Posted on February 20, 2007

MacArthur Foundation Announces Grants for Biodiversity Conservation

The Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced the first grants awarded through a three-year, $5 million initiative to identify and mitigate the threat from global climate change on species in the planet's most diverse ecosystems.

Eight projects will receive a total of $2.3 million to study the pressures placed on species and their habitats as a result of climate change. The awards include $390,000 to the University of California, Berkeley and $350,000 to the World Conservation Union in Gland, Switzerland. In addition, two collaborative efforts were awarded funds. The International START Secretariat of the American Geophysical Union in Washington, D.C., was awarded $300,000 for its partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu received $290,000 for its collaboration with the Pacific Science Association, also in Honolulu, and the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program in Apia, Samoa.

"Climate change is a real threat to our shared vision of a sustainable world, yet little is being done to examine this issue, much less respond to it," said MacArthur president Jonathan Fanton. "These new grants will help identify the level of threat and support steps needed to adapt to the impact of climate change in each region where we fund conservation work. Otherwise, all our investments in conservation could be at great risk."

For additional information on the recipients, visit the foundation's Web site.