The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) aims to provide at least $150 million over five years to support preserving the most biologically significant and threatened areas of the world. The CEPF is a joint initiative of Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the MacArthur Foundation, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank. These leading institutions have each committed $25 million to the Fund, recognizing that strategic alliances and elimination of duplicate efforts are critical to better safeguard threatened ecosystems.
Launched in 2000, the CEPF provides financial support, technical expertise, field knowledge and information primarily to non-governmental, community and grassroots organizations in developing countries. Accomplishment for FY02:
- Awarded grants totaling $7.9 million to 41 different projects All financial reporting and other numbers in this report are based on the period January-October 2001 and will be updated when the report is finalized at the end of the year. in the hotspots of the Guinean Forests of West Africa, Madagascar and the Tropical Andes in South America. Currently reviewing more than 25 other applications for grants.
- Secured a $25 million commitment from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and a $25 million from the Government of Japan. With these five-year commitment, the CEPF is now capitalized at $125 million or two-thirds of its aim of raising at least $150 million for investment in biodiversity conservation.
- Completed Ecosystem Profiles and investment strategies for six new areas proposed for CEPF support in 2002 in the biodiversity hotspots of the Atlantic Forest, Cape Floristic Region, Chocó-Darién-Western Ecuador, Mesoamerica, the Philippines and Sundaland.
- Began preparations to create Ecosystem Profiles in 2002 for the Succulent Karoo Hotspot in southern Africa and for Southwest China, which is largely unexplored but home to the greatest biological diversity of any temperate region worldwide.
- Completed significant upgrading of the grant application, approval and monitoring processes accessible through the CEPF Web site. The upgrades help ensure swift and efficient processes, from grant applications to decision-making.
- Expanded awareness about the CEPF grant availability and processes, particularly by conducting training for potential grant applicants and grantees in Bolivia, Ghana, Madagascar and Peru.
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