World Land Trust

Organizational profile: 
World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats acre by acre. WLT is a member of IUCN – the World Conservation Union, and all its projects are carried out with local non-government organizations (NGOs). Through a network of partner organizations around the world, WLT funds the creation of reserves and provides permanent protection for habitats and wildlife. Partnerships are developed with established and highly respected local organizations who engage support and commitment among the local community. 
 
WLT’s mission is to protect and sustainably manage natural ecosystems of the world; to conserve their biodiversity, with emphasis on threatened habitats and endangered species; and to develop partnerships with local individuals, communities and organizations to engage support and commitment among the people who live in project areas. 
 
One of WLT’s programs is its reforestation programme which started in 2006 when the power company Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) approached WLT with a view to launching a programme to establish six trees for every customer on one of its energy tariffs. Since this time, the programme has expanded to a number of project sites funded by both corporate donors and their Plant a Tree Appeal. 
 
The main project activities supported by WLT are the creation of protected areas and the protection and restoration of threatened habitats. As part of these objectives, project activities may include land acquisition through a range of mechanisms including land purchase, leases, community reserves and protection status declaration (gazetting); on the ground habitat and biodiversity protection (e.g. ranger salaries and patrol costs); habitat restoration; community support projects; and conservation investments. 
 
Financing Instrument: Grants 
  
Project scale: N/A 
  
Recipient countries regions/country groups: Global 
  
Recipient categories: NGOs, NPOs
  
Eligibility Criteria: Research and community education/outreach activities are only supported when these contribute to a wider conservation goal. All WLT funded projects need to have clear benefits, and no net negative impact on biodiversity, communities and climate. 
 
Application guidelines: 
The concept note will be used to initially evaluate the suitability of a project and organization to apply to WLT for funding.
  
Submissions that do not meet the guidelines of the concept note and which do not support WLT’s mission are unlikely to be supported. If a concept note looks suitable, then WLT staff will follow up and request that the applicant submits a full Project Application form as well as respond to any further clarifications about the project and organization applying. 
  
Concept notes can be submitted at any time during the year and will be reviewed as soon as possible. Full applications, if requested, are reviewed on a quarterly basis. If the applicant has not heard back directly from World Land Trust within three months of submitting a project concept then either their project has not fulfilled the criteria and will not be followed up, or they are unable to support it due to the high number of submissions and availability of funds.