24 June 2011: “Save Our Species (SOS),” a global coalition initiated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and World Bank to build a species conservation fund supporting on-the-ground field conservation projects all over the world, has announced the first call for proposals for SOS grants.

SOS was launched during the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). IUCN manages the initiative using the findings of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and its network of experts around the world, including the Species Survival Commission (SSC).

SOS will provide two types of grants. The first are “threatened species grants” (US$25,000-800,000), which will respond to the call for proposals and specific priorities. This year, priority will be given to threatened Asian and African mammals, threatened amphibians or critically endangered birds. SOS also will provide “rapid action grants” (up to US$25,000) to support conservation actions in emergency situations.

The SOS Donor Council has already approved funding for a limited number of pilot projects: Preventing Extinctions Programme (BirdLife International); Conservation Leadership Programme (Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife International, Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society); EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) of Existence Programme (Zoological Society of London); and Amphibian Conservation Programme (Conservation International).

SOS has also awarded one rapid action grant, to the Saiga Conservation Alliance following the death of nearly 12,000 Saiga, which are critically endangered, in western Kazakhstan in May 2010. [SOS News]