OSME Trevor Poyser Species Conservation Fund

Funding for individual threatened bird species research and conservation projects in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia regions.

The Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) was formed in April 1978 as a successor to the Ornithological Society of Turkey and was expanded in 2001 to cover the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its aims are to:

• Collect, collate and publish ornithological data on birds of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Encourage an interest in and conservation of birds of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Assist environmental and conservation organisations and natural history societies in and concerned with ornithological studies and activities in the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Geographically, the OSME region lies between Europe, China and the Horn of Africa on two major migration flyways. The work of OSME is entirely supported by its membership in the region and around the world.

The OSME Trevor Poyser Species Conservation Fund is aimed specifically at individual species research and conservation projects within the OSME region. Species eligible for funding are those that classified as globally threatened according to the IUCN/BirdLife International Red-list. Consideration will be given to other species where the applicant can clearly show that the population is of national importance (applicants are advised to contact OSME for clarification).

The project should have a strong emphasis on research and monitoring, and should have clear conservation implications. Research that may lead to conservation actions that could potentially result in a species being down-listed will be considered favourably. If the target species has an international species action plan endorsed by AEWA, CMS or IUCN, then the project concept must be compatible with the objectives and activities of that plan. The project must be primarily field-based.