Tapir Specialist Group Conservation Fund Grant History

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Tapir Specialist Group Conservation Fund (TSGCF) was established in 2003 as a vehicle to raise and contribute funds towards tapir conservation initiatives. The organizations involved in the management of the TSGCF are the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG), Houston Zoo Inc. in the United States, Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark, Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Tapir Taxon Advisory Group (TAG), and European Association of Zoos & Aquaria (EAZA) Tapir Taxon Advisory Group (TAG), which are today the key groups working on coordinating and implementing tapir research, conservation and management programs. The money in this Fund consists of contributions from tapir holding zoos and conservation organizations, as well as personal donations from tapir supporters and enthusiasts worldwide. Funds are collected, managed and distributed via Houston Zoo and Copenhagen Zoo. A TSGCF Reviewing Committee reviews each application submitted and decides which projects to fund based on the merits of each proposal and significance for tapir conservation.

PURPOSE: TSGCF grants are RESTRICTED to projects contributing to the implementation of actions listed on the Tapir Action Plans developed during previous Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshops. Please refer to the PHVA Reports / Species Action Plans: Malayan Tapir Action Plan (2003), Mountain Tapir Action Plan (2004), Baird’s Tapir Action Plan (2005), and Lowland Tapir Action Plan (2007).

CRITERIA FOR FUNDING: (1)The TSGCF will ONLY accept applications from members of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG), or members of the Tapir Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and European Association of Zoos & Aquaria (EAZA); (2)The proposal is cooperative in nature and may have matching funds; (3) The proposal is scientifically significant and sound, logistically feasible, has a high probability of success, and clearly contributes to the conservation of tapirs and their remaining habitats; and, (4) Funding restrictions: The TSGCF DOES NOT support: salary, tuition fees, scholarships, conferences, courses and meetings, and operational/overhead costs for institutions or established projects and/or programs.

FUNDING CYCLES: Grant deadlines are July/August each year. For further information and submission forms, please contact TSG Chair Patricia Medici

Manolo José García Vettorazzi
TITLE: Contribution to the Development of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Baird´s Tapir and its Habitat in Guatemala
COUNTRY: Guatemala
SPECIES: Baird's Tapir

Andrés Tapia
TITLE: Conservation Status of the Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) in the Eastern Flanks of the Central Andes of Ecuador
COUNTRY: Ecuador
SPECIES: Mountain Tapir

Eduardo Naranjo
TITLE: Distribution and Local Ecological Knowledge of Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the State of Campeche, Mexico
COUNTRY: Mexico
SPECIES: Baird's Tapir

Georgina O'Farrill
TITLE: How Many Tapirs are There in Mexico?: Non Invasive Estimates of Population Size of the Greater Calakmul Tapir Population
COUNTRY: Mexico
SPECIES: Baird's Tapir

TSGCF 2006: SIX grants of US$1,000

	Manolo García TITLE: Conservation of Baird's Tapir in Guatemala COUNTRY: Guatemala SPECIES: Baird's Tapir
	Iván Lira Torres TITLE: Population Status and Conservation of Baird's Tapir in the Zoque Forest, Mexico COUNTRY: Mexico SPECIES: Baird's Tapir
	Javier Adolfo Sarria Perea TITLE: Determining the Presence of Andean Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) in the Massif of Mamapacha (Boyacá - Colombia) COUNTRY: Colombia SPECIES: Mountain Tapir
	Cristina Tófoli TITLE: Lowland Tapir Footprint Identification Technique (FIT) COUNTRY: Brazil SPECIES: Lowland Tapir
	Miguel A. Morales TITLE: Foraging Habitat Preferences, Diet Composition, and Seed Dispersal of the Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in the Interior Atlantic Forest of Paraguay COUNTRY: Paraguay SPECIES: Lowland Tapir
	Silvia Chalukian TITLE: Tapir Density and Habitat Use in El Rey-Centinela Conservation Unit: First Stage COUNTRY: Argentina SPECIES: Lowland Tapir

NOTE: Currently, only TSG members may apply for these grants. For information and submission forms, please contact TSG Chair Patrícia Medici.