FUNBIO announces the launch of the 8th edition of the FUNBIO Grants – Conserving the Future program, in partnership with the Fonseca Leadership Program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The initiative will provide up to R$1 million to support field research projects by Brazilian master’s and doctoral students across all of the country’s biomes. The call for proposals opens on June 5, a date of double significance, celebrating both World Environment Day and FUNBIO’s anniversary, marking 29 years of investment in the conservation of Brazil’s biodiversity.

Launched in 2018, the FUNBIO Grants – Conserving the Future program was established to support the professional and academic development of a new generation of scientists and decision-makers in the socio-environmental field. All proposals must focus on applied research and align with one of four key areas: conservation, management, and sustainable use of fauna and flora; restoration of landscapes and degraded areas; territorial management for biodiversity protection; and climate change and biodiversity conservation. Since 2023, the program has benefited from a partnership with the GEF, significantly expanding the visibility and reach of scientific research in biodiversity.

“It is deeply rewarding to witness the growth of the program and, above all, to see how the support has led to meaningful discoveries and concrete advances in the training of over 200 researchers across Brazil. The partnership with the GEF marks another important step in expanding this network of knowledge and connections grounded in science. I hope to see the program’s reach continue to grow in the coming Years, along with the positive transformations in the careers of these young scientists,” says Rosa Lemos de Sá, Secretary-General of FUNBIO.

The program has supported 216 grantees to date – 170 doctoral and 46 master’s students – from 53 academic institutions across all regions of Brazil, including 120 women and 96 men. Among them is Juliana Fonseca, a researcher studying the effectiveness of marine protected areas and their relationship with reef fish, which play a vital role in sustaining reef and coral ecosystems and serve as a key food source for many communities. A doctoral candidate at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Juliana is conducting a temporal analysis of reef fish communities to understand how these populations have changed across ten marine protected areas.

“My project will help determine how effective marine protected areas are in conserving different groups of reef fish, and provide insight into the status of key and potentially threatened species, such as groupers and parrotfish,” Juliana explains. “Parrotfish, for example, are locally extinct in some regions and still heavily fished in others. Support from the FUNBIO Grants program will be essential for collecting new data and enabling a meaningful temporal comparison,” she adds. The results will also help identify the specific needs of each protected area – whether improving enforcement, developing appropriate management plans, or regulating visitation – and inform the design of more effective conservation strategies.

An international network for knowledge Exchange

The FUNBIO Grants – Conserving the Future program serves as a catalyst for national scientific research, while also fostering knowledge networks and supporting the development of future leaders. By investing in young scientists and helping transform their proposals into applied knowledge for environmental conservation, the initiative addresses a key funding gap in one of the most critical stages of scientific training: field research.

Another important highlight is that, through the partnership with the GEF, one of the world’s leading environmental funders, outstanding grantees have the opportunity to join the Fonseca Leadership Program. Created in honor of biologist Gustavo Fonseca, who, as Director of Programs at the GEF, helped drive some of the most impactful conservation initiatives globally, the program supports the development of emerging leaders and their integration into an international network, expanding their connections, knowledge, and the reach of their research.

“The program is global. Although still relatively new, we already have a network of 166 Fonseca Fellows who are now present on every continent. We’re now beginning an initiative to actively strengthen this network. We also have a strategy to involve the most outstanding fellows in global policy discussions on conservation,” says Adriana Moreira, Head of the Partnerships Division at the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

How to apply
The selection process includes three consecutive and eliminatory stages: registration and eligibility review; project evaluation; and submission of recommendation letters and a statement of interest, culminating in the final ranking of selected proposals.

Projects must align with one of the following thematic areas:
● Conservation, management, and sustainable use of fauna and flora
● Restoration of landscapes and degraded areas
● Territorial management for biodiversity protection
● Climate change and biodiversity conservation

Applicants must submit their applications through the online form available on FUNBIO’s Call for Proposals Portal. The deadline is July 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Brasília time). The results of the selection process will be announced by December 13, 2025, on FUNBIO’s website and social media channels.