The deadline for submitting projects is midnight on 24 October 2021 (Central European Time Zone).
The projects will be examined by the Secretariat and then the Foundation's Committee of Experts, which will provide its recommendations by the end of February 2022. The Board of Trustees will make a final decision during the month of March 2022. Projects can therefore only start in April or May 2022.
Eligibility criteria conservation of threatened trees
For each call for projects, the eligibility criteria listed below must be met:
Species
Only projects that aim to improve the conservation status of one or more globally threatened tree species according to the IUCN Red List are eligible. Threatened" species include those listed as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Applicants should therefore check the status of the species they propose to target with their projects on www.iucnredlist.org to ensure that their nominations will be eligible. If the species is considered threatened but not yet published on the IUCN Red List, the necessary information must be provided. Priority will be given to projects targeting Critically Endangered and Endangered species. Projects targeting species listed as Vulnerable will be accepted where immediate investments are needed to avoid rapid declines.
Trees are defined as plant species with a single trunk of at least 2 metres in height.
Threatened tree species should be the main target species of projects, but projects that propose a positive impact on other threatened species and associated habitats will be favoured (collateral benefits). The Foundation favours actions of global importance (globally threatened species) over local issues.
In the event that the species' IUCN Red List status is out of date or needs updating, target species should be reassessed in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) team in charge of the Global Tree Assessment.
Geographical areas
Type of project for the conservation of threatened trees
Projects should implement concrete conservation measures on the ground. Projects can cover a period of up to 3 years.
The necessary information must be provided to answer the following questions:
- Does the project leader have the necessary experience and knowledge?
- Does the project take into account experience gained at the proposed site or in another region?
- Do the target species need to be replanted or is there sufficient natural regeneration?
- Does the project reduce the most significant threats to the target species?
- Will the project negatively impact other species?
- Is the genetic diversity of the seedlings raised in the nursery sufficient?
- What is the expected survival rate of the plantations?
- Is the environmental impact of the project reasonable (staff and infrastructure near the site...)?
- What is the long-term vision: 10-30 years (once the new trees have reached maturity)?
All projects must comply with the principles set out in the recent scientific review "Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimise carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits" (Di Sacco et al., 2021) :
(1) Protect the existing forest first;
(2) Working together (involving all stakeholders);
(3) Aim to maximise the recovery of all biodiversity to achieve multiple objectives (carbon sequestration, ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits);
(4) Select the appropriate areas for restoration;
(5) Use natural regeneration where possible;
(6) Carefully select target species to maximise biodiversity;
(7) Use resilient plant material (seed, wildings, or other tissue with appropriate genetic variability and provenance);
(8) Plan in advance for necessary infrastructure, capacity and seed supply;
(9) Learning by doing (using an adaptive management approach);
(10) Ensure the economic sustainability of the project.
Budget
The Foundation favours conservation actions whose cost is reasonable in relation to the activities proposed. The cost/benefit ratio will be an important criterion in the selection of projects. Structural costs should be limited and funds should be spent preferentially where field activities are implemented. Structural costs should be limited and overheads should be capped at 10% of the budget. The budget must be submitted in US or Canadian dollars, euros, pounds sterling or Swiss francs.
Co-financing
Evaluation
Projects will have to include specific measurable and verifiable indicators (KPIs) to assess their implementation and impact on the ground. In addition, the Foundation has developed a monitoring and evaluation framework that allows it to assess its impact at the global level (see attached document); each project will have to present indicators specific (with target values) aligned with the global indicators used and explain the long-term vision (10-30 years; once the new trees have reached maturity).
At least one of the proposed indicators should quantify a direct action at the level of the target species(es). Representatives of the Foundation may visit the project site to assess the rigour and impact of the project.
Coordination with existing projects and other donors
The Foundation wishes to ensure that the actions it funds are well coordinated with those of other donors working in the same area. To this end, the Secretariat will maintain contacts with other donors and project proposals should clearly indicate the nature of the co-financing (donors and amounts). The results of past conservation actions should be indicated. In addition, the Foundation's website should be consulted by project proponents to identify possible synergies with existing projects targeting similar species, countries or ecosystem types. A clear articulation with ongoing efforts supported by the Foundation is requested.
Partners
Beneficiaries must assure the Foundation that they have all the legal authorisations to work in the proposed project area. Projects that include a partnership with a local or national organisation(s) will be given preference.
A link with the relevant IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups is desired (see list on the SSC group Plants & Fungi).
Useful resources
The conservation of threatened trees requires specific skills and techniques that should be referred to. The Foundation strongly recommends using available sources of information and practical advice such as those found in many languages on the Global Trees Campaignof the Society for Ecological Restoration or the IUCN (Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning, the Red List process; Guidelines for invasive species planning and management on islands) .
These resources should help you to address key issues for your project, e.g. how to collect seeds, how to store and germinate them, how to design and manage a nursery, how to reintroduce threatened trees into the wild, how to develop a monitoring plan for threatened tree species, etc.
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