Financing Nature Conservation

Nature conservation projects and measures often involve significant financial investments and typically require additional funding sources for successful implementation.

In Germany, the protection of natural resources and wildlife is founded in the Basic Law (Art. 20a GG), placing responsibility for conservation measures primarily at the state level. However, implementation generally falls to the federal states, which are supported by regional councils and local administrations (districts and municipalities). This division of responsibility impacts funding strategies. Consequently, organizations involved in nature conservation must navigate various financing options, depending on their budgets and resource availability. Most funding sources require that organizations receiving grants contribute a certain percentage of their own funds or secure additional third-party funding to co-finance the project. This requirement can create significant challenges for nature conservation organizations, such as associations, which may find it difficult to meet these financial obligations.

Levels of Nature Conservation Funding

In Germany, nature conservation funding is varied and diverse. Over the years, alongside traditional financing methods, such as the purchase of land for nature reserves, innovative practices have emerged that focus on balancing interests among various stakeholders while also promoting both protection and sustainable use of the same areas. The following levels of funding acquisition can be identified:

• European Level
  Funding sources include Life Nature projects (LIFE+), agri-environmental measures, and financial support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
• Federal Level
  Programs such as the Federal Program for Biological Diversity ("Chance Natur") and collaborative initiatives (GAK and GRW) provide financial support for conservation efforts.
• State Level
  e.g., state-specific funding programs. For example, Thuringia has the “Entwicklung Natur und Landschaft” (=”Development of Nature and Landscape") (ENL) program, Bavaria features the “Bayrischer Naturschutzfond” (=Bavarian Nature Conservation Fund) and the Bavarian Landscape Conservation Program, and North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) supports projects through the NRW-Stiftung.
• Private Funding
  Funding from private sources includes grants from foundations, individual donations, corporate sponsorship, and crowdfunding initiatives.

Sources

Deutschlandfunk Nova (2021). Why the Financing of Nature Conservation is So Complicated. https://www.deutschlandfunknova.de/beitrag/naturschutz-die-sache-mit-der-finanzierung#:~:text=Insgesamt%20ergeben%20sich%20also%20f%C3%BCnf,wo%20an%20Naturschutz%20umgesetzt%20wird. Accessed August 22, 2022.

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (2022). Costs and Financing. https://www.bfn.de/kosten-und-finanzierung. Accessed August 22, 2022.