Funding Programme to Create Protected or Conserved Areas

Funding Programme to Create Protected or Conserved Areas is sponsored by Rainforest Trust. Focuses on the creation and expansion of protected areas in tropical regions. It supports feasibility studies and the legal establishment of new reserves.

Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust Partner with Rainforest Trust to Create Protected or Conserved Areas — Rainforest Trust supports non-profit organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and communities to protect ecosystems in the tropics and subtropics critical to endangered species and climate mitigation.

We do this by providing funding and other support to create or expand protected and conserved areas that benefit Species, Climate, and Communities . Since 1988, we have awarded over $382M to approximately 323 partners toward the creation and management of over 400 new and expanded areas. Over 62M acres have been protected thus far, and our partners are now working on securing an additional 80M acres.

Rainforest Trust always welcomes new applications for protected and conserved area creation or expansion, with the following criteria and guidance designed to help streamline the process. Broadly speaking, Rainforest Trust offers two types of funding support grants - Feasibility Awards and Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards.

Rainforest Trust Project Selection Criteria Before starting the application process, please review the required criteria to ensure your organization and/or project qualify for selection. Steps for Applying for Rainforest Trust Support Our application process is collaborative, and our aim is to support the creation of protected or conserved areas that will be managed sustainably in perpetuity.

Broadly speaking, Rainforest Trust offers two types of funding support grants: Feasibility Awards and Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards. Rainforest Trust provides Feasibility Awards to assess the potential for creating or expanding protected or conserved areas. These awards are intended to address specific information gaps in conservation projects, as precursors to applying for a Protected or Conserved Area Creation Award.

For instance, Feasibility Awards can support developing a legal pathway to protect a proposed site, or field surveys to determine the presence and abundance of Critically Endangered or Endangered species. The average size of Feasibility Awards is $10,000; in exceptional situations, amounts of greater than $20,000 may be considered.

— Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards Rainforest Trust’s primary awards support the creation and expansion of protected or conserved areas, on land or sea, be it through designation, land titling, purchase or any other recognized methodology (e.g. Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)).

The goal is to empower Project Implementers to facilitate new, lasting and sustainable protected or conserved areas that are in line with community and government needs and desires. There is no set maximum grant amount for these Awards, with applications assessed and awarded on an individual basis.

Application Deadlines for Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards of $250,000 and above are: March 1 • July 1 • October 1 Please note: You never need to pay a consultant or intermediary to apply for Rainforest Trust funding. We only review applications submitted directly by eligible organizations, and we will work with you to refine your proposal if it aligns with our mission and priorities.

We recommend submitting a concept note four months in advance of these deadlines. See Steps for Applying for Rainforest Trust Support below for further detail. Cassowary by Paul IJsendoorn/Flickr Rainforest Trust Project Selection Criteria REQUIRED CRITERIA FOR ALL PROJECTS: 1.

The primary objective must be the creation/expansion of a protected or conserved area i . 1. 1 The proposed area(s) must be currently unprotected.

Please use the World Database of Protected Areas to help determine if formal protection is already afforded ( IUCN category 1-6 ) ii . 2. The proposed protected or conserved area serves to: 2.

1 Protect globally significant populations of Critically Endangered and Endangered species (e.g. Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites); AND/OR iii, iv 2. 2 Protect large areas of Tropical and Sub-tropical High Integrity Forests ; AND/OR 2. 3 Protect Tropical and Sub-tropical habitat critical for mitigating global climate change (e.g. peat swamps, mangroves, páramo).

3. The Project Implementer must be a legally registered non-government organization and authorized to conduct work in the country of the project. 4.

The project demonstrates support from relevant governments (including Indigenous governments) and Indigenous Peoples and/or Local Communities, and that relevant Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) has been or will be properly conducted. 5.

The protection mechanism, resulting in a change in legal status of the area during the course of the project, will mitigate critical threats to biodiversity and, where applicable, to carbon storage. 6. A management system (management plan and committee) is, or will be, in place that ensures positive and sustained outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity.

7. Resource extraction limits are, or will be, established to prevent unsustainable use. (Please see footnotes from above by clicking the Learn More button.)

i Our primary focus is the tropics and subtropics but strong proposals from outside these areas that meet all other criteria will be considered. Please see our priority setting application that incorporates Rainforest Trust metrics to ensure your proposed project aligns with our areas of most interest. The information button (“i”) in the upper left corner will provide further detail.

ii Exceptions: We do not consider Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage Sites, RAMSAR Reserves to be officially protected by virtue of these designations alone. iii Italicized text indicates conditional (and/or; or) statements apply to these criteria. iv Projects under this criterion may encompass various habitat types (i.e. not only forests).

Rainforest Trust and our partners have been protecting tropical rainforest for over 37 years. Additional Required Criteria for Specific Project Types 8. Projects where Indigenous Peoples' and/or Local Communities' Land Tenure is the Primary Conservation Strategy 8.

1 Substantial management authority of the area will be led by the Indigenous Peoples or Local Communities. 8. 2 Land titles—or similar permanent land ownership or resource rights designations—and governance authority will be granted to the Indigenous Peoples and/or Local Communities with the customary right to the land in question; OR i 8.

3 Lands and/or waters will be designated as a multiple-use territory with management (or co-management) by the Indigenous or Local Community. i Italicized text indicates conditional (and/or; or) statements apply to these criteria. 9.

Projects where Land Purchase is the Primary Conservation Strategy 9. 1 Land is likely to be converted in the near future if purchase is not completed. 9.

2 An alternative protection strategy is not possible, more expensive, or significantly less effective. 9. 3 Conservation value is greater than expected based on the cost; OR i,ii 9.

4 Very high biodiversity value iii ; OR i Species – a) number of new species that would be added to Rainforest Trust’s portfolio of newly created protected or conserved areas; b) providing the first protection for one or more previously unprotected species; c) species with a large portion of their range (>10%) lying within Rainforest Trust’s protected or conserved area network; carbon – total carbon stored in the project area or very high carbon density (carbon per acre); acres of High Integrity Forest.

ii Italicized text indicates conditional (and/or; or) statements apply to these criteria. iii Captures significant population of a highly threatened or range-restricted species, based on population distribution, not range map (e.g., >20% of the known individuals of a species); Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site; protects a unique and highly threatened ecosystem; provides connectivity between PAs or for climate migration. iv.

Purchase of a relatively small area would have an outsized impact by securing access to a larger area of conservation importance (e.g., blocks road access, lays the groundwork for larger conservation actions nearby, or provides a critical biodiversity corridor between larger protected areas.) 10. Projects where Marine Protected Area Creation is the Primary Conservation Strategy 10.

1 Enabling conditions exist for Marine Protected Area (MPA) creation and effective management, including i : 10. 1. 1 Overlaps area of maximum biodiversity benefit from MPAs according to Sala et al.

2021 ; OR ii 10. 1. 2 Stands out on other measures of biodiversity value; OR 10.

1. 3 High carbon value. i NB: These criteria will focus our efforts strongly on coastal and nearshore marine areas.

Proposals for offshore MPAs will require clear demonstration of extinction risk reduction or carbon storage benefits to be considered. ii Italicized text indicates conditional (and/or; or) statements apply to these criteria. Preferred Criteria for All Projects A.

For traditional protected areas, land will have a high level of protection, preferably IUCN Category I or II where this does not infringe IP and LC rights. B. Subsistence hunting, use of timber, artisanal fishing, small-scale mining, and use of non-timber forest products is permissible.

Areas for residence and bio-agriculture or sustainable tourism are permitted within designated areas. C. The Project Implementer has a solid track record of establishing or expanding protected or conserved areas (including land titling if applicable), which sustain low deforestation rates.

D. The project demonstrates a clear strategy for sustainable financing, and/or includes measures to explore this (which may be budgeted for in the project). E.

The project promotes the implementation of sustainable livelihoods, whether through subsistence activities, direct compensation (e.g. through environmental incentives such as Payment for Ecosystem Services or employment in conservation), and/or building community enterprise. F. Processes are in place to evaluate the effectiveness and equitability of governance and management.

G. The resulting governing authority of the proposed protected or conserved area is legitimate, democratic, equitable, and accountable. H.

Regional or national governments have signaled their support for the site protection mechanism. I. If requested, organizations/ communities will be supported with capacity-strengthening funds (e.g. community association institutional strengthening, training on territorial patrolling, livelihood support).

Preferred Criteria for Projects where Indigenous Peoples' and/or Local Communities' land tenure is the primary conservation strategy The Project Implementer has a solid track record of working with Indigenous Peoples or local communities; AND Land ownership (i.e. land title) is granted to a community rather than to an individual or an NGO; AND/OR i Substantial management authority of the area will be led by the Indigenous Peoples or Local Community; AND/OR The grant is directly managed by an Indigenous or Local Community-led organization.

i Italicized text indicates conditional (and/or; or) statements apply to these criteria School of Scalloped Hammerheads, by Tomas Kotouc Our application process is collaborative, and we work with applicants to ensure the necessary stages of successful protected or conserved area establishment are covered, e.g. subsequent area management, community engagement and long-term funding mechanisms.

Our aim is to support the creation and expansion of areas that function for Species, Climate, and People , to be managed sustainably in perpetuity, with applications expected to demonstrate how this will be achieved. 1. Confirm eligibility to receive Rainforest Trust support.

1. 1 All applicants must be legally registered, non-government organizations that are authorized to conduct work in the country of the proposed project. 1.

2 Your project must be in line with our Project Criteria. 2. Submit a Concept Note.

You never need to pay a consultant or intermediary to apply for Rainforest Trust funding. We only review applications submitted directly by eligible organizations, and we will work with you to refine your proposal if it aligns with our mission and priorities. Submit a Concept Note through our online form .

2. 1 Concept notes are accepted anytime, and reviewed within 1-2 months. 2.

2 If you are submitting a Concept Note for a Protected or Conserved Area Creation or Expansion Award of over $250,000, we recommend submitting your Concept Note for review four months in advance of our application deadlines of March 1 • July 1 • October 1. 3. Submit an Application.

If your concept note is successful, you will be contacted by a Rainforest Trust staff member and invited to submit a detailed application via our online portal system. The application stage can involve our providing simple guidance through to helping craft the project structure and language in the application, as needed. 1.

1 Protected or Conserved Area Creation Feasibility Awards; Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards of less than $250,000: These are accepted on a rolling basis and may be funded anytime throughout the year. 1. 2 Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards of $250,000 and above: March 1 • July 1 • October 1 of each calendar year; approved projects are typically funded about 6 months after each application deadline.

Please note that Rainforest Trust support focuses on direct conservation action, centered around the creation and expansion of sustainably managed protected or conserved areas. As such, we are unable to fund the following: Fixed rate overhead costs, although please note that itemized expenditures will be considered. Long-term ecological monitoring or research.

Large scale habitat restoration (e.g., tree planting). Please feel free to contact us at projects@rainforesttrust. org if you have questions about partnering with us.

You never need to pay a consultant or intermediary to apply for Rainforest Trust funding. We only review applications submitted directly by eligible organizations, and we will work with you to refine your proposal if it aligns with our mission and priorities. A few of our valued partners