Deadline: 3-Feb-22
The Environment Agency has announced the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) to stimulate private investment and market based mechanisms that improve and safeguard our domestic natural environment by helping projects get ready for investment.
The fund is for activities in England. It may fund activities to prepare projects where benefits apply across borders with Wales or Scotland – this will be based on the environmental benefits to England.
Projects must protect or enhance the domestic natural environment in line with one or more of the 25 year environment plan goals in the context of the following natural capital asset types:
- urban or areas of transition from rural to urban land uses (peri-urban)
- enclosed farmland
- mountain, moor and heathland
- freshwaters and wetlands
- woodland
- coastal margins
- marine
- semi-natural grassland
Funding Information
You can apply for a grant of between £10,000 and £100,000.
Outcomes
The following are examples of outcomes.
- Thriving plants and wildlife. Such as:
- supporting or improving biodiversity
- supporting or improving pollinator status
- increasing favourable condition of protected sites
- restoring priority habitats and reducing degraded land
- supporting condition of marine habitats and sustainable use of the marine environment
- protecting threatened species
- increasing the percentage of production area under productive and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture
- creating water habitats
- Clean and plentiful water
- Such as enhancing the water environment and supporting water bodies to meet good status.
- Clean air
- Such as supporting reduction of emissions from important air pollutants.
- Protection from flooding, drought and other environmental hazards, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. Such as:
- peatland restoration
- flood resilience
- tree planting
- managing climate change risks
- Enhancing beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment
- Including better outcomes in landscapes for nature and for people.
Eligibility Criteria
You can apply for grant if you are a:
- not-for-profit organisation, including charities and environmental non-governmental organisations
- public body, including local councils and national park authorities
- company or other business registered with HMRC, including sole traders, academic institutions, community interest companies and community benefit companies.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3c6k2Es