Funded by IRD in collaboration with several other French organizations, the program “Sud Expert Plantes Développement Durable” (SEP2D) aims to reinforce scientific research on plant biodiversity in 22 tropical countries. The eligible countries are distributed across West Africa; Central Africa; Indian Ocean; and Southeast Asia. Research themes in SEP2D are forest biodiversity; mitigation of mining activities; commercial applications of plant biodiversity; and agro-biodiversity. In each participating country, SEP2D will be managed by an academic institution which will build a consortium of national and/or international partners. Examples of partners include private companies, NGOs, farmers’ associations, financial institutions, and similar. Funding is up to €35 thousand for national projects, and up to €75 thousand for regional and international projects. The application deadline is 31 December 2016. Link
forests
European Commission — Capacity to Address Extraordinary Disasters
The EC’s Directorate for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection calls for projects which address temporary shortcomings of response capacities in extraordinary disasters. The objective is to establish “buffer capacities” to add stand-by availability of rapid response capacities. Included are responses to disasters caused by flooding and forest fires. In addition to EU member states, eligibility to participate extends to Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey. The deadline for submitting proposals is 06 February 2017. Link
European Commission — Reducing Climate Vulnerability in São Tomé and Principe
The EC announces grants to address climate vulnerability in São Tomé and Principe. The program will work to provide tangible benefits for the vulnerable communities of Lembá and Mé-Zóchi in matters of water supply, rural energy, agricultural diversification, soils management, and forest management. Principal applicants for funding should be NGOs eligible under the EC’s rules for external actions. The planned allocations are €750 thousand for Lembá and €750 thousand for Mé-Zóchi. Reference EuropeAid/138523/ID/ACT/ST. The application deadline is 16 February 2017. Link
Governors’ Climate and Forests Fund — Requests for Proposals
The Governors’ Climate and Forests Fund currently requests proposals in two thematic areas: (i) enhanced landscape governance and capacity — with application deadline on 15 December 2016; and (ii) jurisdictional partnerships for forests, climate and agriculture — with application deadline on 31 January 2017. Eligibility for funding extends to accredited organizations in the GCFF member states and provinces of Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Peru. Link
UK Met Office — Collaboration with Brazil in Climate Science
The Climate Science for Service Partnership Brazil (CSSP Brazil) announces grants for UK researchers on subjects of climate change and disaster risk in Brazil. The focal areas are models of vegetation dynamics; the use of in situ forest observations and measurements to evaluate models; the use of regional scale observations and measurements to evaluate models; and detection and attribution of impacts of climate change in Brazil. The application deadline is 31 October 2016. Link
World Bank — Big Data Innovation Challenge
The World Bank is interested in how “big data” can be used to address development questions, including how climate change affects food security and forestry and watersheds. Solutions may include but are not limited to analytical methodologies, APIs, algorithms, software applications, tools, and new data set generation. Technologies may include artificial intelligence, crowd-sourcing applications, data science, dynamic visualizations, machine learning, and predictive analytics. The Challenge will award US$10 thousand to the winner in each of the following two categories: (i) food security or nutrition, and (ii) forestry or watersheds. Submissions are invited from individuals, students, entrepreneurs, start-ups, university labs, private companies, nonprofits, and public sector agencies legally established in member countries of the World Bank Group. The closing date for submissions is 09 November 2016. Link
Wageningen University — Course in Landscape Governance
The Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation, in partnership with CIFOR and ICRAF, invites participants for an international course on landscape governance. The focus is institutional development at the landscape level — including multi-stakeholder platforms and networks, and financial support mechanisms. The course is open to experienced professionals with several years of experience in natural resources management, forestry, agriculture, rural development, rural livelihoods, sustainable development, or other relevant areas. The course will be held in English on the CIFOR-ICRAF campus in Bogor (Indonesia), April 2017. The deadline to apply for course scholarships through the Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) is 18 October 2016. Link
International Tree Foundation — Sustainable Community Forestry Programme
The International Tree Foundation makes grants through its Sustainable Community Forestry Programme to conserve and restore local forest resources and associated biodiversity; improve local livelihoods; and increase resilience to climate change. ITF welcomes applications for community tree projects in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The applying organization must be a registered NGO in the country where the project will take place. Grants are up to £3,000 for one year, with the possibility of applying for a second year. The deadline for applications is 17 October 2016. Link
UK Natural Environment Research Council — Building Resilience to Environmental Hazards
The NERC in coordination with other UK research councils calls for inter-disciplinary research on resilience to natural and man-made environmental hazards in the developing world. The focus is on how to build resilience in relation to both sudden and slow-onset environmental hazards (e.g., land degradation, deforestation, drought, hurricanes, and climate change). The lead applicant must be a UK research organization eligible for funding through NERC. Co-investigators can be researchers in low and middle-income countries, as well as researchers in international research organizations. Awards are expected not to exceed £200 thousand for projects ranging from 3-9 months, and exceptionally up to 12 months. The deadline for submitting proposals is 06 September 2016. Link
Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics — GOFC-GOLD Training Program
Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) is an international program to provide space-based and in-situ observations of forests and other land cover. These observations are intended to support sustainable management of natural resources and to help provide a better understanding of the terrestrial carbon budget. In association with START, GOFC-GOLD will hold its fifth data initiative in October 2016 for advanced training on access, management, use, and application of earth observation data. The training will be offered at the Sirindhorn Center for Geo-Informatics, Space Krenovation Park, in Thailand. The course is designed for young scientists associated with the GOFC-GOLD regional networks, especially in Southeast Asia. However, other scientists are welcome to submit a request to become a Fellow. The deadline for applications is 19 August 2016. Link