Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Bonobo Conservation Fund

The objective of the fund is to sustain viable populations of great apes in the wild and to assist in the conservation and protection of great apes by supporting conservation programs in which populations of great apes are located and by supporting t

Prior to FY25, this program included the Great Ape Conservation Fund-Asia subprogram. As of FY25, that program has a standalone Assistance Listing (15.689). The purpose of the fund is to sustain viable populations of great apes in the wild and to assist in the conservation and protection of great apes by supporting conservation programs in which populations of great apes are located and by supporting the CITES Secretariat.

Applications may be submitted by any government agency responsible for conservation and protection of apes and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience in ape conservation.

Any government agency responsible for conservation and protection of apes and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience in ape conservation.

Funds provided under this program support projects that will enhance programs for conservation of great apes by assisting efforts to-(1) implement conservation programs;(2) address the conflicts between humans and great apes that arise from competition for the same habitat; (3) enhance compliance with CITES and other applicable laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of great apes or regulate the use and management of great ape habitat; (4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods for monitoring-(A) the condition and health of great ape habitat;(B) great ape population numbers and trends; or (C) the current and projected threats to the habitat, current and projected numbers, or current and projected trends; (5) promote cooperative projects on the issues described in paragraph (4) among government entities, affected local communities, nongovernmental organizations, or other persons in the private sector; or (6) address root causes of threats to great apes in range states, including illegal bushmeat trade, diseases, lack of regional or local capacity for conservation, and habitat loss due to natural disasters.

Funds may not be used for the following activities: Physical resettlement of people (voluntary or involuntary); the purchase of firearms or ammunition; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; buying or purchasing intelligence; evidence or information or paying informants; law enforcement operations that, to arrest suspects, prompt them to carry out illegal activities; and any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws, or regulations of wither the U.S. or the country of the proposed activity. The following cost elements are not allowable under this program: publications of materials for distribution within the U.S. that are not related to the program; pre-award costs (unless prior written approval is received); programs designed to advocate policy views or positions of foreign governments or views of a particular political faction; entertainment and/or alcoholic beverages; purchase of land; direct support or the appearance of direct support for individual or single-party electoral campaigns; and duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

Assistance is available from the start date of the period of performance to the end date of the period of performance. Funding must be spent within 90 days of the end date of the period of performance.

Proposals will be reviewed based on criteria identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Projects are reviewed and competitively selected for funding using criteria articulated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Review criteria can be found in the application information. Once a proposal has been selected for funding, an approving official executes an Assistance Award between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Recipient.

None. However, at the discretion of the Division of International Conservation, active awards can be modified, e.g. time extensions or budget changes.