Everyone depends on Earth’s ecosystems and their life-sustaining benefits, such as clean air, fresh water and healthy soils. Founded in 2000, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a global leader in enabling civil society to participate in and benefit from conserving some of the world’s most critical ecosystems.

The fund provides grants to nongovernmental and private sector organizations to help protect biodiversity hotspots​, Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. The convergence of critical areas for conservation with millions of people who are impoverished and highly dependent on healthy ecosystems for their survival is more evident in the hotspots than anywhere else.

CEPF grant recipients range from small farming cooperatives and community associations to private sector partners and international organizations.

Grants:

Target biodiversity hotspots in developing and transitional countries.

Are guided by regional investment strategies developed with stakeholders.

Go directly to civil society groups to build this vital constituency for conservation alongside governmental partners.

Create working alliances among diverse groups, combining unique capacities and eliminating duplication of efforts.

Achieve results through an ever-expanding network of partners working together toward shared goals.