Large-scale Nature Conservation Projects (chance.nature – Federal Nature Conservation Funding)
Nationwide funding of large-scale nature conservation projects for the establishment and protection of valuable natural and cultural landscapes. Grants of up to 75% of eligible expenses. Two-stage application procedure via the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Funding of projects for the establishment and protection of deserving parts of nature and landscape with nationwide representative significance within the framework of large-scale nature conservation projects.
Eligible expenses
- Care and development planning
- Moderation
- Purchase and exchange of land
- Lease of land
- Compensation payments
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Non-eligible expenses
- Preparation of applications
- regularly recurring permanent or maintenance measures
- scientific accompanying studies
- long-term observations that go beyond project evaluation
- follow-up costs
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Eligible to apply
- Individuals
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Headquartered in Germany
- Implementation of the project on German territory
- States are generally not eligible to apply (special regulations possible for Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg)
Documents required for application
- Project outline
- Funding application
Evaluation criteria
- Representativeness
- Naturalness
- Large-scale extent
- Endangerment
- Exemplarity
Description
The program chance.natur – Federal Funding for Nature Conservation supports nationwide large-scale nature conservation projects aimed at establishing and securing valuable natural and cultural landscapes of national significance. Eligible to apply are natural and legal persons as well as associations of persons based in Germany, including nature conservation organizations, foundations, municipal authorities, and private individuals. Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant covering up to 75% of eligible expenses and can be extended over a maximum project duration of 156 months. The application process is conducted in two stages via the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN): project outlines are submitted first, followed by the complete funding application. The selection of projects is based on the criteria of representativeness, naturalness, large-scale scope, threat level, and exemplarity.
Eligible expenses include costs for maintenance and development planning, facilitation, purchase, exchange, and leasing of land, compensation payments, detailed and implementation planning including expert reports, biotope management measures, project-related information activities, evaluations, as well as personnel and material costs. Ineligible expenses include, among others, application preparation, regularly recurring permanent or maintenance measures, scientific accompanying studies, long-term observations beyond evaluation, follow-up costs, and measures to fulfill legal obligations. A prerequisite for funding is the implementation of the project on German sovereign territory; federal states are generally excluded, with exceptions for Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. Upon positive review, applicants can realize their planned measures in a long-term and effective manner to preserve valuable habitats.
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