CALL FOR APPLICATIONS2006 BP CONSERVATION PROGRAMME AWARDS

FUNDING AVAILABLE WITH TRAINING OPPORTUNITIESDEADLINE - 16th DECEMBER 2005
E-mail applications and enquiries to:bp-conservation-programme@birdlife.org.uk
See: http://conservation.bp.com

The aim of BP Conservation Programme Awards is to contribute tolong-term environmental conservation and sustainable development inpriority areas by encouraging and engaging potential leaders inbiodiversity conservation, and providingopportunities for them to gain practical skills and experience.

This initiative, organised by BirdLife International, ConservationInternational, Fauna & Flora International, the WildlifeConservationSociety and BP, has been helping young conservationists across theworldto achieve their goals for the past 15 years. The Programme currentlyworks towards its aims by offering advice, training and awards,primarilytargeting university students. This year we have a new applicationprocedure, as well as new criteria. The Programme has been workingtodevelop an even stronger programme to align with our goal to buildleadership capacity for sustainable development across the world,with2006 serving as a transition year. We are testing some newapproachesand procedures in order to increase efficiency and maintain goodqualitysupport for those applying and winning awards.

Three types of awards will be offered in 2006:
1) Future Conservationist Awards - Approximately 20 awards of up to$12,500 each, plus training.
2) Conservation Follow-up Awards - Approximately 5 awards of up to$25,000 each, plus training. Available to previous BPCP awardwinnersonly.
3) Conservation Leadership Awards - 2 awards of $50,000 each, plustraining. Available to previous BPCP award winners only.

These three tiers allow progression from encouraging and supportinginexperienced teams undertaking small-scale, basic surveying andawareness-raising projects, to the stage where teams are engaging inmore complex decision-making, and developing stronger communicationandleadership skills.

The application deadline is 16th December 2005 for ALL applications,andawards will be announced mid-March 2006. All details, including newguidelines and application forms, are now available on the Programmewebsite! Please visithttp://conservation.bp.com for allthedetails. All teams submitting an application receive feedback ontheirproposaland advice on other sources of funding regardless of whether or nottheyare granted an award. The sooner applications are received prior tothe December 16th deadline, the more opportunity we have to reviewtheseinitial proposals and get them back to applicants with feedback,allowing time for improvement before they submit a final proposal.

For Future Conservationist Awards, applicants must fulfill thefollowingeligibility criteria (further criteria are included in theguidelines,which can be downloaded from the website):
* Teams must include only members less than 35 years of age with nomorethan two years professional conservation experience.
* Projects must address a recognised international biodiversityconservation priority at the species or site level.
* Projects must take place outside countries that have ratified theConvention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment(OECD Countries: see : www.oecd.org for a list).
* Projects that are specifically for PhD research or Master’sdissertations will not be supported.Please consider whether you have any ideas for projects you thinkwouldbe eligible and could benefit your scope of activities. Feel free tocontact us for advice or with questions:bpconservation-programme@birdlife.org.uk

Please pass this announcement on to anyone (individuals,organisations,academic institutions) you think would beinterested. We look forward to receiving all applications.