Deadline: 20-Jan-2026
The Ecological Landscape and Seascape Programme (ELSP) has announced the availability of Planning Grants to support the early-stage development of large-scale restoration projects focused on reviving degraded natural ecosystems.
These grants are designed to fund preparatory work essential for shaping impactful and sustainable restoration initiatives that aim to restore ecological balance, strengthen biodiversity, and benefit local communities.
While ELSP’s primary focus is on financing major restoration projects, the Planning Grants recognize that meaningful restoration begins with thorough groundwork. Activities such as stakeholder consultation, partnership-building, technical assessments, and policy analysis are critical to designing effective landscape or seascape restoration plans. The grants, therefore, provide financial assistance to organizations seeking to conduct these foundational steps, ensuring that new projects are both scientifically sound and socially inclusive.
Each Planning Grant can provide up to USD 120,000, though smaller applications are also encouraged. The funding can support a variety of preparatory activities, including stakeholder engagement, expert studies on hydrology or forest regeneration, mapping and surveys, reviewing policy frameworks, and developing theories of change or business plans. By investing in these early efforts, ELSP aims to help organizations overcome common barriers to large-scale restoration, such as lack of coordination, insufficient evidence, or limited long-term planning capacity.
Applications are accepted for projects in the following countries and territories for landscape or seascape Planning Grants: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.
For seascape Planning Grants, all coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea are eligible. The following additional countries and territories can apply for seascape-focused grants: Algeria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations such as local, national, and international NGOs, social enterprises, and research institutions. Collaborations with government bodies, industry, or private landowners are encouraged to ensure broad participation and long-term sustainability. Applicants must demonstrate financial resilience and project management capability, as well as a clear potential to restore landscapes or seascapes in alignment with ELSP’s objectives.
Projects supported under this initiative can last up to two years. By the end of the grant period, recipients are expected to have a well-developed, evidence-based restoration plan, a coalition of relevant partners, and a clear roadmap for long-term funding. This opportunity represents a crucial step toward transforming ambitious restoration concepts into fully funded, high-impact ecological recovery projects.
For more information, visit ELSP.
