Biodiversity Project Criteria

Basic requirements

1. Assessment of the applying organisation

· financial capacity of the applicant to carry out successful retained project(s) (credibility, no public dues, liquidity, a few years of stable operation, profitability)

· human, organisational capacity and experiences of the applicant to develop successful projects (organisational structure with main responsibilities, qualities of the project members and their capacity to work on the project, other running projects, references)

2. Assessment of the project

· financial and economic valuation (NPV or IRR, risk rate, extended CBA in which positive and negative externalities are calculated as well)

· possible effects on biodiversity (related to international and national biodiversity strategies, measured by specific biodiversity indicators)

Possible project categories

1. pure nature/biodiversity conservation projects

· species conservation

· habitat conservation/rehabilitation

· landscape conservation/rehabilitation

· establishment of ecological networks

2. sustainable/wise use of biodiversity

· sustainable agriculture

· sustainable forestry

· sustainable fisheries

· sustainable hunting

· sustainable collection of forest plants and fruits

· ecotourism

3. integration of nature conservation projects into rural and urban projects

· water management

· construction of infrastructure (highways, electricity wires)

· development of waste-water treatment facilities

· mining

· industrial development

4. other

· institutional building

· research and development

· education and training

· awareness raising

· establishment of a national CHM

Eligible project costs

1. general criteria

· directly linked and necessary for carrying out the project

· reasonable and comply with the principles of sound financial management (good value of for money and cost effectiveness)

· actually incurred during the lifetime of the project

2. types of costs

(as relevant, depending on the project.)

· personnel

· purchasing land or right

· purchasing durable goods

· purchasing consumable goods (fuel, stationary)

· travel and transportation costs

· purchasing services

· external assistance (contracting external experts)

· overheads (electricity, heating, phone, fax etc.)

Categories of acceptable biodiversity related activities

(as relevant, depending on the project.)

· purchasing land or right

· rehabilitation of the area

· management of the area

· establishment of production chain for biodiversity products and services

· market creation for biodiversity products and services

· training

· PR and awareness raising

Possible ways of funding

1. commercial

· loans

· equities

· other

2. non-refundable

· grants

· in-kind contribution

· donations

Possible project sizes

· technical cooperation agreements under 50.000 Euro

· small projects 50.000 to 500.000 Euro

· medium projects 500.000 to 1.500.000 Euro

· large projects over 1.500.000 Euro

Categories of applicants

· private person

· private business (ltd, shareholding company)

· public company

· governmental organisation (state, regional, municipal administration)

· non profit, non governmental organisation (foundation, association)

· other

Maximum support (aid intensity):

· 100%

· 75%

· 50%

· 25%