Read the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter, Conservation Calls below.
A grant from the MBZ Fund in partnership with the GEF supported research on the elusive Pampas cat (Leopardus pajeros), which is listed as vulnerable in Argentina. This species faces serious threats, including retaliatory killings, poisoning, and roadkill, making it increasingly rare.
María García set up camera traps across ranches in southern Buenos Aires to monitor Pampas cat populations. The project also enabled her to produce traffic signs and distribute stickers and brochures to raise community awareness about the species.
As a young female conservationist, the grant has been essential to create trust and collaboration with local ranchers in a male-dominated rural setting. These relationships, often strengthened over rounds of mate (traditional Argentina herbal drink) and shared field experiences, have facilitated equipment recovery during floods, access to private lands, and discussions about coexistence.
Ultimately, this project is about more than just the Pampas cat; it highlights the importance of community, coexistence, and envisioning landscapes where both livestock and wildlife thrive, a perfect way to celebrate World Animal Day.
#mbzfund #worldanimalday #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Argentina #wildcats #smallcats #felids #wildlife #nature #support #environment
A grant from the MBZ Fund in partnership with the GEF supported research on the elusive Pampas cat (Leopardus pajeros), which is listed as vulnerable in Argentina. This species faces serious threats, including retaliatory killings, poisoning, and roadkill, making it increasingly rare.
María García set up camera traps across ranches in southern Buenos Aires to monitor Pampas cat populations. The project also enabled her to produce traffic signs and distribute stickers and brochures to raise community awareness about the species.
As a young female conservationist, the grant has been essential to create trust and collaboration with local ranchers in a male-dominated rural setting. These relationships, often strengthened over rounds of mate (traditional Argentina herbal drink) and shared field experiences, have facilitated equipment recovery during floods, access to private lands, and discussions about coexistence.
Ultimately, this project is about more than just the Pampas cat; it highlights the importance of community, coexistence, and envisioning landscapes where both livestock and wildlife thrive, a perfect way to celebrate World Animal Day.
#mbzfund #worldanimalday #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Argentina #wildcats #smallcats #felids #wildlife #nature #support #environment
Seahorses worldwide are used in traditional medicines, as ornaments, good-luck charms, and aquarium fish. Unfortunately, they are vulnerable to overexploitation. With sustainable management, these magical fishes can thrive and provide a valuable natural resource that supports livelihoods in local fishing communities.
Indonesia is home to 13 seahorse species, including two that are Endangered. However, big knowledge gaps have held back sustainable management. Thanks to MBZ Fund and a generous anonymous donor, we’re starting to fill the information void.
Seahorse experts at Project Seahorse and Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional teamed up to train two young marine biologists in surveying seahorse fisheries and trade. Over the past four months they’ve travelled across Indonesia, learning from fishers, divers, traders, retailers, and local authorities about where and how seahorses are caught, and what they’re used for.
The insights will help Indonesia shift from undocumented, illicit exploitation to carefully monitored, legal seahorse fisheries and trade, protecting seahorses and the communities who depend on them.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Indonesia #oceans #seahrose #nature #SavingSeahorses #ProjectSeahorse #badanrisetdaninovasinasional
Seahorses worldwide are used in traditional medicines, as ornaments, good-luck charms, and aquarium fish. Unfortunately, they are vulnerable to overexploitation. With sustainable management, these magical fishes can thrive and provide a valuable natural resource that supports livelihoods in local fishing communities.
Indonesia is home to 13 seahorse species, including two that are Endangered. However, big knowledge gaps have held back sustainable management. Thanks to MBZ Fund and a generous anonymous donor, we’re starting to fill the information void.
Seahorse experts at Project Seahorse and Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional teamed up to train two young marine biologists in surveying seahorse fisheries and trade. Over the past four months they’ve travelled across Indonesia, learning from fishers, divers, traders, retailers, and local authorities about where and how seahorses are caught, and what they’re used for.
The insights will help Indonesia shift from undocumented, illicit exploitation to carefully monitored, legal seahorse fisheries and trade, protecting seahorses and the communities who depend on them.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Indonesia #oceans #seahrose #nature #SavingSeahorses #ProjectSeahorse #badanrisetdaninovasinasional
Alicia Arango, president of the Association of Quechua Women for the Conservation of Andean Felines, has demonstrated great talent and leadership by creating stuffed animals and embroideries that become cushions, tablecloths, and bags. Through her example, she has inspired other mothers, such as Ida and Sonia, to join conservation efforts and to teach their children to care for nature. Thanks to her dedication, each piece sold represents not only income for a family but also an act of love for the Andean cats and the Queñual forests.
This path has been made possible thanks to the support of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Today, alpaca herds no longer enter the forest during the dry season, as they remain in enclosures with pastures resistant to the cold. This provides secure food for the animals and peace of mind for families, who no longer need to move from one grazing area to another. In this way, while protecting the water that supplies the entire community, the women also ensure the future of their children and of the Andean cats that inhabit these ecosystems.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #peru #wildlife #nature #AndeanCat #CatConservation #WomenForConservation #ayacucho
Alicia Arango, president of the Association of Quechua Women for the Conservation of Andean Felines, has demonstrated great talent and leadership by creating stuffed animals and embroideries that become cushions, tablecloths, and bags. Through her example, she has inspired other mothers, such as Ida and Sonia, to join conservation efforts and to teach their children to care for nature. Thanks to her dedication, each piece sold represents not only income for a family but also an act of love for the Andean cats and the Queñual forests.
This path has been made possible thanks to the support of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Today, alpaca herds no longer enter the forest during the dry season, as they remain in enclosures with pastures resistant to the cold. This provides secure food for the animals and peace of mind for families, who no longer need to move from one grazing area to another. In this way, while protecting the water that supplies the entire community, the women also ensure the future of their children and of the Andean cats that inhabit these ecosystems.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #peru #wildlife #nature #AndeanCat #CatConservation #WomenForConservation #ayacucho
African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) is an important indigenous plant used in traditional medicine to treat colds, asthma, inflammation, and other ailments. In Eswatini, rural communities heavily exploit it from the wild for trade, threatening its survival.
Thanks to the MBZ Fund, the Eswatini Institute for Research in Traditional Medicine has initiated mapping studies to assess the conservation status of African ginger and identify critical areas at risk. The grant has also facilitated awareness and education programs for communities, including traditional health practitioners and muti traders, on sustainable conservation and production practices.
A recent training workshop on the sustainable use of African ginger saw over 150 participants, including school-aged children, youth, and community leaders. Early signs of success include a growing commitment among community members to conserve the plant and a noticeable decrease in over-harvesting from natural forests. This initiative is crucial for promoting the sustainable use of this valuable species.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Africa #Eswatini #plants #medicinal #nature
African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) is an important indigenous plant used in traditional medicine to treat colds, asthma, inflammation, and other ailments. In Eswatini, rural communities heavily exploit it from the wild for trade, threatening its survival.
Thanks to the MBZ Fund, the Eswatini Institute for Research in Traditional Medicine has initiated mapping studies to assess the conservation status of African ginger and identify critical areas at risk. The grant has also facilitated awareness and education programs for communities, including traditional health practitioners and muti traders, on sustainable conservation and production practices.
A recent training workshop on the sustainable use of African ginger saw over 150 participants, including school-aged children, youth, and community leaders. Early signs of success include a growing commitment among community members to conserve the plant and a noticeable decrease in over-harvesting from natural forests. This initiative is crucial for promoting the sustainable use of this valuable species.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Africa #Eswatini #plants #medicinal #nature
Conservationist Phub Gyeltshen from the National Biodiversity Centre of Bhutan is excited to share insights from their recent project to conserve the critically endangered Maharanga griersonii. This unique plant, endemic to Bhutan, was first described in 1994 and is found only below Pele La, thriving in mixed forests on steep slopes.
With an MBZ Fund grant, they were able to conduct detailed research to uncover important morphological features, including the distinguishing nutlets and white flowers that set this species apart from its relatives. However, the reality is stark, only 15 mature plants remain, facing threats from road maintenance and landslides that put this species at risk.
On a brighter note, bumblebees have been observed hard at work, ensuring the plant’s reproductive success through buzz pollination.
This remarkable species deserves all the help it can get to secure a fighting chance for survival. Let’s spread the word and inspire action for its conservation.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #butan #wildlife #nature #support #Conservation #Biodiversity #EndangeredSpecies #MaharangaGriersonii #bhutan
Conservationist Phub Gyeltshen from the National Biodiversity Centre of Bhutan is excited to share insights from their recent project to conserve the critically endangered Maharanga griersonii. This unique plant, endemic to Bhutan, was first described in 1994 and is found only below Pele La, thriving in mixed forests on steep slopes.
With an MBZ Fund grant, they were able to conduct detailed research to uncover important morphological features, including the distinguishing nutlets and white flowers that set this species apart from its relatives. However, the reality is stark, only 15 mature plants remain, facing threats from road maintenance and landslides that put this species at risk.
On a brighter note, bumblebees have been observed hard at work, ensuring the plant’s reproductive success through buzz pollination.
This remarkable species deserves all the help it can get to secure a fighting chance for survival. Let’s spread the word and inspire action for its conservation.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #butan #wildlife #nature #support #Conservation #Biodiversity #EndangeredSpecies #MaharangaGriersonii #bhutan
The Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative (TCCI), led by wildlife conservationist Gitana Cavalcanti, focuses on the endangered savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus). This small cat is located in the dry thorny woodlands of Brazil’s Caatinga, particularly in the Capivara-Confusões area, which links the region’s two largest national parks. Unfortunately, this area faces severe deforestation from agribusiness, wind farms, and solar power plants, with less than 50% of the original forest remaining.
TCCI’s primary goal is to address threats to these endangered felids, monitor their populations, and enhance connectivity between key habitats. With vital support from the MBZ Fund in collaboration with the GEF, they can expand vaccination campaigns into new areas of Serra da Capivara-Serra das Confusões National Parks, combating disease spread from domestic carnivores. They also aim to enhance felid monitoring to ensure this critical haven for felids in the semi-arid Caatinga remains protected.
Without support, TCCI cannot continue its essential efforts to save the savanna tiger-cat in one of Brazil’s most threatened ecosystems.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #brazil #wildlife #nature #wildcats #smallcats #felids
The Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative (TCCI), led by wildlife conservationist Gitana Cavalcanti, focuses on the endangered savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus). This small cat is located in the dry thorny woodlands of Brazil’s Caatinga, particularly in the Capivara-Confusões area, which links the region’s two largest national parks. Unfortunately, this area faces severe deforestation from agribusiness, wind farms, and solar power plants, with less than 50% of the original forest remaining.
TCCI’s primary goal is to address threats to these endangered felids, monitor their populations, and enhance connectivity between key habitats. With vital support from the MBZ Fund in collaboration with the GEF, they can expand vaccination campaigns into new areas of Serra da Capivara-Serra das Confusões National Parks, combating disease spread from domestic carnivores. They also aim to enhance felid monitoring to ensure this critical haven for felids in the semi-arid Caatinga remains protected.
Without support, TCCI cannot continue its essential efforts to save the savanna tiger-cat in one of Brazil’s most threatened ecosystems.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #brazil #wildlife #nature #wildcats #smallcats #felids
Last month, MBZ Fund Advisory Board member Olivier Langrand spent three weeks in French Polynesia, connecting with the Société Ornithologique de Polynésie (SOP-Manu) to assess the conservation status of the Tahiti Monarch and Fatu Hiva Monarch.
During his visit, he caught up with Benjamin Ignace and also met with veterinarian Caroline Blanvillain, who has been protecting Polynesian bird species since 1998. Olivier was encouraged to see the remarkable progress: the Tahiti Monarch population has surged from just 19 individuals in the early 2000s to over 160 today. This success is thanks to proactive management against invasive species, and ecological restoration, work supported by the MBZ Fund and other donors.
It’s this commitment of our Advisory Board members that truly sets the Fund apart. They go beyond reviewing applications and grants; they actively engage in follow-up visits, provide mentorship, and extend a hand of friendship and trust to our partners on the ground.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Polynesia #birds #birdlife #nature #support #tahitimonarch
Last month, MBZ Fund Advisory Board member Olivier Langrand spent three weeks in French Polynesia, connecting with the Société Ornithologique de Polynésie (SOP-Manu) to assess the conservation status of the Tahiti Monarch and Fatu Hiva Monarch.
During his visit, he caught up with Benjamin Ignace and also met with veterinarian Caroline Blanvillain, who has been protecting Polynesian bird species since 1998. Olivier was encouraged to see the remarkable progress: the Tahiti Monarch population has surged from just 19 individuals in the early 2000s to over 160 today. This success is thanks to proactive management against invasive species, and ecological restoration, work supported by the MBZ Fund and other donors.
It’s this commitment of our Advisory Board members that truly sets the Fund apart. They go beyond reviewing applications and grants; they actively engage in follow-up visits, provide mentorship, and extend a hand of friendship and trust to our partners on the ground.
#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Polynesia #birds #birdlife #nature #support #tahitimonarch
Thanks to a grant from the MBZ Fund, researcher Anmari Alvarez-Aleman and her team, comprising a park biologist, fishermen, and local residents, are making a significant impact on manatee conservation in Zapata Swamp. This funding enabled them to track and study manatees in key areas such as the Hatiguanico River, Ensenada de la Broa, and Tesoro Lagoon.
Equally important, the grant enabled collaboration with local communities, raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices that protect both manatees and the livelihoods of local people. With the Fund’s support, science and community action unite to create a safer future for manatees.
This project is also part of a larger initiative: the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA), a regional network designed to connect partners across the Caribbean, facilitating knowledge sharing and strengthening conservation efforts for manatees and their habitats.
Local initiatives in Zapata Swamp contribute to a broader regional impact across the Caribbean. A wonderful initiative that makes supporting International Manatee Day even more meaningful.
#mbzfund #conservation #internationalmanateeday #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #wildlife #nature #WiderCaribbeanManateeAlliance #ManateeConservation #environment
Thanks to a grant from the MBZ Fund, researcher Anmari Alvarez-Aleman and her team, comprising a park biologist, fishermen, and local residents, are making a significant impact on manatee conservation in Zapata Swamp. This funding enabled them to track and study manatees in key areas such as the Hatiguanico River, Ensenada de la Broa, and Tesoro Lagoon.
Equally important, the grant enabled collaboration with local communities, raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices that protect both manatees and the livelihoods of local people. With the Fund’s support, science and community action unite to create a safer future for manatees.
This project is also part of a larger initiative: the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA), a regional network designed to connect partners across the Caribbean, facilitating knowledge sharing and strengthening conservation efforts for manatees and their habitats.
Local initiatives in Zapata Swamp contribute to a broader regional impact across the Caribbean. A wonderful initiative that makes supporting International Manatee Day even more meaningful.
#mbzfund #conservation #internationalmanateeday #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #wildlife #nature #WiderCaribbeanManateeAlliance #ManateeConservation #environment