For the 3rd time in 2013, the Fund distributes more than $500k in support of the world’s most endangered species bringing its annual contribution in 2013 to $1,605,091.
As a result of its recent review of grant applications, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is distributing $519,666 to 65 conservation projects located in 45 countries across the world. This is the third distribution of Funds in 2013. The total distribution to projects in 2013 amounted to $1,605,091.
Since its inception in 2008 the Fund has distributed $10,328,429 to more than 1,000 species conservation projects worldwide.
In the 4 months between 1 July 2013 and 31 October 2013, 489 grant applications were received and reviewed. Of these 65 applications were accepted. This means than 13% of the applications were approved by the Fund’s independent advisory board. This acceptance rate is roughly consistent with the previous two grant giving rounds.
The approved grants had initially requested a total of $822k, while the Fund was able to provide $519k to support the projects. Therefore, the overall funding rate was 62 per cent ($558k/$839k), and the average grant size was about $8,000.
The Fund is pleased to accept a generous contribution from the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation to complement its support of five small wild cat projects. You can read more about this contribution here.
More grants were awarded to mammal projects than any other species type. However, the Fund continued its strong support for birds, fish, reptiles, and other species types including a $7,000 grant for the Fadejew leech in the Ukraine.
$ Amount Awarded by Species Type
Species Type (Number of Grants) $Amount
Mammal (23) $201,616
Bird (11) $96,500
Reptile (8) $64,500
Amphibian (8) $39,050
Fish (5) $43,500
Invertebrate (4) $30,000
Plant (5) $29,500
Fungi (1) $15,000
Consistent with all other funding rounds, nearly all the projects supported in this round are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, Data Deficient, or were not listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.