National Fish and Wildlife Foundation CORAL REEF CONSERVATION FUND Program Overview

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Program Overview  5-year partnership with NOAA  113 projects funded to date  Over $9 million committed between 2001and $3.6 million in NFWF federal funds and $5.6 million in matching funds  Projects funded in 20 countries, including four U.S. states, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other U.S. trusts, territories, and freely associated states

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Program Overview  60% of funds invested in U.S. states, territories and freely associated states (FAS)  Of $3.6 million of NFWF federal funds awarded , $1 million was invested in Hawaii, Florida or nationwide; $1 million in U.S. territories & FAS; and $1.5 million internationally  Demand for funding exceeds supply by a factor of 3 or 4

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Program Overview Build public-private partnerships to reduce and prevent degradation of coral reefs and reef habitats: -Reduce impacts from pollution & sedimentation -Reduce impacts from over-harvesting and other fishing activities -Reduce impacts of recreational uses, tourism and boating -Restore damaged reefs or associated reef habitats -Increase community awareness through education and stewardship activities

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Program Overview Special Priorities for : -Hands-on, measurable watershed approaches to reduce land-based pollution and sedimentation to adjacent coral reefs -Efforts to measure and improve the management effectiveness of coral reef protected areas -Establishment of mooring buoys

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Program Overview Funding Preferences:  Community-based partnerships  Hands-on, solution-oriented, targeted approach  Coordinated with state, federal and/or international coral reef conservation initiatives  U.S. domestic or insular (territory, commonwealth), Freely Associated States, Caribbean, or Mesoamerican reef ecosystems  Appropriate budget and matching funds

Coral Reef Conservation Fund 2004 Proposal & Award Overview  88 pre-proposals received (requesting over $3M)  26 grants awarded with total value of $2.4M (range = $15K-$75K; avg. = $38K)  NOAA funding $1.0M  Grantee matching funds $1.4M  15 grants to Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean  9 grants to North Pacific (includes Hawaii)  1 grant each to South Pacific and South Atlantic

Coral Reef Conservation Fund 2005 Proposal Overview (prior to award)  116 pre-proposals received (requesting $4M)  48 full proposals invited (requesting $1.7M)  Approx. $1.3M available in funding (new partners in 2005: Natural Resources Conservation Service & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)  Federal/Foundation review committee  Approx. 30 projects to be selected (awards to be announced in mid-August)

Coral Reef Conservation Fund 2006 Request for Proposals  2006 RFP will be announced at November 2005 U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Palau  Check NFWF website for updates:  Anticipated pre-proposal due date: January 31, 2006

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Applicant Eligibility  Local Government Agencies (U.S. or international)  Non-Profit Organizations (U.S. 501(c)(3) or international)  Academic Institutions U.S. federal government agencies are not eligible

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Eligible Projects  Projects that address programmatic and geographic priorities of Coral Fund  No lobbying, litigation, political advocacy, land acquisition, or indirect/overhead costs  Minimum matching fund ratio of 1:1; 2:1 or more is preferable  Project period of approximately 1 year

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Additional Preferences  New projects/New organizations  Demonstrate measurable ecological or environmental benefits  Strong evaluation plan  Repeat grantees must close out previous NFWF-funded projects before starting new projects

Other NFWF Grantmaking Programs that Support Coral Conservation  NFWF/NOAA General Matching Grants Program  Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation on Private Lands Program *Note that proposals to both of these are accepted through NFWF’s General Call for proposals and that the majority of coral projects are funded through the Coral Fund.

NFWF/NOAA General Matching Grants Program  Support diverse array of marine and freshwater projects in Great Lakes Region, Western Pacific Basin (US & International) and Caribbean  2005 priorities include demonstration projects and projects that engage resource users or managers, improve economic sustainability, and remove and/or prevent marine debris  Next pre-proposal deadline – January 2006

NFWF/NRCS Conservation on Private Lands General Matching Grants Program  Support projects that engage private landowners, primarily farmers and ranchers, in conservation & enhancement of fish and wildlife and natural resources on their lands  priorities include projects that improve water quality, particularly in watersheds upstream from or adjacent to coral reef habitats  Next pre-proposal deadline – January 2006

Additional NFWF Grant Programs that Support Coastal/Marine Conservation (other than coral reefs)  See for full list of NFWF General Call and Special Matching Grants Programswww.nfwf.org/programs/grant_apply.htm  Examples include Five-Star Restoration Program, International Sea Turtle Conservation Fund, National Whale Conservation Fund, Shell Marine Habitat Program  Proposal deadlines vary