Overview
The Rainforest Alliance seeks alternatives to deforestation that provide economic support for rainforest communities. In 1989, with support from Elysabeth Kleinhans, the Rainforest Alliance began to study the management and use of tropical forest resources that preserve the integrity of the forest ecosystem. One way to do this is to support the limited extraction of forest resources (brazil nuts, fruits, medicinal plants) for sale to local, national and international markets. As a way of supporting the Alliance's work to transform business practices and educate consumers, the Kleinhans Fellows research the ecological, social and business challenges for successful non-timber forest product enterprises.
The Kleinhans Fellowship synthesizes elements of conservation and business -- providing solid research data into non-timber forest product supply and market development -- in order to provide alternative income sources for communities living in or near tropical forests. Non-timber forest products provide communities with "free" medicines, fruit, firewood, and a source of income if properly managed. In addition, it provides these communities with an economic incentive to preserve existing forest and even reforest degraded forests. Kleinhans Fellows study the ecology of the local forest, existing resources with economic potential, possible local and international markets and challenges that must be overcome.
The Kleinhans Fellowship research can serve as a model for other communities seeking opportunities for sustainable resource extraction from tropical forests. Community extraction might include food, fiber, medicinal plants or other products for which there is an existing or potential market. Kleinhans Fellows focus on products found in primary or secondary forests, encourage the reforestation of degraded forests, build on the knowledge of native forest inhabitants (as long as this method proves useful to those same people), and add value to forest products through processing.
The Kleinhans Fellowship supports research to better understand and improve the impacts of non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvest and marketing on rural livelihoods and tropical forest ecosystems. A successful application will outline the need for research, its potential applications and its likely impact on local communities and forest ecosystems.
Examples of potential research topics include:
The development of new markets for NTFPs, and/or the expansion of existing markets;
The development of Best Management Practices for commercial NTFPs;
The impacts of NTFP harvests and/or their commercialization on rural livelihoods, biodiversity or land tenure; and
Means of integrating NTFP harvests and timber forest management.
The Fellow will be expected to submit quarterly progress reports throughout the duration of the fellowship, and a paper suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal when the fellowship is completed. Fellows are also expected to summarize and disseminate project results in the local language to communities in and around the study area.
Geographic Focus
The Kleinhans Fellowship research area is restricted to Latin America. Applications for projects conducted in the Petén region of Guatemala or Southern Mexico are especially encouraged.
Eligibility
Applications for any tropical forest type are eligible. The successful applicant will have a master's degree in forestry, ecology, botany, environmental science or an appropriate related field. Doctoral candidates or post-doctoral researchers are preferred. Applicants may substitute relevant experience for degrees.
Award Amount
The fellowship provides a grant of $15,000 (US) per year, for two years. Please note that the Fellowship will not subsidize academic tuition and fees, nor will it cover costs of purchasing transport vehicles, or unnecessary or unreasonable equipment.
Selection
Each application will be judged on the merits of the proposal, the feasibility of the plan and the qualifications of the candidate. Judging is conducted by a panel of forestry and botany experts and tropical conservationists. The following are some of questions the committee will consider:
Can the research be carried out as proposed?
Does the investigator appear to have the necessary skills and experience to bring the research to a fruitful conclusion?
Is the proposal practical and is it for a project that can eventually have commercial potential?
Will the research help provide a livelihood for communities in and around tropical forests without causing destruction of the forests?
If the research is site-specific, can the methodology be adapted and applied by people in other countries?
Is the project new and entrepreneurial?
Will the research be useful to someone with no business experience and with little or no venture capital?
Application Format
There is no official application form. Completed applications must include the following (in English):
A proposal that cannot exceed seven (7) typed pages in length. Proposal should include an abstract, a review of the relevant literature, detailed methodology, and a discussion of the project's practical applications;
A budget;
A copy of the candidate's curriculum vitae or resume;
Two letters of recommendation; and
A list of past, current and potential funding sources for both the applicant and the project.
Applicants are required to submit their completed application in digital (electronic) form by email to Deanna Newsom at dnewsom@ra.org or by regular mail to:
Rainforest Alliance
Kleinhans Fellowship
665 Broadway
Suite 500
New York, NY 10012
United States
Source: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kleinhans.cfm?id=guidelines
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship
The Rainforest Alliance seeks alternatives to deforestation that provide economic support for rainforest communities. In 1989, with support from Elysabeth Kleinhans, the Rainforest Alliance began to study the management and use of tropical forest resources that preserve the integrity of the forest ecosystem. One way to do this is to support the limited extraction of forest resources (brazil nuts, fruits, medicinal plants) for sale to local, national and international markets. As a way of supporting the Alliance's work to transform business practices and educate consumers, the Kleinhans Fellows research the ecological, social and business challenges for successful non-timber forest product enterprises.
The Kleinhans Fellowship synthesizes elements of conservation and business -- providing solid research data into non-timber forest product supply and market development -- in order to provide alternative income sources for communities living in or near tropical forests. Non-timber forest products provide communities with "free" medicines, fruit, firewood, and a source of income if properly managed. In addition, it provides these communities with an economic incentive to preserve existing forest and even reforest degraded forests. Kleinhans Fellows study the ecology of the local forest, existing resources with economic potential, possible local and international markets and challenges that must be overcome.
The Kleinhans Fellowship research can serve as a model for other communities seeking opportunities for sustainable resource extraction from tropical forests. Community extraction might include food, fiber, medicinal plants or other products for which there is an existing or potential market. Kleinhans Fellows focus on products found in primary or secondary forests, encourage the reforestation of degraded forests, build on the knowledge of native forest inhabitants (as long as this method proves useful to those same people), and add value to forest products through processing.
The Kleinhans Fellowship supports research to better understand and improve the impacts of non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvest and marketing on rural livelihoods and tropical forest ecosystems. A successful application will outline the need for research, its potential applications and its likely impact on local communities and forest ecosystems.
Examples of potential research topics include:
The development of new markets for NTFPs, and/or the expansion of existing markets;
The development of Best Management Practices for commercial NTFPs;
The impacts of NTFP harvests and/or their commercialization on rural livelihoods, biodiversity or land tenure; and
Means of integrating NTFP harvests and timber forest management.
The Fellow will be expected to submit quarterly progress reports throughout the duration of the fellowship, and a paper suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal when the fellowship is completed. Fellows are also expected to summarize and disseminate project results in the local language to communities in and around the study area.
Geographic Focus
The Kleinhans Fellowship research area is restricted to Latin America. Applications for projects conducted in the Petén region of Guatemala or Southern Mexico are especially encouraged.
Eligibility
Applications for any tropical forest type are eligible. The successful applicant will have a master's degree in forestry, ecology, botany, environmental science or an appropriate related field. Doctoral candidates or post-doctoral researchers are preferred. Applicants may substitute relevant experience for degrees.
Award Amount
The fellowship provides a grant of $15,000 (US) per year, for two years. Please note that the Fellowship will not subsidize academic tuition and fees, nor will it cover costs of purchasing transport vehicles, or unnecessary or unreasonable equipment.
Selection
Each application will be judged on the merits of the proposal, the feasibility of the plan and the qualifications of the candidate. Judging is conducted by a panel of forestry and botany experts and tropical conservationists. The following are some of questions the committee will consider:
Can the research be carried out as proposed?
Does the investigator appear to have the necessary skills and experience to bring the research to a fruitful conclusion?
Is the proposal practical and is it for a project that can eventually have commercial potential?
Will the research help provide a livelihood for communities in and around tropical forests without causing destruction of the forests?
If the research is site-specific, can the methodology be adapted and applied by people in other countries?
Is the project new and entrepreneurial?
Will the research be useful to someone with no business experience and with little or no venture capital?
Application Format
There is no official application form. Completed applications must include the following (in English):
A proposal that cannot exceed seven (7) typed pages in length. Proposal should include an abstract, a review of the relevant literature, detailed methodology, and a discussion of the project's practical applications;
A budget;
A copy of the candidate's curriculum vitae or resume;
Two letters of recommendation; and
A list of past, current and potential funding sources for both the applicant and the project.
Applicants are required to submit their completed application in digital (electronic) form by email to Deanna Newsom at dnewsom@ra.org or by regular mail to:
Rainforest Alliance
Kleinhans Fellowship
665 Broadway
Suite 500
New York, NY 10012
United States
Source: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kleinhans.cfm?id=guidelines
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship
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