The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation are accepting applications for up to $16 million in new funding for projects conducting basic science with direct conservation applications to benefit the preservation of threatened species and ecosystems. This is the third year of grant funding from the first-of-its-kind Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) program, designed to engage deep collaboration between researchers advancing basic science and conservation partners conducting on-the-ground conservation. 

"We’re hearing from our first- and second-year grantees that this partnership is uniquely valuable in funding both basic science and conservation applications," said Lara Littlefield, executive director for programs and partnerships at the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. "With the accelerating rate of biodiversity loss, we must continue to address critical knowledge and data gaps and then take real-world action to save species and ecosystems." 

Since 2023, the PACSP program has provided a total of $24 million in funding for 16 projects across the nation. To-date, the projects have focused on a range of species, from desert tortoises, Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards, and Crystal skipper butterflies in the first cohort, to grizzly bears, Venus flytraps, and Hawaiian honeycreepers in the second cohort. 

"While the focus species and approach of each project might be different, they all address issues that are much bigger than a single species, and are producing new data, models, and technology to advance broader biodiversity conservation solutions," said Susan Marqusee, NSF assistant director for biological sciences. "These projects also build close collaboration between partners, and engage our communities, youth, and other stakeholders in conservation through education and outreach.”

The full list of awarded projects from 2023 and 2024 can be found on the program page.