What's New @ Ramsar

US National NGO Ramsar Committee calls for grant proposals

Small Grants Program

The U.S. National Ramsar Committee, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, announces its Small Grants Program for 2002 to assist wetlands conservation and awareness at and adjacent to U.S. Ramsar sites. Grants will be made on a matching funds basis to local organizations for projects to support various needs at the Ramsar-designated sites.

Eligible Projects: Examples of such projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

• signage
• trails or boardwalks
• educational and outreach materials
• educational and outreach programs
• repairs or additions to the physical site – either to buildings or the wetland

Requirements:

A grant application must include the following elements:

• Name, location and description of Ramsar site that will benefit from the proposed project.
• Abstract (no more than 300 words) summarizing the proposed project.
• Description of the proposed project and how the grant will benefit the site.
• Description of the requesting organization (must be local organization, either private or governmental). Preference will be given to member organizations of the U.S. National Ramsar Committee (for information on membership, e-mail either George Furness, ctsf@conservationtreaty.org or Judy Taggart, jtaggart@erols.com).
• Name, address, phone, fax and e-mail of person responsible for managing the grant.
• Budget for the project, including the local match (5% minimum) and any other funds to be used. See the sample at the end of this announcement.

Limitations:

• Budget proposal must include at least a 5% nonfederal match secured by the local grantee. The match may include in-kind as well as direct financial contributions.
• Grants may not be used to pay salaries, transportation or rental of space.

Preparation of the application:

• Submit only typed pages (may be e-mailed); do not send videos, scrapbooks or such materials.
• Must not exceed 1,000 typed words.
• Must be signed by person responsible for managing the grant.

Deadline for application submission: September 14, 2001.

Notification of grant awards: October 5, 2001

Submit your application no later than September 14, 2001 to

U.S. National Ramsar Committee
c/o Terrene Institute
4 Herbert Street
Alexandria, VA 22305

Grantee obligations:

• The grantee must invoice the U.S. National Ramsar Committee for the full amount of the grant within 30 days of receiving the grant approval letter.
• The grantee must submit a Final Report to the U.S. National Ramsar Committee by October 1, 2002. The report must include:
• Accounting of the expenditure of grant funds, including the local match.
• Narrative description of how the project was implemented, including achievement of objectives, successes/failures, and resolution of any problems encountered.
• Photographs of activities associated with project (optional).

Questions? Contact Judy Taggart, 703/548-5473; jtaggart@erols.com

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 5 September 2001, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.