Ensuring continuous effectiveness of protected areas in conserving habitats and species while facing intensifying drivers of biodiversity loss

The Horizon Europe initiative “Ensuring continuous effectiveness of protected areas in conserving habitats and species while facing intensifying drivers of biodiversity loss” supports research and innovation projects aimed at maintaining the protective effect of protected areas even under increasingly strong drivers of biodiversity loss. The focus is on climate change, environmental pollution, invasive species, and their cumulative effects on terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Activities funded include trend analysis and risk assessment, the development of predictive models, validation of innovative management approaches, and the establishment of long-term monitoring strategies. The projects are intended to enable decision-makers to adapt protected areas to changing environmental conditions and to provide corresponding recommendations for action to further develop EU biodiversity policy beyond 2030.

Eligible participants are public-law and scientific institutions, environmental organizations, as well as municipal administrations in EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries. Applications from consortia with at least three independent partners from different countries are funded at 100% (funding rate) as grants; eligible costs include personnel expenses, material costs, travel and subsistence expenses, as well as subcontracting services. Ineligible costs include, for example, real estate acquisitions or retrospective costs. The maximum funding amount is €13 million; the application portal opens on 17 April 2026, with a deadline of 17 September 2026. Evaluation criteria include excellence, expected impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. Submission requires, among other documents, CVs of key personnel, a detailed financial plan, and the completed application Part A & B. The European Commission invites consortia to contribute to securing protected areas as vital pillars of climate-resilient nature and species conservation.