[CDHC] FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROJECTS Funding availability for coral reef conservation projects

Cheryl Woodley Cheryl.Woodley at noaa.gov
Tue Sep 28 09:31:49 EDT 2004


Please excuse this post if you've already seen it.  I wanted to be sure that all of the CDHC members were aware of this opportunity.
Cheryl

Announcement - please distribute

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.

-- 
Cheryl Woodley, Ph.D.
Coral Health and Disease Program

DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS
Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research
Hollings Marine Laboratory
331 Fort Johnson Rd
Charleston, SC 29412
843.762.8862 Phone
843.762.8737 Fax
cheryl.woodley at noaa.gov





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