Green Futures Funded: The Gustavo Fonseca Scholarships at Lincoln University

These scholarships are a prestigious initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with approximately $NZD900,000 dedicated to advancing international knowledge in conservation.

Named after the late Dr. Gustavo Fonseca, a renowned Brazilian conservationist and former GEF Director of Programmes, the scholarships aim to honour his legacy and leadership in conservation over three decades.

Lincoln University's involvement in this initiative aligns with the Fonseca Leadership Programme, a global effort among select institutions to build capacity in conservation by training future leaders from developing countries and economies in transition. This programme seeks to establish a network of professionals engaged in conservation roles worldwide, fostering expertise in environmental management, wildlife conservation, protected area management, eco-tourism, and other critical fields.

Led by Associate Professor Stephen Espiner, Lincoln University's Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, funding has been secured to support up to seven postgraduate scholarships for Masters and PhD research programmes focused on applied conservation. These scholarships target students from GEF-recipient nations in the Asia-Pacific region who are interested in pursuing research degrees in conservation and related disciplines.

The passion for conservation and protection of the planet’s resources is evident in how proud Stephen and his colleagues are to honour Gustavo Fonesca’s legacy and the excitement felt for those students who are fortunate to receive the scholarships.

We anticipate the scholarships will attract students who are passionate about environmental issues, and keen to develop their skills in research, conservation management and leadership.

"We expect that the scholars’ interests will be diverse and range from projects studying ecology or environmental management; to parks and protective area management and human dimensions of conservation."

The Gustavo Fonseca Scholarships cover tuition fees, flights, insurance, visa costs, and provide an annual stipend. Applications for these scholarships are open until October 1st.

To learn more about, or apply for the Gustavo Fonseca Scholarships in Applied Conservation, head to our dedicated scholarship page:

Gustavo Fonseca Research Masters and PhD postgraduate scholarships in Applied Conservation