Conservation Research Small Grants
BACKGROUND
The need for financial support of marine conservation efforts is acute in many parts of the world, especially in developing nations and those with little or no access to conservation funding. The Society for Conservation Biology Marine Program initiated our Conservation Small Grants Program (CSGP) to fund worthy conservation projects around the globe. The objective of the SCB Marine Program CSGP is to advance the conservation of marine biodiversity and the communities which depend on healthy marine systems by providing funds to individuals or groups for research, conservation, and restoration activities in support of the section’s Mission and Goals:
Mission
To advance the science and practice of conserving the Earth’s marine biological diversity
Goals:
- Be a global focal point for marine conservation
- Facilitate the dissemination of the science of marine conservation through education, publications, presentations, and media outreach
- Promote marine conservation as a priority for SCB
- Inform and facilitate the implementation of marine conservation policy
- Encourage communication/action across disciplinary, national and institutional boundaries
- Create the capacity to accomplish the aforementioned goals
Grants range from $750-1,000 USD.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be members of the Society for Conservation Biology’s Marine Program. Applicants must be conducting conservation efforts in low or middle income countries. If your project is being conducted in a country that is not designated as low or middle income by the World Bank, but has less access to conservation funding, your application may still be considered with sufficient justification. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate capacity to accomplish the proposed work (e.g., through matching funds, matching funds in kind, or existing in-country capacity), and to first-time applicants. Funds must be spent within 12 months after award.
Eligible activities:
Examples of eligible activities:
- Providing materials to train local residents to reduce impacts of human activities on marine organisms and their habitats;
- Developing educational materials for implementing conservation practices, such as teaching fishers to reduce bycatch;
- Surveys of previously unsurveyed areas to evaluate status and conservation of marine organisms or habitats;
- Travel to and from research sites;
- Participant travel to focus groups/workshops;
- Research equipment and supplies (e.g. dive equipment, sampling supplies, photographic equipment);
- Other direct costs (e.g., boat fuel).
Non-eligible activities:
- Travel to the ICCBs, IMCCs, or other meetings;
- Personal expenses such as food, lodging, or professional membership fees;
- Researcher salaries;
- Tuition or course fees;
- Indirect/Overhead/F&A.
Application Period
The most recent applications, for 2023, ran from Monday March 20th to Friday May 5th at 5:00 P.M. Eastern time. Applications are not currently being taken.
Information, announcements, and application reminders for current and future grants rounds will be posted to the SCB Marine Program listserv, in the Marine Program news, and on the Program's social media pages.
If you have questions, please email the Marine Program Science Officer. Previous grant recipients may complete their final Small Grants Report Form using this form.
If you require the guidelines document or forms in large print, audio, Braille, or a colored background, please contact the Marine Program Diversity Committee Chair Shaili Johri.
2023 Conservation Research Small Grants Recipients
| Awardee | Project Country | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| Celis, Anna Isabel | The Philippines | Citizen-science assessment of marine resources and their conservation in the Shark Fin Bay of Taytay, Palawan, Philippines (CSAMR) |
| Escoro, Czarmayne Victoria Jude | The Philippines | Understanding drivers of coral reef fish community structure in the northwest Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex (BARC), Philippines to improve reef management and local awareness on reef conservation |
| Giarratano, Erica | Argentina | Assessment of microplastic pollution from Chubut River into South Atlantic Ocean to find joint solutions involving researchers, government and local community |
| Maina, Esther | Kenya | Rising Tides, Empowered Communities: A Handbook on Ocean-Climate Action in Kenya |
| Manikarachchige, Imali | Sri Lanka | Improving ocean literacy among school children and their capacity building in marine conservation: A case in Tangalle, Sri Lanka |
| Muirhead-Davies, Natalie | Gibraltar | Establishing baselines: comprehensive habitat characterisation of Gibraltar’s marine habitats to aid marine conservation efforts |
| Oladipo, Segun | Nigeria | Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Stingrays Aiding Conservation Actions Against By-catches in Gulf of Guinea, Lagos, Nigeria |
| Penner, Hilary | Grenada | Partnering with local youth in citizen science survey methods for fish biodiversity and abundance in Grenada |
| Sangiorgi Monroy, Patricia | Venezuela | Understanding small-scale fishers’ perceptions towards marine protected areas in Peru: where tradition and dependence on small-scale fishing clashes with nature conservation |
| Tamayo, Carlos | The Philippines | Empowering Communities to Protect Sea Turtles: CURMA Marine Conservation Center’s Education and Training Hub |
Previous Awardees
Anna Celis
Project Title: Citizen-science assessment of marine resources and their conservation in the Shark Fin Bay of Taytay, Palawan, Philippines (CSAMR)
Project Country: The Philippines
Anna Celis is a research officer for Project SHAMA in Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation and is also currently taking her Master’s in Environmental Science in the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Her interest is in marine conservation and the effects of climate change in coastal ecosystems.
Czarmayne Victoria Jude Escoro The Philippines
Project Title: Understanding drivers of coral reef fish community structure in the northwest Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex (BARC), Philippines to improve reef management and local awareness on reef conservation
Project Country: The Philippines
Czarmayne is a nature enthusiast which inspires her to work on ecological research to inform management and conservation efforts. She is currently finishing her master's degree and working at the Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines. Her works focus on reef fish ecology, fisheries, and marine protected areas.
Erica Giarratano
Project Title: Assessment of microplastic pollution from Chubut River into South Atlantic Ocean to find joint solutions involving researchers, government and local community
Project Country: Argentina 
Erica Giarratano, Ph.D. is a researcher at the Center for theS tudy of Marine Systems (CESIMAR), which belongs to the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) of Argentina. She is interested in evaluating the impact of human activities on marine life. In recent years, she began to study microplastics which are of great concern due to their widespread environmental presence and potential ecological risks.
Esther Maina
Project Title: Rising Tides, Empowered Communities: A Handbook on Ocean-Climate Action in Kenya 
Project Country: Kenya
Esther is an ocean advocate and an environmental expert by profession. She is an award-winning conservationist, has worked with various organizations, and is well-versed in environmental and marine conservation. Esther has served as a Youth Policy Advisor at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance; worked to help develop and amplify youth-led policies for the ocean. She is the Marine Action Coordinator for Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network, actively working with the organization to strengthen youth-led conservation efforts on marine life and coastal ecosystems.
Imali Manikarachchige
Project Title: Improving ocean literacy among school children and their capacity building in marine conservation: A case in Tangalle, Sri Lanka 
Project Country: Sri Lanka
Imali Manikarachchige is a lecturer at Ocean University of Sri Lanka with an academic and research background in fisheries, ocean sciences, policy and management. She has focused research interests in mitigating sustainability issues in marine socio-ecological systems. She leads a "marine socio-ecological laboratory" in the department of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences of Ocean University of Sri Lanka.
Patricia Sangiorgi Monroy
Project Title: Understanding small-scale fishers’ perceptions towards marine protected areas in Peru: where tradition and dependence on small-scale fishing clashes with nature conservation 
Project Country: Venezuela
Patricia is a former graduate of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, in Lima, Peru, and is currently participating in research projects at the Ecohealth and Urban Ecology Laboratory. She is developing her early career path with a strong focus on marine conservation and socio-ecological systems. Her objective is to work with conservation strategies that encompass a strong commitment to social justice, equity, and sustainable use of natural resources.
Natalie Muirhead-Davis
Project Title: Establishing baselines: comprehensive habitat characterisation of Gibraltar’s marine habitats to aid marine conservation efforts 
Project Country: Gibraltar
Natalie is a researcher carrying out her PhD at the University of Gibraltar. Her research is based in strengthening marine conservation measures in Gibraltar, a UK Overseas Territory that faces many challenges including environmental, political and economic. She is looking to find ways, based on international good practice, to overcome these and involve the local community in taking ownership of their local ocean.
Segun Oladipo
Project Title: Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Stingrays Aiding Conservation Actions Against By-catches in Gulf of Guinea, Lagos, Nigeria 
Project Country: Nigeria
Segun Olayinka OLADIPO is a lecturer at the Department of Zoology, Kwara State University, Nigeria. He holds B. Sc. (Hons) Zoology, M. Sc. (Zoology) with specialization in Ecology and Environmental Biology, Ph.D (Zoology) with specialization in Aquatic and Fishery Ecology and a Visiting Researcher in California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA (2021). As a National Geographic Explorer and researcher, his research interest focuses on ecology, genetics and conservation of Nigerian marine and freshwater fishes. Presently, he is working on DNA-based assessment of freshwater and marine fishes in Nigeria.
Hillary Penner
Project Title: Partnering with local youth in citizen science survey methods for fish biodiversity and abundance in Grenada 
Project Country: Grenada
Hilary Penner is Reef Environmental Education Foundation's Education and Conservation Programs Manager. She works to develop new community partnerships, create new youth learning opportunities, and engage REEF members to support REEF’s ocean conservation mission.
Carlos Tamayo
Project Title: Empowering Communities to Protect Sea Turtles: CURMA Marine Conservation Center’s Education and Training Hub .jpg)
Project Country: The Philippines
Carlos Tamayo is a dedicated conservationist with close to a decade of experience in turtle conservation. As the Conservation Director at CURMA, he strives to implement our conservation model nationwide, ensuring the best practices for turtle preservation. He aims to inspire others through storytelling about wildlife and the communities behind the conservation efforts. By capturing their dedication through my camera lens , he hopes to ignite a sense of responsibility for these incredible creatures and the environment they depend on. Film is his medium to convey the beauty of the natural world, aiming to evoke emotions, raise awareness, and inspire change. He believes that showcasing the interconnectedness of our environment fosters appreciation and understanding.
Previous Awardees
2017-18 SCB Marine Conservation Research Small Grants Winners page.
2016-17 SCB Marine Conservation Research Small Grants Winners page.
2015 SCB Marine Conservation Research Small Grants Winners page.