Plant literacy is on the decline. Botanical education is disappearing. Yet — with climate change threatening plant species and animal wildlife, knowledge of forestry, botanical science, and the wilderness is more important than ever to help manage the changing face of our shared world. Wilderness fellowships can help give those dedicated to climate justice and plant conservation the time, resources, and networking opportunities to develop projects and gain professional skills in these increasingly valuable fields.
The following conservation and wilderness fellowships include programs designed for those interested in tropical forestry, biodiversity management in Latin America, environmental justice and urban forestry, wilderness protection in Canada, social sciences work involving forests in the Global South, and research in plant biology and plant conservation science. They encompass all experience levels, from those currently in college to those with a master’s or PhD and early- to mid-career professionals.
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ITTO Fellowship programme
The ITTO Fellowship Programme fosters human resource development and enhances professional expertise in tropical forestry and related fields across member countries. The primary objective is to facilitate sustainable management of tropical forests, promote the efficient utilization and processing of tropical timber, and enhance economic understanding of international trade in tropical timber. Open to individuals from over 49 countries representing government, universities, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector, this program supports short-term activities such as participation in international conferences, training courses, study tours, and creating manuals and monographs. Additionally, it provides small grants for post-graduate studies, particularly encouraging the capacity development of women foresters. The maximum grant amount for a fellowship is set at US$10,000.
Kleinhans Fellowship for Community Forestry Research
The Kleinhans Fellowship for Community Forestry Research offers a generous two-year stipend of US$20,000 per annum to support research focusing on markets for lesser-known species and non-timber forest products, biodiversity management practices, social organization and governance, or multi-community enterprises. Preferably holding a PhD, applicants must possess a master’s degree in forestry, ecology, botany, environmental science, or a related field. While researchers of any nationality are eligible, the research must be conducted in Latin America. Successful candidates will engage in workshops with community members and regional Rainforest Alliance staff and must submit a comprehensive final report.
Environmental Justice Climate Equity Fellowship
MobilizeGreen invites motivated college/graduate students and recent graduates to apply for its Environmental Justice Climate Equity Fellowship. This 10-week paid virtual fellowship empowers future leaders of color to advance equity and environmental justice in their communities. Fellows collaborate on project-based climate justice internships in five concentrations: Green Infrastructure and Community Development, Workforce Development, Sustainable Agriculture, Public Health, and Urban Forestry. This virtual learning opportunity provides a platform for documenting, recommending strategies, and building capacity.
Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship
The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship provides graduate awards of $25,000 to individuals who have the potential to make a significant positive difference in understanding wilderness and how to protect it. Graduate students must prepare a paper on an aspect of wilderness. Applicants for the Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship must be currently enrolled in an accredited graduate institution in North America at the time of application, have strong academic qualifications, and have academic and/or career goals focused on making a significant positive difference in the long-term protection of wilderness in the United States.
John G. Bene Fellowship
The John G. Bene Fellowship is an annual opportunity for Canadians and permanent residents pursuing master’s or doctoral studies at a Canadian university. Aimed at individuals with an academic background combining an interest in forests with social sciences, this fellowship supports field research on the relationship between forest resources and the social, economic, cultural, and environmental welfare of people in developing countries. The award covers the costs of field research conducted for a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation in one or more countries of the Global South.
Oak Spring Fellowship in Plant Conservation Biology
The Oak Spring Fellowship in Plant Conservation Biology is bestowed upon early-career practitioners, scholars, or scientists dedicated to plant and landscape conservation issues. The award includes a $10,000 individual grant and entails a 2-5 week stay at Oak Spring Garden. Eligible applicants must not be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and are expected to demonstrate dedication to plant conservation, exceptional promise, good communication skills, and excellence in their work.
Oak Spring Fellowship in Plant Science Research
The Oak Spring Fellowship in Plant Science Research is granted to early-career plant scientists within ten years of completing their undergraduate degree, with a preference for those working in organismal plant biology. Fellows receive a $10,000 individual grant and must complete a 2-5 week stay at Oak Spring Garden. This fellowship is awarded to plant scientists whose research exhibits remarkable promise in contributing to a deeper understanding of organismal plant biology, including plant ecology.
Preservation Society of Newport County’s Research Fellows Program
The Preservation Society of Newport County’s Research Fellows Program, located in Newport, Rhode Island, offers scholars, emerging, and mid-career professionals opportunities to conduct focused research within specified areas, including curatorial practice, exhibition design, material culture, public history, collections management, education and public practice, interpretation, landscape design history, public horticulture, and preservation policy. Both residential and non-residential fellowships, along with short-term and long-term options, are available. Applicants must hold a master’s or PhD degree.
Summer Conservation Science Fellowships
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance provides Undergraduate Summer Student Fellowships in Conservation Science teams such as Recovery Ecology, Population Sustainability, Community Engagement, Conservation Genetics, Plant Conservation, Reproductive Sciences, and Disease Investigations. The 12-week program offers a stipend of $7,000. Eligible participants must be officially associated with a college or university, including graduating seniors continuing their education in the fall.
Katharine H. Putnam Fellowship in Plant Science
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University invites applicants for research fellowships in plant science. Putnam Fellowships provide advanced research and study opportunities using the Arboretum’s living collections of woody plants and research facilities. Early-career individuals with a PhD in plant biology, evolution, plant genetics, plant ecology, horticulture, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Putnam Fellows are full-time employees of Harvard University with a salary of $83,000 per year and annual support of up to $10,000 for a 2-year tenure.
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