About the Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative is a small grants programme that aims to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of resources around the world. The Initiative is funded and administered by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Defra).

Project no. 15024 - Round 14 (2006)

Quantification and Elimination of Threats to the Caspian Seal

Our aim is to identify and respond to threats to Caspian seals

• Monitor the population size, health and mortality

• Develop a seal conservation action plan

• Enhance the capacity in the region for seal conservation biology

• Raise the profile of the Caspian seal as a flagship species for the Caspian

Objectives of the Darwin Initiative

• To assist countries rich in biodiversity but poor in resources with the conservation of biological diversity and implementation of the Biodiversity Convention.

• To draw on British expertise in the field of biodiversity.

• Projects funded under the Initiative will be collaborative, involving either local institutions or communities in the host country.

• Projects will have a real impact on the ability of the host country to meet its obligations under the Biodiversity Convention.

• Projects will be of high quality and scientific (or other appropriate professional) excellence.

• Whenever possible, Darwin funding will be used as a catalystto lever additional funding for project work, which would not otherwise be forthcoming.

• The outputs and outcomes from projects should be additional to that from work being funded through other mainstream environmental or research programmes.

• Projects funded under the Initiative will demonstrate good value for money.

Visit www.darwin.gov.uk for more information.