Spain’s Fundación Biodiversidad, which belongs to the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), is launching a series of grants to support transformative projects based on science and nature-based solutions to promote green recovery. A total of 88.75 million euros will be invested to support ambitious projects with lasting results that promote the ecological transition. The calls, which are published on a competitive basis, aim to support large and ambitious transformative projects that promote ecological transition and green recovery.
In total 5 calls have been published to address the following objectives (the PDF documents linked in the calls for proposals below are in Spanish). The deadline for applying for these grants is 3 January 2022:
- Renaturalisation and resilience of cities
- Support for biodiversity management research programmes and projects
- Development of transformative scientific and technical projects for the promotion of the bioeconomy and its contribution to the ecological transition
- Strengthening of stranding and rescue networks for marine species
- Support to centres for the Rescue of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The key role of sustainable forest management and non-wood forestry
In the field of forestry, it is worth highlighting the call for proposals for the “Development of transformative projects of a scientific-technical nature for the promotion of the bioeconomy and its contribution to the ecological transition“, whose objective is to promote the role of nature as the driving force behind a new model of sustainable, inclusive and fair development, respectful of ecosystems and biodiversity.
For this purpose, it will focus on activities such as organic farming, extensive livestock farming, sustainable forest management and non-wood forestry, sustainable tourism and leisure, linked to ecological restoration actions, pollinator conservation initiatives, land stewardship, climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, as well as activities that promote the creation of green jobs.
A total of 20 million euros is earmarked for these grants, with amounts ranging from 250,000 euros to 2 million euros per project. This call is aimed at environmental third sector entities, non-profit entities and organisations, in coordination with public research bodies, public universities and technology centres.
