Environmental Concern Inc. Presents: U.S. Ramsar Wetlands Small Grants Program
Application Deadline: November 30, 2007 Awards up to $10,000 Environmental Concern Inc. has one-time, limited funds to distribute through a grants program to support the designation of US Ramsar Sites and promote Wetlands Communication, Education, and Public Awareness programs/initiatives associated with current U.S. Ramsar sites. The United States is one of 154 Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and has designated 22 sites as wetlands of international importance. The US National Ramsar Committee (USNRC) is an organization that supports the goals and objectives of the Ramsar Convention within the United States and internationally. The USNRC provides support and advice to initiatives that promote the conservation and wise, sustainable use of domestic and international wetlands. Environmental Concern is a member of the USNRC and has been selected by USFWS to administer the grants program. Based on the USNRC's work, there is increased interest in the Ramsar Convention within the United States. Accordingly, with this increased interest and the benefits of Ramsar designation now clearly identified, there is an opportunity to designate additional U.S. Ramsar sites and to use Ramsar designation as a non-regulatory means (through CEPA) to promote wetland conservation. ELIGIBILITY Non-profits, institutes of higher education, schools, local governments, and state governments are eligible to apply for one-year awards. PROGRAM PRIORITIES Grants will be limited to projects that focus specifically on the following program areas: Developing new US Ramsar Designations such as: i) Assisting state wetland organizations in identifying and evaluating potential Ramsar sites; ii) Assisting national wetland organizations in identifying and evaluating potential Ramsar sites on a regional basis; iii) Assisting with public meetings and workshops to educate land managers (such as USFWS refuge managers) about the Ramsar Convention and the designation process; and iv) Assisting with other efforts to designate new Ramsar sites, especially in states or regions that currently are not represented on the Ramsar list. Promote CEPA activities at or related to U.S. Ramsar sites, such as i) Creating a Ramsar tool kit for schools near U.S. Ramsar sites that incorporates World Wetlands Day; ii) Creating a Ramsar tool kit for local community groups that support U.S. Ramsar sites that incorporates World Wetlands Day; iii) Supporting events (e.g., lectures, conferences, public meetings) at U.S. Ramsar sites that emphasize a site's international importance; and iv) Enlisting the support of graduate student(s) to draft and provide input on the preparation of the U.S. National Report for the Tenth Conference of the Parties. See the attached Grant Guidelines and Application for full details. For more specific questions, contact: General Grant Questions - Suzanne Slear, Environmental Concern Inc. (410) 745-9620 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] CEPA Projects - Bronwyn Mitchell, Environmental Concern Inc. (410) 745-9620 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] Site Designations - Royal Gardner, Stetson College (727) 562-7864 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
