Small Grants for Purchase of Nature: Call for Pre-Proposals

The IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL) is accepting project proposals for the Purchase of Nature (SPN), which provides funds for the purchase and protection of threatened wildlife habitats and vulnerable ecosystems.

Financially supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery (NPL), the SPN aims to contribute to conservation of biodiversity by supporting the (strategic) purchase of threatened natural areas.

Habitat destruction is the most prominent cause of the growing list of threatened species worldwide. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2009) concludes that almost 17,000 species are severely threatened. The onslaught of logging and land conversion has resulted in the loss or serious fragmentation of the world’s wilderness habitats.

In areas under high pressure direct action is needed, to stop further degradation and fragmentation of sanctuaries for wildlife and the obstruction of migration routes.

By providing funds SPN enables local NGOs to put a hold to this and create natural reserves. This direct intervention is an exceptionally valuable approach, as it places ownership and management responsibility in the hands of capable local conservation organizations.

Creating a wildlife reserve is a well known instrument to preserve habitats that are important for wildlife – in particular endangered species – that would otherwise be destroyed.  By buying threatened natural areas and getting legal protection for them, the NGOs are in a unique position to make conservation history.

All NGOs must submit a pre-proposal first. The SPN will invite NGOs to submit a full proposal after a positive assessment of the preproposal.

The maximum financial assistance provided by the SPN is euro 85.000. There is no minimum. Co-funding of purchase projects is only possible when the IUCN NL grant is clearly visible and constitutes a substantial part of the overall budget, or when the IUCN NL grant can trigger other donors to contribute

The deadline to submit pre-proposals is 1 May 2013. For more information, visit this link.