Conservation Outreach
The ASP Conservation Committee seeks to support primate research, education, and conservation with a particular focus on researchers and educators in habitat countries. We seek applications for two standing awards annually, the Conservation Small Grants and the Conservationist Award. In addition, other funding opportunities may become available for specific projects.
Male white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia); photo credit: M. Norconk 
Infant titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus); photo credit: K. West 
Black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variagata), photo credit: K. West
- Conservation Small Grants
The ASP Conservation Committee typically awards 6 – 8 small grants up to $2,000 per grant, per year to support research and education projects that contribute to primate conservation. For example, projects awarded in 2019 were aimed at using genetics to evaluate inter-specific transmission of parasites in mouse lemurs, efforts to recolonize disturbed areas formerly used by sportive lemurs using innovative nesting sites, the use of arboreal camera traps to monitor primates in disturbed areas, and primate surveys and environmental education in Benin and Peru. The Conservation Committee also considers emergency requests for funding. For example, an emergency grant was given to help relocate and rebuild a primate research station that was destroyed by floods.- Small Grants are especially meaningful for individuals or communities in primate habitat countries
- ASP Conservationist Award
The purpose of this $750 award is encouragement for the conservation efforts of outstanding students, early career investigators and educators in habitat countries.
Conservation Awards are presented in public ceremonies to impress upon indigenous people the importance of preserving the ecological conditions of animal survival. Curators of the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, Madagascar, were presented the Award by the American Ambassador at a well-attended ceremony, and its conservation message was given valuable press and television coverage.- Conservation awards go to the future conservation leadership of countries where primates live
You Can Help
The Conservation Committee welcomes donors of all amounts. All donations are used entirely to support primate conservation, training, and education. In the past two decades, the Conservation Committee has awarded more than $200,000 to support 187 projects on some 86 primate species (as of 2020).
More than 40% of Conservation Small Grants went to support research and training of habitat-country primatologists. Support has been provided to researchers from or working in many primate-habitat countries, especially Madagascar, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and Uganda.
All our funds come directly from contributions from ASP members and other people who seek to protect primates and primate habitats. We are appreciative of all donations and particularly recognize the value of larger donors. Contributors of $500 or more will be acknowledged in the ASP Bulletin.Contributions are also tax-deductible to the full extent allowable. American Society of Primatologists is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
