Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (OPCFHK) is seeking for proposals with measurable conservation outcomes. Funding application proposals are required to be submitted via the online application portal. Applicants are advised to leave sufficient time to familarise with the new portal and ensure application can be submitted prior to the application deadline i.e. January 31, 2018.
Funding priority will be given to threatened Asian species listed in the IUCN Red List categories of Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable. Projects addressing species in the Data Deficient or Near Threatened categories will also be considered.
The Foundation solicits proposals worldwide, but the proposed work must be conducted in countries or regions in Asia according to United Nations Statistical Division plus Papua New Guinea, higher priority will be given to projects from Eastern, Southern and South-Eastern Asia. Coastal countries connected to Asia where funding is limited and with threatened wide-ranging Asian species (e.g. Far East Russian western gray whales), will be considered.
All proposals must include relevant and specific conservation targets, measurable milestones and an evaluation of the programme’s effectiveness using quantifiable indicators (e.g. before and after questionnaire). Regular projects (1 to 2 years) should be geared towards one of the areas below, whereas multiple-year projects (3 to 5 years; only available to past recipients of OPCF grants) must address both:
- Wildlife Conservation
- Conduct in-situ field studies to enhance the understanding of the target species population, the condition of their habitats and the threats they face in the wild, and/or
- Collaborate with local communities, institutes and the government to formulate effective conservation management plans to preserve threatened species and their habitats, and/or
- Conduct ex-situ studies on the target species to promote and improve in-situ conservation efforts.
- Social Science-based Conservation
- Design and organise in-situ and ex-situ conservation education programmes to raise public awareness of wildlife conservation and to engage locals to change their daily activities and behaviour in support of conservation efforts, and/or
- Conduct capacity-building programmes or workshops to advance the nature reserve and conservation education teams’ knowledge and skills for effective conservation action.
OPCFHK envisions a world where Asian wildlife remains biologically diverse under the stewardship of humans, corporations and governments. It is committed to advocating, facilitating and participating in effective conservation efforts of Asian wildlife, with an emphasis on Chinese white dolphins and giant pandas, as well as their habitats. This will be achieved through partnerships, fundraising, research and education. With limited funds and given the urgency of conservation efforts, it is important that research studies contribute to effective conservation.