Conservation Impact Grants 2021

DEADLINE: Friday November 19, 2021

In 2020, in response to growing cumulative impacts to cetaceans worldwide WWF launched the Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative – a global conservation programme to equip experts, industry, policy makers and governments with tools and solutions to safeguard cetaceans for future generations. WWF has a long track record in supporting cetacean conservation efforts worldwide investing in developing safe field research techniques, building capacity of next generation researchers, and advising Governments on conserving ocean habitats. These efforts have resulted in major shifts in policy and practice from local to global levels. Our focus of conservation is on:

• Safeguarding whale, dolphin and porpoise species or populations at risk through reducing human impacts. Key areas include working to reduce bycatch, shipping, underwater noise, and climate change.

• Securing critical cetacean habitat, including migration routes, through informing marine protected areas or identifying key biodiversity area design and management.

To help boost these efforts, we are inviting individuals, organisations and institutes to submit their best conservation project ideas to inform a policy action or management outcome to mitigate growing bycatch of cetaceans. Globally, an estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises are killed each year as a result of fisheries bycatch. Output from projects can include helping to develop policy, advocacy, inclusive conservation, and/or contribute to local capacity building. This year, a total of A$100,000 is available with a series of grants ranging from A$10,000 up to A$40,000.

Our main goal is to help contribute to achieving IMPACT. Tell us how your project will make a difference for whales, dolphins and porpoises and how we can work together to communicate it and the outcomes to the public and policymakers.  Funding can contribute a range of projects including testing new ideas or long-term studies. Previous funding by the Initiative has been awarded a range of activities including providing field equipment such as satellite tags and drones for conservation science projects, analysis to identify critical habitats, working with local communities on co-developing solutions to mitigate bycatch for small cetaceans and help inform major marine protect area proposals. 

Funding grants will be assessed by the WWF team of experts. Application form can be found here:

To submit the application form, please email it to Chris Johnson at: whales@wwf.org.au

For any questions please get in touch via our contact form.

Application deadline: Friday November 19, 2021. Application outcomes will be notified by email.

Additional Information:

• Applications and expressions of interest will be reviewed by members of the WWF Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative team.

• Funding will be dispersed in the form of a contract agreement with World Wildlife Fund, Australia (WWF Australia). Chris Johnson, Global Lead of the Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative, hosted by WWF Australia, will be the contract coordinator.

• Administration costs cannot be more 12.5% of the funding agreement.

• Any research results to be published open source and available via open data platforms. Collaborative communications are a key deliverable of the funding.

• For more information about World Wild Fund for Nature, Australia (WWF-Aus) policies, please visit this link: https://www.wwf.org.au/about-us/policies

Photo © Richard Barrett/WWF-UK