Seed Grant RFP Closes June 30, 2008

Posted on: Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

TSA Announces Seed Grant Program - Request for Proposals

The IUCN Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) is issuing a request for proposals for small conservation grants. The purpose of this seed grants program is to support small ($1,000 - $2,000) turtle conservation focused initiatives carried out by range state nationals that generate genuine conservation outcomes. This program is intended to help generate interest and expertise in turtles and their conservation, and to initiate projects that could grow and become strengthened through additional support. This program is also designed to provide “emergency support” on short notice when a rapid response is indicated. Special consideration will be given graduates of the Asian Scholarship Program, TSA turtle husbandry and veterinary training workshops (Singapore, Hong Kong), TSA field techniques workshop (Lucknow, India) and other training opportunities provided through the Asian Turtle Conservation Network (http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/) or the Turtle Conservation Center at Cuc Phuong.

Funding priorities will be given to those proposals that address priority species and critical needs. Priority species are those listed under the IUCN Red List as either Endangered or Critically Endangered, or identified in the Global Action Plan for Conservation of Tortoises & Freshwater Turtles, 2002 - 2007, by the Turtle Conservation Fund (http://turtlesurvival.org/TCF_Action_Plan_SF_Prospectus.pdf). Species listed in the TCF Top 25 most endangered chelonians list http://www.turtleconservationfund.org/top-25/ or http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/trouble/ are also given high priority for funding.

Examples of critical needs include assurance colony development, conservation biology research, range country capacity building, and trade monitoring.

Please send a two-page proposal documenting specific goals of the project and a separate one page itemized budget (Times New Roman, font size 12, and one inch margins). Proposals should contain:

1. Name, affiliation and contact information of principal investigator
2. Project title
3. Description of the intended work with localities and species involved
4. Start date and schedule of the project
5. Explanation of how the project will further the TSA’s mission and what projected conservation outcome(s) will be generated
6. Budget breakdown, including details of additional funding obtained or sought from elsewhere
7. Letters of support from collaborating partners or institutions are encouraged; student applicants must include a letter of support from a faculty adviser
8. Any other pertinent information (i.e., permits to conduct said work)
9. resume(s) with relevant experience of proposer(s).

Proposals should be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format to: Brian Horne at bhorne@sandiegozoo.org.

Or by parcel post to

Brian D. Horne
Division of Conservation and Research
Zoological Society of San Diego
15600 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027

Proposals must be received or post-marked by 30 June 2008. Announcement of granting decisions will occur at the end of August 2008.

Funding for this program is provided through a 2007 Batchelor Foundation grant to the TSA.

To view the 2006 TSA Seed Grant recipients, Click Here.