Marine Turtle Conservation Fund

The Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (MTCA) is soliciting proposals for the conservation of marine turtles (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, Dermochelys coriacea, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea, Lepidochelys kempii) throughout their range outside of the United States and its territories. The U.S. Government enacted the Marine Turtle Conservation Act (MTCA) of 2004 in response to the decline of many marine turtle populations worldwide and the serious threats to their long-term survival. The primary purpose of the Act is to provide financial support for projects that conserve nesting populations and habitat and address other threats to the survival of marine turtles in foreign countries. The goal of this program is to reduce threats to marine turtles in their natural habitat. Proposals should identify specific conservation actions that have a high likelihood of creating lasting benefits. Project activities that emphasize data collection and status assessment should describe a direct link to management action, and explain how lack of information has been a key limiting factor for management action in the past. Proposals that do not identify how actions will reduce threats or that do not demonstrate a strong link between data collection and management action will be disqualified. Proposed project work should occur within the species range, outside of the United States. If work is to be conducted outside of the species range, the proposal should show a clear relevance to its conservation.