Application Open for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Biodiversity Story Grants by Earth Journalism Network, Journalists can now apply for reporting grants from the (EJN), designed to support the creation of impactful, in-depth stories focused on biodiversity. These grants aim to enable journalists to investigate, document, and highlight critical environmental issues, fostering greater public awareness and informed dialogue on biodiversity conservation.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 1st May2026
Overview for Application Open for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Biodiversity Story Grants by Earth Journalism Network
The biodiversity crisis has reached an alarming scale, with ecosystems and species declining at unprecedented rates. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024, monitored wildlife populations have dropped by 73% over the past 50 years, with freshwater species experiencing an even sharper decline of 85%. Meanwhile, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List identifies over 48,600 species as threatened with extinction. From widespread coral bleaching to the rapid loss of intact forests, the drivers of biodiversity loss continue to intensify, placing the very systems that sustain human life at serious risk of irreversible damage.
Despite this urgency, global financial flows remain heavily skewed toward activities that harm nature. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) State of Finance for Nature 2026 report highlights that for every $1 invested in protecting nature, $30 is spent on activities that degrade it. In 2023 alone, $7.3 trillion was directed toward nature-negative sectors, compared to just $220 billion invested in nature-based solutions.
On the policy front, progress remains uneven. Following setbacks during the COP16 negotiations in Cali, renewed discussions in Rome in February 2025 led to a commitment to mobilize $200 billion annually for biodiversity by 2030. However, significant gaps persist. Many countries have yet to update their national biodiversity strategies, and over half of those submitted still fail to align with the Global Biodiversity Framework. With COP17 scheduled for October 2026 in Yerevan, it represents a critical milestone—the last global checkpoint before the 2030 deadline—making the shift from commitments to measurable action more urgent than ever.
Despite the magnitude of the crisis, biodiversity remains underreported in mainstream media and is often overshadowed by other environmental issues. To address this gap, the Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN), through its Biodiversity Media Initiative, is offering 5–10 reporting grants aimed at strengthening both the quality and volume of biodiversity coverage. These grants will support stories that not only expose the scale of environmental threats but also spotlight innovative and effective solutions.
In addition to financial support, selected journalists will benefit from guidance and mentorship provided by experienced professionals throughout the duration of their reporting projects.
Project Themes and Objectives for Application Open for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Biodiversity Story Grants by Earth Journalism Network
For this grant opportunity, the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is seeking bold, in-depth story pitches that push the boundaries of biodiversity reporting. Applicants are encouraged to adopt innovative storytelling formats—such as multimedia, cross-border collaborations, investigative journalism, data-driven reporting, and geojournalism—to deepen public understanding of conservation challenges and solutions.
Proposals should focus on one or more of the following thematic areas:
- Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) as alternatives to protected areas, contributing to the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 target
- The dependencies and impacts of business activities on nature
- Collaborative conservation models involving local communities, governments, and private sector actors
- Nature-based solutions that address biodiversity while supporting climate action, food security, sustainable livelihoods, and public health
- Unintended negative consequences of conservation interventions
- The connections between biodiversity and human health
- Comparative perspectives on conservation approaches between Global North and Global South actors
Priority will be given to proposals that bring fresh perspectives, uncover underreported issues, or highlight emerging threats and innovative solutions. Topics that have already received extensive media attention without offering new insights are less likely to be selected.
Eligibility for Application Open for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Biodiversity Story Grants by Earth Journalism Network
This grant call is open to stories focused on countries classified as low- or middle-income by the World Bank. While journalists from any country may apply, preference will be given to applicants working in regions where EJN has not previously awarded grants.
Strong encouragement is extended to applicants from Central America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southwest Asia, and select countries such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Rwanda, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Somalia.
Additional eligibility details include:
- Open to journalists working across all media formats (print, digital, TV, radio)
- Both early-career and experienced reporters are welcome
- Freelancers and staff from international, national, local, and community media organizations may apply
- Group applications are allowed, but one lead applicant must represent the team
- Applications must be submitted in English (translation support is acceptable)
Applicants must also disclose any use of generative AI tools in preparing their proposals. EJN maintains strict ethical standards and may disqualify submissions involving misconduct, including presenting AI-generated content as original work.
Story Logistics for Application Open for Grant Opportunity 2026 for Biodiversity Story Grants by Earth Journalism Network
EJN expects to award 5–10 grants, each typically ranging between €1,000 and €2,000. Grants are scheduled to be issued in May 2026, with an expectation that all stories will be published by December 1, 2026 (extended timelines may be considered for complex investigations).
Key considerations include:
- Budget Requirements: Applicants must submit a detailed and justified budget covering essential reporting costs such as travel, accommodation, and translation (if required). Funding for new equipment will generally not be supported.
- Reporter Compensation: Freelancers may include a stipend, capped at 30% of the total budget.
- Safety Measures: Journalists should follow health and safety protocols, including precautions for infectious diseases, and may include related costs in their budgets.
- Language of Publication: Stories can be published in any language, but must include an English translation if produced in another language.
- Editorial Commitment: Applicants must provide a letter from an editor confirming timely publication.
Additional Requirements
- Acknowledgement: All published work must include the statement:
“This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.” - Republication Rights: While journalists may publish first with their affiliated outlet, EJN and its partners retain the right to edit, publish, and distribute the stories.
Overall, this initiative aims to strengthen global biodiversity journalism by supporting impactful storytelling that informs, engages, and drives action.
How to apply?
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
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