Description
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) 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 their ranges and the projects of persons and organizations with demonstrated expertise in ape conservation. The Service works 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. This funding opportunity aligns with the Service mission. The Great Ape Conservation Fund (GACF)-Asia program is soliciting project proposals for the conservation of orangutans (Pongo spp.) and gibbons (family Hylobatidae) throughout their ranges. Proposal objectives should align with one or more of the desired results identified below under the relevant funding priority. 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 and monitoring, and disease; Conservation and management of protected areas and other ape habitat, including corridors connecting habitats; Strengthening 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; 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. In FY2021 the following types of proposals will be priorities for funding in Asia: - Multi-year (3-5 years) project proposals from applicants engaged in long-term projects (with stakeholder buy-in) that are working toward recovery of species and their habitats in the wild. - Project proposals with multi-year potential (3-5 years) that are developing or have in place a strategy to provide the necessary information to guide conservation management of a species, or multiple species in a specific habitat or landscape, so that the protections are leading to effective conservation and recovery of the species and their habitats. Implementing the strategy is/should be contributing substantially to the conservation of the species. - Multi-year (3-5 years) cooperative agreements where Service works closely with grantee to assist and guide efforts such as Strategy Development, Threats Assessment, strengthening local capacity for good governance, etc. In FY2021, the following activities will be priorities for funding in Asia: Reduction of human-ape conflicts; Applied research on ape populations and their habitats, including surveys and monitoring, and disease surveillance; Strengthening local capacity and enhancing community engagement to implement conservation programs that enhance conservation stewardship; Compliance with applicable treaties, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and laws, and strengthening of policies that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of apes or regulate the use and management of ape habitat; Development and execution of ape conservation management plans The amount of funding available under this program is approximately $$3,017,960 USD for projects in Asia. The amount of funding per Federal award may range from $50,000 - $500,000 USD. Based on program experience, it is anticipated that approximately 15-20 awards will be granted this fiscal year. The amount of funding requested must match the scope of proposed activities, the anticipated results, and the requested duration of the project (period of performance). The period of performance for projects starts on the date the award is signed by the Service and may be one or more years duration. Project proposals must be designed and budgeted accordingly. For multi-year projects, budgets and project activities should be clearly articulated by phase/year. Support for subsequent phases/years will be contingent upon satisfactory project performance, reporting, financial management, and availability of program funds. The anticipated start dates for awards will be after November 2021, and periods of performance may range from 2 – 5 years. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing, ongoing projects are eligible and will compete with applications for new Federal awards. In the event of a successful project, the Service may consider the option of extending the program to future years, subject to availability of future funding. The Service may extend the award for additional years contingent on Service priorities, good performance of the recipient, Service management approval, and funding availability. The Service reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for the award.