Measures to Promote Biodiversity in Forests
Promotion of biodiversity in forests through the preservation, enhancement, and restoration of ecologically valuable areas, as well as the development of scientific and practice-oriented foundations. Funds totaling 13 million euros. Approvals possible until 31.01.2027.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Conservation, improvement, and restoration of ecologically valuable forest areas as well as the development of scientific or practice-oriented foundations on biodiversity-relevant topics.
Eligible expenses
- Investment costs
- Material costs
- Personnel expenses
Non-eligible expenses
- Costs related to statutory management requirements
- Measures that have already been funded from other public sources
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Individuals
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
- Non-profit Organizations
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Projects in accordance with nature conservation objectives or comparable strategies (e.g., Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, National Biodiversity Strategy)
- Submission of relevant information on sustainable forest management (e.g., forest management plan) for enterprises with 100 ha or more of forest area
- Measures within the scope of statutory management obligations are not eligible for funding
- No double funding from other public sources; proof must be provided
Documents required for application
- Application form
- Project description
- Financing plan
- Proof of forest management plan (from 100 ha)
- Declaration of non-utilization of other funding
- Master data sheet/client number
- Special guideline forest fund
Evaluation criteria
- Technical suitability of the project
- Relevance to nature conservation objectives
- Economic efficiency and appropriateness
- Sustainability aspects
Description
Measures to promote biodiversity in forests aim at the conservation, improvement, and restoration of forest areas of high conservation value and at the creation of scientific as well as practice-oriented foundations on biodiversity-relevant topics throughout Austria. With a total budget of 13 million euros, a 100% grant is available for investment, material, and personnel expenses. Funding is provided, among other things, for monitoring, case studies, concepts, public relations, environmental education measures, as well as the establishment and restoration of valuable habitats for protected animal and plant species. Approvals can be applied for until January 31, 2027, and disbursements can be processed until January 31, 2029. Eligible applicants include managers of agricultural and forestry enterprises, forest owner associations, agricultural communities, land users, non-governmental organizations and associations, protected area administrations, national park and biosphere reserve administrations, as well as regional authorities, municipal associations, corporations, and public institutions.
A prerequisite for approval is the alignment of projects with conservation objectives or comparable strategies such as the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, as well as the submission of a sustainable forest management plan for enterprises with forest areas of 100 ha or more. Measures based on statutory management requirements and projects already funded from other sources are excluded. The content evaluation is based on professional suitability, relevance to conservation goals, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability aspects. For the application, an application form, a project description, a financing plan, proof of the forest management plan, a declaration of non-utilization of other funding, a master data sheet or client number, and the special forest fund guidelines are required. Calls are published on the website of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism.