how to prepare applications is provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which is available online at Grants.gov and Grantsolutions.gov. The NOFO should be read carefully to ensure that applications meet all eligibility requirements and are complete upon submission.