Request for Proposals: Nature Governance and Information Projects

The call aims to contribute to the protection of nature and biodiversity by raising awareness of the benefits of nature conservation, supporting compliance assurance as well as public participation and access to justice under the Aarhus Convention, and enabling actions for the replication and upscaling of proven solutions, while focusing on behavioural change and awareness-raising initiatives, strengthening compliance and participation mechanisms, and preparing conditions for scaling successful environmental solutions.

This funding opportunity specifically targets Standard Action Projects designed to improve governance and information at all levels within the Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme. It emphasizes the importance of achieving a smart, outcome-based implementation of EU nature and biodiversity legislation through well-structured and impactful interventions. Projects are expected to deliver measurable conservation benefits while ensuring long-term sustainability and the potential for replication in other contexts.

Proposals focusing on awareness and behavioural change are encouraged to enhance public understanding of biodiversity conservation and promote stakeholder engagement in policy-making. These initiatives may include communication strategies, knowledge-sharing platforms, and training activities that strengthen cooperation among stakeholders and improve environmental governance, particularly by involving non-governmental organizations and the public in decision-making processes. Special priority is given to initiatives that highlight the benefits of conservation, especially in relation to the Natura 2000 network.

Projects addressing compliance assurance and access to justice should support effective public participation and strengthen enforcement of environmental laws. This includes building or enhancing networks of compliance professionals, improving legal and institutional capacities, developing innovative monitoring and enforcement tools, and strengthening information systems used by public authorities. Engaging citizens and stakeholders in monitoring compliance and ensuring accountability is also a key component.

For proposals focused on replication and upscaling, the emphasis is on creating enabling conditions for the broader adoption of proven solutions previously developed under LIFE or other EU-funded initiatives. These projects must clearly demonstrate why earlier efforts did not achieve large-scale implementation and outline strategies to facilitate wider uptake, without directly carrying out the replication itself.

The total budget for the overall call is EUR 173.5 million, with EUR 7.5 million specifically allocated to the Nature Governance and Information topic. Eligible applicants include legal entities, both public and private, established in EU Member States or associated countries, with the project coordinator required to be based in an eligible country. Applicants must be registered and validated in the Participant Register before submission.

For more information, visit European Commission.