Photo: Brett Dickson

Conservation Science

Photo: Jean Polfus

Science and scientists play a vital – and usually unsung – role in policy decisions that impact us at every level of governance, in planning for conservation in a changing climate, and when implementing durable ecosystem conservation solutions.

To help advance Wilburforce’s mission to protect the wild places and wildlife that depend on them, the Conservation Science program supports:

  • A conservation science community that contributes to durable conservation solutions by undertaking decision-relevant research, sharing knowledge, and effectively informing policy and management decisions.
  • Grantees, funders, and decision makers seeking out and using the best available science to advance conservation plans, policies, and practices.

 

Science and scientists are integral to planning and implementing conservation solutions. Science can be a common language that can bridge gaps between different communities and form a common basis for understanding. We believe that when scientists are part of the conversation, we get better and more durable conservation outcomes.


 x

What we fund

  1. Actionable research in support of Wilburforce Foundation’s place-based conservation programs

We fund emerging opportunities to address knowledge gaps in conservation science and enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience in the face of climate change within our regions, with a focus on the synthesis and analysis of existing data where possible.

  1. Building Science Capacity

We strive to build the capacity of our grantees and partners to find, access, and use technical information from the natural and social sciences that is credible, current, and accurate. Priorities include data sharing and collaboration and science support for grantees’ efforts in conservation planning, climate adaptation, and more.

  1. Strengthening Science-Policy Linkages

We support scientists’ efforts to communicate effectively and engage in management and policy decisions. We also provide funding to organizations who work to ensure policy and management decisions are made based on the best available science and defend science integrity in the US and Canada.

What we don’t fund

Wilburforce Foundation does not invest in science that falls outside of our priority regions or does not have a direct tie to our programmatic strategies.


Staff Contact:

Lisa Weinstein
Program Officer
206.632.2325 x114

Jeanne Cragin
Program Associate
206.632.2325 x113

Resources:

•  Grants Database
•  Related Stories