Posted on February, 02 2005

Joint Effort of WWF Caucasus PO and Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund in biodiversity conservation in Caucasus Ecoregion. 
 
Project:  
Strengthening Conservation Alliances through CEPF coordination in the Caucasus 
 
Keeping nature around you untouched and pristine – that simple and extra-important idea stands behind the scientific phrase “Biodiversity conservation”.  Disappearance even of one species of smallest insect can turn life of future generations in different direction.  Our project is an unique opportunity for civil society different groups to develop their activity in biodiversity conservation in Caucasus. 
  
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund   is designed to safeguard the world’s biodiversity hotspots in developing countries. The CEPF is a joint initiative of Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the Mac Arthur Foundation and The World Bank. 
 
In 2003, WWF Caucasus Programme Office coordinated preparation of the CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot. The profile defines the universal conservation outcomes for the region that identifies the conservation targets on species, sites and landscape corridors’ levels. It formulates the CEPF’s niche and recommends a five-year investment strategy that will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in this globally significant eco-region in coming years. 
  
Unique opportunity for civil society to engage in biodiversity conservation process in Caucasus.  
 
CEPF investment strategy addresses the problem of conservation of globally threatened species, priority sites and corridors of the Caucasus hotspot.  Caucasus hotspot covers territories of Georgian, Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Caucasus of Russia, Turkey and Iran and is focused  on conserving the hotspots’ 50 globally threatened species (see the list of the species), the majority of which are found in specific sites in five target conservation corridors: Greater Caucasus, Caspian, West Lesser Caucasus, East Lesser Caucasus and Hyrcan. (See the map). 
 
Our project emphasizes importance of regional and trans-boundary approach for eco-region bio-conservation success.
 
This means that we also welcome projects which not just address particular species of sites conservation, but build a trans-boundary international cooperation in this filed. 
  
CEPF program is an effective tool for conservation of globally threatened species through involvement of local communities and NGOs. 
  
Investment strategy implementation provides financial support to the projects address protection of those species in priority corridors. The list of threatened species, sites and corridors has been studied and identified by 130 international and regional experts during two years. As a result Caucasus Ecosystem Profile has been developed at the workshop in May 2004. (see Ecosystem Profile). 

 
Differently from other initiatives CEPF directly supports and engages the civil society and scientific community in the conservation process.  Key activity of the project is financial support for local non-governmental, governmental or scientific institutions through grant-making. During 4 years of the project duration several call for proposals will be announced and 6,5 million of US$ invested. (See details for the next call for proposals.) 
  
CEPF program helps to implement models demonstrating sustainable resource use in five target corridors, which will facilitate further development of local environment NGOs and communities. 
  
As a result of Strengthening Conservation Alliances Through CEPF Coordination in the Caucasus project it is expected to build the capacity of civil society to achieve the long-term objectives.