Natural History, On the Edge Fund

Storytelling grant

Stories and science that reconnect us with the natural world. Applications are now closed for 2025.

Further details about what to include in your proposal are provided below. Proposals should be submitted to On the Edge’s Natural History team. Applications can be submitted in any language. Though English is preferred, we will work with translators to ensure equitable distribution of funding.

If you’re selected, you’ll receive one-to-one support to develop and deliver your project further.

Storyteller applications are closed for 2025

Storyteller applications are closed for 2025 Storyteller applications are closed for 2025

The nitty gritty:

Application Deadline: 1st April 2025 - 14th May 2025

Opportunity: x 5 storytelling grants made available to filmmakers, photographers, musicians, artists, actors or creatives who want to contribute to the protection of EDGE species or EDGE zones across the world. Grants will be awarded over a 1 year period, with an optional 1 year no-cost extension offered to all candidates.

Eligibility criteria: Storytellers can be of any background (filmmaker, photographer, musician, artist, actor, creative etc), and we encourage out-of-the-box thinkers! At On the Edge, we don’t do traditional. We want to expand the possibilities of nature storytelling & utilise pop culture formats to maximise the reach and engagement of our content. So don’t be afraid to pitch something out of the ordinary (we love this!).

Your project must be tied to one of our conservation programmes, centred around EDGE species and focussed on local impact and engagement. Preference will be given to storytellers applying from the country they will be working in. Please submit a portfolio of work and explain which of the conservation projects or species you’d be interested in supporting.

Award: £5,000 - £15,000

Scope: Storytellers will be paired with conservationists funded through the fund to influence local behaviour change towards nature. Please note, the purpose of this grant isn’t to create a communications campaign around the conservationist and their work; rather, we want you to be inspired by their work and the species and spaces they’re working to protect. We want you to use storytelling as a way to change hearts and minds towards nature and boost the impact of conservation activities at a local level, shining a spotlight on species and spaces that are often overlooked. You’ll find more information about this year’s projects and species at the bottom of this page.

What’s included: Grant of up to £15,000 | Capacity Building In-Person Workshop | Mentorship and Scientific Support | Pairing with a conservationist or conservation organisation to increase engagement, impact and visibility of your work | Access to On the Edge’s network.

Browse our conservation grantees

Can you make one of these projects sing?

Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey (CR)

Location: Vietnam
Project Overview: Enhance the conservation status of the Critically Endangered TSNM (Rhinopithecus avunculus) in Khau Ca Forest, Vietnam. To address their threats, the project will implement an innovative monitoring system using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) and camera traps, which will provide in-depth, fine-scale data on the population movement patterns, and habitat use. Additionally, the project will introduce community-based conservation interventions, including a fuel-efficient stove campaign, which will help reduce reliance on firewood for fuel and mitigate deforestation. Beyond research and habitat protection, this project will also focus on improving local livelihoods by developing sustainable ecotourism and entrepreneurship training programmes, offering alternative income sources for communities that currently depend on forest resources. The project is expected to significantly contribute to both biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development in the region.
Mobula Rays

Location: East Nusa Tenggara, Flores, Indonesia
Project Overview: Support the conservation of mobula rays by addressing key threats, including targeted fishing and bycatch. By collaborating with local communities, the project seeks to promote equitable alternative opportunities to earn an income without compromising their right to sustain their livelihoods. This includes sustainable one-by-one tuna fishing and other land-based business opportunities suitable for the region. Furthermore, this initiative will contribute to the broader management efforts of the Savu Sea MPA, ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable approach to marine conservation.
Species: Sicklefin devil ray (Mobula tarapacana) EN, Giant devil ray (Mobula mobular) EN, Giant oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) EN
Red Crested Tree Rat (CR)

Location: Columbia
Project Overview: Increase the population of Red Crested Tree Rat in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in the next 2 years and seeks to mitigate threats through community conservation strategies, habitat restoration, and indigenous governance. This project will create a 9,800-hectare Resource Management Zone (RMZ) aiming to reduce poaching and deforestation by 95%. Four ranger teams and small research stations will be established to patrol and monitor the RMZ. Critical habitat will be restored by planting native shrubs and installing information fences.
Environmental governance will be strengthened with the creation of an Indigenous Environmental Secretariat, managed by young indigenous leaders. In addition, young people will be trained in conservation and activities in indigenous schools. This approach will ensure the recovery of the rodent and the sustainability of the ecosystem through the active participation of the indigenous community.
Rainforests on Ropes

Location: Cornwall, UK
Project Overview: Explore the possibility of growing epiphytes on ropes for future transplantation into newly established and degraded temperate rainforests. Inspired by methods used for coral restoration (e.g. Coral Gardeners) and seaweed farming (e.g. Cornish Seaweed Company) and building on existing research for epiphyte translocation, the team will explore the use of ropes and twine to grow lichen and bryophyte species critical for temperate rainforest restoration. They will first investigate this in controlled conditions, before trialling this approach in the Ancient temperate rainforest of the Cabilla valley in Cornwall. The goal is to accelerate the recolonisation of lichen in newly planted and degraded woodlands, accelerating the transition into thriving temperate rainforests.
Species: Liverwort (Frullania tamarisci), Beard lichens (Usnea species), Iree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria), Horsehair lichen (Bryoria smithii), and a range of Cladonia species.
Amphibians on the edge

Location: Mount Manengouba, Cameroon
Project Overview: Contribute to ongoing ecological studies on four EDGE species and a number of threatened amphibians. This includes information on their ecology, distribution, population status and preferred habitats (this project will also deliver habitat restoration activities). Additionally, the team will work to reduce the threats they face by sensitising local communities on their behaviour and by developing alternative and sustainable livelihoods. The team will also engage local young children (in and out of school settings) to develop their awareness and capacity on amphibian conservation, through an amphibian champion programme
Species: Redbelly Egg Frog (CR), Bamboutos Smalltongue Toad (CR), Cardioglossa trifasciata (CR), Perret's Squeaker Frog (EN), Manengouba River Frog (CR) , Ornate Egg Frog (EN) , Mertens' Egg Frog (EN), Black Long-fingered Frog (EN)