The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the European Commission, and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) made available six million euros in emergency relief funding to address biodiversity conservation needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They aim to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic on the management of protected areas and threatened species.
One of the programmes, the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Rapid Response Grants is expected to fund approximately 60 projects, with a total budget of two million Euros. The Rapid Response Grants will address negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel and access restrictions on the management of protected areas, while strengthening the resilience of local communities in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
In addition, the European Commission and IUCN are making a further four million Euros available as Rapid Action Grants under the IUCN Save Our Species African Wildlife Initiative to help address impacts from COVID-19 on the conservation of terrestrial or freshwater species in continental Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. These grants protect threatened species against anticipated increases in poaching, as well as a risk of transmission of the disease from humans to wild animals, especially great apes. Furthermore, Rapid Action Grants also support the development of diverse alternative livelihoods for communities who depended on wildlife-based tourism.
Apply for the IUCN Save Our Species Rapid Action Grant
Apply for the BIOPAMA Rapid Response Grant
For more information, click here.
