(UPM, Paysandú, Monday 31 March 2025) – UPM Uruguay has launched a new Biodiversity Project Fund, an exciting initiative that seeks to promote scientific research and biodiversity conservation in the company’s network of biodiversity reserves covering 35 areas in Uruguay.
This innovative fund will support short scientific research projects led by public and private institutions committed to environmental preservation. The launch of the fund marks a milestone in UPM's commitment to the conservation of priority ecosystems and species in Uruguay.
“We consider the link with academia to be fundamental for generating knowledge relevant to the management of biodiversity conservation, applicable not only to UPM's areas but also to other areas of the country,” said Iván Grela, UPM's Biodiversity Coordinator in Uruguay.
“This opportunity allows Uruguayan researchers to finance projects with a strong fieldwork component which is often a limitation for their development. With this initiative we seek to improve the management of the network of UPM’s biodiversity areas while generating scientific knowledge in Uruguay.”
UPM’s network of biodiversity reserves, distributed across Uruguay, includes 35 areas where more than 1,800 species of plants, 275 species of birds, 82 species of fish and 45 species of mammals, among other biological groups, have been recorded. These areas not only contribute to the conservation of biodiversity but also to the development of scientific research and environmental education.
A fund to promote conservation and scientific knowledge
The aim of this initiative is to finance research projects that generate knowledge about:
- Interactions of local biodiversity: factors promoting its conservation and threats
- The relationship between biodiversity and forestation: promoting sustainable forest development
- Society and nature: understanding the areas of the network as socio-ecological systems
- Other relevant issues: such as climate change, community ecology and species present
The projects selected may receive full or partial funding, logistical support and facilities provided by UPM to facilitate fieldwork. The maximum duration of each project will be two years.
Selection process
Interested institutions can submit their projects on the UPM Uruguay website at upm.uy. Proposals must include clear objectives, expected impact, a detailed budget and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Projects will be evaluated according to their relevance, technical quality, feasibility and alignment with the fund's objectives.
Commitment to transparency and sustainability
UPM reaffirms its commitment to transparency and sustainability through strict guidelines for the use of funds, monitoring of results and compliance with legal, labour and environmental regulations. In addition, the results of the funded research will be used by both UPM and the researchers for scientific, academic and advocacy purposes, ensuring a positive impact on biodiversity management.
An innovative contribution to the National System of Protected Areas
One of the areas in the UPM Biodiversity Reserve Network, Esteros y Algarrobales del Río Uruguay, forms part of the country’s National System of Protected Areas as the first and only area managed by a private organisation in Uruguay. This achievement reflects the importance of UPM's continuing action in the field of environmental conservation.
