Great Ape Action Fund
Supporting the Section on Great Apes
IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group

Virtually no conservation funds target great apes themselves — but grants are often urgently needed in the face of emergency situations, such as civil conflict or the outbreak of disease. During civil conflict, major donors may withdraw their resources completely, and emergency funding is vital to support field staff during chaotic times. The recent outbreak of Ebola in Central Africa was a situation in which the immediate release of emergency funds would have made a critical difference in the lives of humans and great apes alike. A streamlined, swift-acting fund is essential for providing small grants when and where they are needed most, to support the conservation of great apes worldwide.

An emergency is defined as an environmental change that has occurred — or will soon occur — that will negatively impact great ape populations. Emergencies may include natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, droughts, floods, disease outbreaks, and other catastrophes. Emergencies also include man-made disasters such as civil conflict and the forced migration of vast numbers of people. Threats from development projects such as the construction of dams and roads, or threats from extractive industries, will also be considered.

Please note: For now, funding is available principally for conservation research on the West African chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes verus. This is owing to the nature and focus of the funds provided to the Great Ape Action Fund through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). CEPF supports work in the Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem, extending from Guinea to western Togo in the Guinean Forests of West Africa biodiversity hotspot. Until new funds are available, CEPF funding to the Great Ape Action Fund will be restricted to target emergencies in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo. Additional funding, provided by the Great Ape Trust of Iowa, is not restricted geographically.

To apply for financial support from the Great Ape Action Fund, continue to the main application section.

If you would like to contribute to this fund, and help support our efforts to save the lives of great apes around the world, please contact the SGA coordinator at .