USFWS and SEMARNAT Grant for Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation Capacity in Mexico

Program Goal: Build human and institutional capacity for biodiversity conservation and management in Mexico through training. Of interest are projects that provide direct and significant training to Mexican personnel in terms of number of individuals trained, strategic or innovative nature of the training, and impact of the training on the conservation of biodiversity. To be considered, projects must fall into one or more of the following three strategic categories (please indicate under which of these categories your proposal falls):

(1) Managing for Excellence: Training in natural resource conservation and management for Mexican Government personnel, including policy-makers, federal, state, and municipal-level resource managers, and reserve guards. This includes short-term (2-3 weeks) on-the-job courses certified by an educational institution (Diplomados), workshops, exchanges of personnel, etc.

(2) Stewards of the Land: Training in natural resource conservation/management for resource owners and/or direct users, including local communities, rural peasant farmer organizations, and indigenous peoples. This includes training provided through on-the-ground practices, workshops, exchanges of personnel, and other delivery mechanisms appropriate to the training needs of these target groups.

(3) Voices for Nature: Training in environmental education and/or public outreach for targeted society stakeholder groups, including teachers, school children, journalists, tourists, legislators, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations or businesses. This includes workshops, educational programs, production of educational and training material, etc.