[Coral-List] NOAA ANNOUNCES $5.59 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING TO CONSERVE CORAL REEFS

[Jonathan Kelsey]

NOAA ANNOUNCES $5.59 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING TO CONSERVE CORAL REEFS

Each year, subject to the availability of funds, NOAA publishes its
Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program Funding Guidance, as authorized by
the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, to solicit proposals for coral
reef conservation activities.

Fiscal year 2004 grant pre-applications are due March 12, 2004.  See: 
http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/grants.html for the 2004 Coral Reef 
Conservation Grant Program Fiscal Year 2004 Funding Guidance.

In 2002 and 2003, the first two years of the grants program, NOAA
awarded approximately $5.5 million per year in matching grants under six
funding categories.  In 2004, NOAA is making available up to $5.59
million in matching grants, again under six funding categories.

The 2004 NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program Fiscal Year 2004
Funding Guidance includes instructions on how to apply for funding under
the following categories, each outlined with specific applicant and
activity eligibility criteria.

    # State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Management;
    # State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring;
    # Coral Reef Ecosystem Research**(see note at end);
    # Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans;
    # General Coral Reef Conservation; and
    # International Coral Reef Conservation.

For information specific to each of the above categories, please contact
the appropriate person listed in the 2004 Funding Guidance.  For overall
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program questions, please contact
Jonathan Kelsey (jonathan.kelsey at noaa.gov; 301-563-7230).

Cheers,
Jonathan Kelsey

**Funding under the Coral Reef Ecosystem Research category is on a 
different time frame.  Information on that program is available at 
http://www.nurp.noaa.gov/noaacoral.html.