The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) has opened its call for applications for the 2026 Future Conservationist Awards! These prestigious awards support teams of early-career conservationists working on priority projects in biodiverse yet under resourced countries worldwide.  

These awards offer early-career conservationists a chance to gain a project grant of up to US$15,000, leadership training and ongoing professional development support through the global Alumni Network, including funding, training and mentorship.

Proposals should focus on the conservation of globally important, at-risk species and habitats through ecological research and conservation action, in themes such as climate impact and adaptation, habitat restoration and/or management, social development and wellbeing, Indigenous community participation, and/or environmental policy.  

Please consult the detailed application guidelines and eligibility criteria and the Help & Resources for information on the support we offer to applicants while completing your application.

Main eligibility criteria:

Proposed projects must be focused on protecting species categorised by the IUCN Red List as globally threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable) or Data Deficient, or when there is information indicating the need for urgent conservation action. Projects may address themes such as climate impact and adaptation, habitat restoration and/or management, social development and wellbeing, Indigenous community participation, and/or environmental policy.

• Projects must last between three to 12 months.
• Projects must take place in an eligible country (please consult the detailed Application Guidelines for a list of eligible countries)
• Project teams must include at least three people
• All team members must be early in their careers (i.e., have no more than five years of professional conservation experience)
• All team members must be nationals of the country in which the project will take place, although one team member can be a non-national if this is clearly justified in the application.

Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted by January 9, 2026, via the online application portal. For more information, including detailed application guidelines, eligibility criteria and further resources, visit the CLP website.

Cover image by Alex Moliski on Unsplash