Our Programs / Freshwater Biodiversity & Resources

Overview Freshwater Biodiversity & Resources

Freshwater resources in Africa are insecure in quantity and quality, and water resource development is a high priority for governments and international donors. Audiences for data and knowledge of freshwater biodiversity include the conservation sector to help in the protection of wetlands and influence policy decisions. Investors in water infrastructure for hydropower and human use also rely on biodiversity and fisheries information to reduce risk and plan development. Scientific researchers in many disciplines also use freshwater biodiversity data as a key component of research involving landscapes, terrestrial ecosystem health, and climate change.

We seek projects in which there is a partnership between knowledge providers and users. Successful applicants for a JRS grant must a strong case that the resulting data and information services will improve human lives and have a positive impact on the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development.

  • We are pursuing grantmaking initiatives to meet the need to monitor freshwater biodiversity in priority areas for resource conservation, and to increase data access for policy and investment decision making. Grants may focus on creating access to data, developing data systems and mobile technologies, and filling knowledge gaps for conservation purposes, particularly as they apply to vital biodiversity areas.
  • Over time, we will work to strengthen informatics systems, accessibility, and use of freshwater biodiversity data for use by policy and investment decision-makers to achieve conservation goals.

Recent Freshwater News and Stories

New JRS Grants to Develop Freshwater Information for Rwanda

SEATTLE, Washington – December 13, 2018 – The JRS Biodiversity Foundation announces two new grant awards, totaling $314,500, to create access to wetlands biodiversity data in Rwanda. These investments support the JRS Freshwater Biodiversity and Resources Program to enable the…

Freshwater Grants

Project Title

Grantee

Amount / Months

Year

International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
$252,000 / 36 Months
2016
University of Cape Town
$102,000 / 48 Months
2016
University of Botswana Okavango Research Institute
$111,600
2016
National Fisheries Resources Research Institute
$260,000 / 36 months
2018
Albertine Rift Conservation Society
$ 250,000 / 24 months
2018
Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management, University of Rwanda
$10,584 / 9 months
2018
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
$ 36,339 / 5 months
2019
Southern African Development Community – Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI)
$308,100 / 36 months
2020

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