Annual Report Case Studies List

Annual Report 2020

As Covid-19 became more widespread in 2020, its affects on conservation activities were apparent among our grant recipients who were unable to enter the field or lost revenue from dwindling ecotourism. The MBZ Fund took decisive action in 2020 to support these struggling conservation organizations by offering Covid-19 Relief Grants.

Small Grant Case Studies

• The Guardians Starry Night over Colombia

  Ensuring the conservation of the threatened Starry Night Harlequin toads (Atelopus) in the Key Biodiversity Area Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

• Stepping Back to Safety

  Conservation of the Steppe Eagle breeding population in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion, Russia.

• Keeping Research Island Afloat

  Subsidising core operational costs for long-term species conservation objectives, invasive species management and novel environmental education initiatives on Utila

• The Fall of The Mighty Mahseer

  Community-based conservation of the Critically Endangered Wayanad Mahseer, Neolissochilus wynaadensis in the Western Ghats.

• Fishing For Water Cats

  Investigating the distribution and threats to the Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in the Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab provinces of Pakistan

• The Sea Star Slowly Fading

  Conservation status of the micro-endemic echinoderm species inhabiting a subterranean estuary in Cozumel, Mexico

Annual Report 2019

The year 2019 marks the tenth year since the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund first distributed financial support to conservation projects worldwide. From small grants to large-scale, multiple-year support, the MBZ Fund's role as a donor organization is critical to global conservation efforts for endangered species.

Small Grant Case Studies

• Return of the legend

  Validating eDNA test kit to search for the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle

• Clearing a path for flight

  Save the habitat of Tahiti Monarch from the invasive Miconia calvescens

• Mountain Vipers of Anatolia

  Search for Darevsky's Viper in the Anatolian mountains

• The Race to Save Mauritius’ Snails

  Conservation of rare Mauritius endemic snails at Vallée de L’Est, Mauritius

• Only a handful left

  Conservation of the red handfish, potentially the world's rarest marine fish.

• Swimming against the current

  Saving sandfish: fish rescue and monitoring to conserve South Africa’s most threatened and charismatic freshwater fish

Annual Report 2018

For the first time, this 2018 Annual Report will review the Fund's full range of activities, which includes the support we provide to international partner organisations concerned with broader species-specific conservation projects.

Small Grant Case Studies

• Salvation in Surveillance

  Searching for "lost" Hibiscadelphus woodii (Malvaceae) using UAV technology.

• eDNA pioneers

  Using innovative methods of environmental DNA testing to search for the critically endangered Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle in Asia.

• Reintroduction into Society

  Reintroduction of a tree snail in French Polynesia

• The Mystery of the Antarctic Toothfish

  Improving the knowledge of the Antarctic toothfish lifecycle to foster its conservation in a proposed marine protected area.

• In Search of the “Little Devil”

  Will satellite tagging a rare sea bird lead conservationists to its nesting grounds?

• Journeys of Rediscovery & Reintroduction

  Developing a conservation strategy for Mathez's Water-starwort (Callitriche mathezii)