The Flagship Species Fund

The Flagship Species Fund supports projects focussing on flagship species, with a key taxonomic focus on primates, sea turtles and trees (although a small amount of funding for other groups is available). Since 2009 the fund has developed a particular focus on encouraging applicants from the UK Overseas Territories.

Established as a joint initiative between the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Fauna & Flora International in 2001, the Flagship Species Fund provides practical support to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats in developing countries.

The 2013 call for proposals is now closed.  We aim to notify all applicants on whether their submitted proposals have been successful or not by the end of 2012.

The Fund is supported not only by Defra, but also the corporate sector. Our current primary corporate supporter is BHP Billiton.

Flagships are generally high profile and charismatic species that may play a significant ecological role and often have important cultural associations. Flagship species act as symbols for the threats to the broader ecosystem in which they occur, and can thus act as catalysts for wide-ranging conservation activities.

The recipients of Flagship Species Fund grants typically run locally-operated projects in developing countries, often working in difficult field conditions where lack of equipment, unwieldy bureaucracies and unstable political situations can hamper a project’s development.

Despite their day-to-day struggles, these committed local conservationists work against the odds to secure the protection of threatened species and habitats.

The Fund also provides essential strategic funding in early stages of conservation projects, many of which have subsequently flourished and secured more substantial funds from other sources.

2011 Flagship Species Fund report (PDF)

Projects funded in 2012 (PDF)

Previously funded projects (PDF)