[Coral-List] Call for proposals: NOAA/NFWF Coral Reef Conservation Fund

[Roger B Griffis]

Announcement

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROJECTS

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef
Conservation Program, is accepting proposals for projects that build
public-private partnerships to reduce and prevent degradation of coral
reefs and associated reef habitats (e.g. seagrass beds, mangroves etc.).
Projects may address causes of coral reef degradation wherever they
occur, from coastal watersheds to the reefs and surrounding marine
environment. Proposals should support partnerships that provide
solutions to specific problems to help prevent coral reef degradation
through one or more of the following activities:

     Reducing impacts from pollution and sedimentation;
     Reducing impacts from over-harvesting and other fishing activities;
     Reducing impacts of recreational uses, tourism, and boating;
     Restoring damaged reefs or associated reef habitats;
     Increasing community awareness through education and stewardship
activities.

Special Priority Emphasis for 2004-2006 The Foundation is continuing to
focus on two areas for targeted funding during 2004, 2005, and 2006 that
will be given special
priority:

     Hands-on, measurable watershed approaches to reduce land-based
pollution and sedimentation to adjacent coral reefs and associated
habitats.
     Efforts to measure and improve the management effectiveness of
coral reef protected areas, preferably using the recently-published
NOAA-World Commission on
     Protected Areas-World Wildlife Fund methodology.

Please Note: Pre-proposals are due January 31, 2005 (no exceptions).
Full proposals will be accepted by invitation only.

Background Coral reefs and their associated habitats are among the most
biologically diverse and complex ecosystems in the world. This
incredible diversity supports economies through activities such as
tourism, fishing, and pharmaceutical production. Coral reefs are also
culturally significant resources which support a variety of
community-level subsistence and recreational uses. Despite their
importance, coral reefs are rapidly being degraded and destroyed by a
variety of human impacts such as pollution, overfishing, and physical
disturbance to the reefs.

Priority projects will include those that:

   1.Build public-private partnerships, develop innovative partnerships,
are community-based, and involve multiple stakeholders;
   2.Provide solutions to specific problems to reduce and prevent
degradation of coral reefs in the above listed areas;
   3.Are coordinated and consistent with on-going coral reef
conservation initiatives such as the International Coral Reef
Initiative's Framework for Action and Renewed
     Call to Action; the U.S. National Action Plan to Conserve Coral
Reefs (U.S. Coral Reef Task Force); state, territorial, or other coral
reef management programs,
     including Local Action Strategies developed per the U.S. Coral Reef
Task Force; and the U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Initiative, as
appropriate;
   4.Are focused on U.S. domestic, U.S. insular (territory,
commonwealth), Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia,
Republic of the Marshall Islands,
     and Republic of Palau), Caribbean, or Mesoamerican coral reef
ecosystems;
   5.Address an unmet need that will provide direct benefits to coral
reefs;
   6.Target a specific audience and address specific threats with a
hands-on approach; and
   7.Reduce the damage from anchoring on coral reefs by establishing
mooring buoys. This priority area falls under the Anchor’s Away!
Partnership which was developed
     as part of the White Water to Blue Water Initiative. Anchors Away!
is designed to help build partnerships to support the use of mooring
buoys to conserve coral reef
     ecosystems.

Awards and Matching Funds Most grants will be between $10,000 and
$50,000. The average grant will be approximately $25,000. Proposals
should describe projects or
progress that can be achieved in a 12-month time period but may be part
of a long-term effort. All projects should include matching funding from
project partners at a
minimum ratio of 1:1 - although leverage ratios of 2:1 are preferred. As
most of the grant dollars available for coral conservation are expected
to be from federal sources
(e.g., U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration), most matching contributions must be from non-federal
sources (contact NFWF
with any questions).

Eligible Applicants Applications will be accepted from U.S. or
international non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and
government agencies (except U.S. federal
agencies). U.S. federal agencies are encouraged to work collaboratively
with non-federal project partners.

To Apply Submit an electronic version of the pre-proposal application by
5 p.m., EST, January 31, 2005.

Applicants will be notified by March 1, 2005, as to the status of their
preliminary application and whether they are invited to submit a full
proposal. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation does not anticipate
another call for coral reef conservation proposals before October 2005.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Leslie
Ricketts at leslie.ricketts at nfwf.org.