Posted on October 28, 2005

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MacArthur Foundation Awards $4 Million for African Biodiversity Initiatives

The Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced thirteen grants totaling more than $4 million for biodiversity conservation efforts in the Albertine Rift area of Central Africa, which stretches from just north of Lake Albert in Uganda to the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika in Zambia.

The grants will be used to conserve large landscapes, improve local management of conservation efforts, and research new approaches to conservation. Six of the grants, totaling $1.85 million, are designed to build capacity for local governments, universities, and nongovernmental organizations, including $500,000 to the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks for a conservation training center near its Nyungwe National Park, and $390,000 to the National University of Rwanda to help expand the country's pool of conservation experts by developing a graduate program in conservation and revising its undergraduate biology program to include coursework in conservation.

In addition, Greenwatch in Kampala, Uganda, will receive $280,000 to train judicial and public officers working in the field of environmental law; Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda will receive $270,000 to provide scientific data to protected-area authorities in Virunga National Park to help develop policies governing the management of those areas and support the monitoring of conservation efforts there; and Conservation Through Public Health, in Port Townsend, Washington, will receive $190,000 to help the Uganda Wildlife Authority address the threat of wild animal disease in two of its national parks.

"The combination of civil strife and deep poverty make Africa one of the most challenging environments in which to carry out conservation work," said MacArthur Foundation president Jonathan Fanton. "Many of the communities living in or near protected areas are fully dependent upon the land for their survival....Our goal is to work with regional governments and organizations, as well as local communities, to develop long-term conservation strategies."

For a complete list of grant recipients, see: http://www.macfound.org/announce/press_releases/
10_24_2005.htm.

“MacArthur Foundation Provides More Than $4 Million For Biodiversity Conservation Efforts In Africa's Albertine Rift Region.” John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Press Release 10/24/05.

Primary Subject: Environment
Secondary Subject(s): Education, Higher Education, International Affairs/Development, Civil Society, Health, Science/Technology
Location(s): Africa, Albertine Rift, Chicago, Illinois, International, Port Townsend, Rwanda, Uganda, Washington, Zambia

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