The Trevor Poyser Species Conservation Fund

The Trevor Poyser Species Conservation Fund is aimed specifically at individual species research and conservation projects within the OSME region. Species eligible for funding are those that classified as globally threatened according to the IUCN/BirdLife International Red-list (see Table below).

One award of £5000 is made each year and applications must be submitted by the 1st December for projects that must start during the following calendar year. The successful applicant will be notified before the 31st December.

The following criteria must be met:

  • The project leader must be a country national, although collaboration with organisations and experts from outside the project country are encouraged.
  • Eligible species are listed in the table below. Consideration will be given to other species where the applicant can clearly show that the population is of national importance. Please contact OSME for clarification before submitting an application, but please make sure this is done at least one month before the submission deadline.
  • The project should have a strong emphasis on research and monitoring and should have clear conservation implications. Research that may lead to conservation actions that could potentially result in a species being down-listed will be considered favourably.
  • If the target species has an international species action plan endorsed by AEWA, CMS or IUCN, then the project concept must be compatible with the objectives and activities of that plan.
  • The project must be primarily field-based.
  • All applications must be submitted on the standard form and must be in English. If English is not your first language you are encouraged to ask an English speaker to review your application. If you do not know an English speaker then please contact OSME to offer advice, but please make sure this is done at least one month before the submission deadline.
  • The project applicant must be able to receive the grant award via a bank transfer (please contact OSME if you have any concerns about this).

The following types of projects are not eligible for funding:

  • Desk and/or laboratory-based studies.
  • Education or awareness raising projects (but please check eligibility of the OSME Conservation Fund and Youth Development Fund).

Eligible Species

Common name Scientific name Global status
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis

V
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus

V
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris

V
Common Pochard Aythya ferina

V
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala

E
Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan

V
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus

V
Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita

E
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus

V
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

E
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus

E
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga

V
Indian Tawny Eagle Aquila (rapax) vindhiana

V
African Tawny Eagle Aquila (rapax) rapax

V
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis

E
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca

V
Socotra Buzzard Buteo socotraensis

V
Great Bustard Otis tarda

V
Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii

V
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius

CE
Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris

CE
Relict Gull Ichthyaetus relictus

V
Yellow-eyed Pigeon Columba eversmanni

V
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

V
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus

V
Omani Owl Strix butleri

DD
Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocoptes dorae

V
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug

E
Arabian Magpie Pica asirensis

E
Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis

E
Large-billed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orinus

DD
Yemen Warbler Curruca (or Sylvia) buryi

V
Yemen Thrush Turdus menachensis

V
Abd al Kuri Sparrow Passer hemileucus

V
Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus

V
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana

V
Socotra Bunting Emberiza socotrana

V
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola

E

How To Apply

Applications are considered once a year, and must be submitted on the standard application form. All applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by email in English. The deadline is the 1st December and applicants will usually be notified by the 31st December.

The applications will be considered by the OSME Conservation Fund Committee and OSME Council

The application form can be downloaded here