VOLUNTARY FUND FOR SMALL CETACEANS
CONSERVATION RESEARCH
The IWC Small Cetacean Conservation Research Fund
has been substantially increased through a
Aus$500,000 voluntary donation from the Government
of Australia. This Fund is intended to support high
priority research that demonstrably links to
improving conservation outcomes for small cetacean
populations, particularly those that are threatened
or especially vulnerable to human activities.
Preference for funding will be based on a
determination of need, the quality of the research
application and the demonstration of links between
research and conservation outcomes. Proposals that
demonstrate a capacity building legacy will be
viewed favourably. Higher priority will be given to
projects that relate to previously established
priority topics of the sub-committee on small
cetaceans
In order to maximise the number of projects
supported by the Fund, any single proposal will be
limited to a maximum of £34,000.
Completed application forms should be sent to
the
IWC Secretariat by the 6 April 2011
with ‘SMALL CETACEAN RESEARCH PROPOSAL’ in the
subject line. REVIEW PROCESS A
Review Group, appointed by the
Convenor of the sub-committee on small cetaceans,
will review proposals in accordance with
agreed criteria.
This year the group consists of Caterina Fortuna
(Convenor of the sub-committee on small cetaceans),
Debra Palka (Chair of the Scientific Committee),
Greg Donovan (Head of Science at the IWC
Secretariat), Arne Bjørge (ex-chair of the
Scientific Committee and of the sub-committee on
small cetaceans), Randall Reeves (Chair of the
IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group), Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho
(member of the Scientific Committee) and Nick Gales
(head of the Australian delegation to the Scientific
Committee). The Review Group may suggest
improvements to proposals where appropriate and can
solicit the assistance of other researchers in the
review process if necessary. The projects
recommended by the Review Group will be considered
first by the sub-committee on small cetaceans and
then by the full Scientific Committee. Recommended
proposals will be included in the Scientific
Committee’s budget request to the Commission under
the heading of a specific request to the Voluntary
Research Fund for Small Cetaceans. Projects will be
awarded after final approval by the Commission at
its Plenary meeting in July 2011. The Secretariat
will organise and administer grants for the projects
that are approved for funding by the Commission.
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