Great Apes Conservation Fund FY12 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Great Apes Conservation Fund FY12 opportunity (F12AS00037)?

The Great Apes Conservation Fund FY12 (Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00037) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant and cooperative agreement opportunity created under the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000. It was designed to respond to major declines in great ape populations across Africa and Asia by funding practical conservation work carried out by range-country entities and by organizations or individuals with proven experience conserving these species.

Which species are covered by this fund?

The fund targets the full geographic ranges of:

• Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla)
• Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
• Bonobos (Pan paniscus)
• Orangutans (Pongo spp.)
• Gibbons (family Hylobatidae)

Where should projects be implemented?

There is a clear preference for projects implemented inside great ape range countries across Africa and Asia. Work outside those areas may still be considered, but only when the proposal makes a strong, direct case for how it will measurably benefit great ape conservation.

What kinds of projects is the program looking for?

The program is looking for applied, on-the-ground conservation proposals rather than purely academic studies. Competitive proposals generally connect activities like research and monitoring to specific management decisions and measurable conservation outcomes.

Are purely academic studies eligible?

The announcement emphasizes applied, practical conservation work. Projects that are purely academic in nature are not the focus. Stronger proposals typically show how research or monitoring will directly inform management actions (for example, guiding patrol deployment, identifying priority habitats, or testing interventions that reduce threats).

What activities does the announcement specifically highlight?

The announcement specifically highlights:

• Applied research on ape populations and habitats, including surveys and monitoring
• Development and implementation of conservation management plans
• Efforts that help countries meet treaty and legal obligations related to apes and their habitats (including restrictions on take and trade)

Does the fund support education and community outreach?

Yes. The opportunity encourages conservation education and community outreach as part of practical strategies to improve conservation outcomes for apes and their habitats.

Does the fund support anti-poaching and law enforcement efforts?

Yes. A major emphasis includes strengthening wildlife inspection, law enforcement, and forensics skills to help disrupt poaching and illegal trade networks.

Are transfrontier (cross-border) conservation projects encouraged?

Yes. The program emphasizes supporting transfrontier (cross-border) conservation efforts, especially where ape landscapes and threats span national boundaries.

Does the opportunity address human-ape conflict?

Yes. The announcement encourages actions to reduce human-ape conflict as part of broader applied conservation work.

Does the program fund habitat conservation and protected area management?

Yes. The opportunity encourages habitat conservation and management, protected area or reserve management, and improved protection for at-risk populations in key ape landscapes.

Is building local capacity an important priority?

Yes. A major emphasis is building lasting local capacity, including strengthening in-country skills and systems that support durable conservation results.

What funding instruments are used for this opportunity?

This FY12 opportunity was offered as a discretionary program using two possible funding instruments: grants and cooperative agreements.

What are the activity areas for this opportunity?

The activity areas are broadly categorized under education, environment, and natural resources.

How much funding was expected to be available, and how many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making about 55 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $2,059,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states that no cost sharing or matching was required, which can reduce barriers for smaller organizations and in-country partners.

Is there a minimum or maximum award size?

The award floor and ceiling were listed as $0. This typically indicates that award sizes can vary based on project scope and available funds rather than being limited by a preset minimum or maximum in the listing.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning proposals could come from a wide range of applicant types, assuming they meet any detailed requirements in the full announcement. The fund is intended to support capable implementers with demonstrated conservation expertise and a credible plan to deliver measurable results for ape populations and habitats.

When was this opportunity open, and is it still available?

This FY12 opportunity was posted on January 25, 2012 and closed on April 1, 2012. It was archived on April 1, 2013, indicating it is no longer open for applications.

Where could applicants find the full application instructions?

The listing referenced Grants.gov as the primary source for the full application materials and instructions.

Who was the listed contact for questions about the opportunity?

The listed contact was Cory Brown Veizaga, International Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone: 703-358-2221. Email: CoryBrown@fws.gov.

What is the program trying to achieve overall?

Overall, the program aims to address significant declines in great ape populations by financing practical, results-oriented conservation work that measurably improves protection of ape populations and habitats, supports effective management, strengthens enforcement against illegal take and trade, and builds durable local capacity across ape range countries.