Federal Programme for Biological Diversity (Bundesprogramm Biologische Vielfalt)

Enriched Federal (DE) · Found: 2026-03-10 12:35

Federal programme implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy. Funds projects for nature conservation including marine habitats. Rolling application deadline. Eligible: associations, NGOs, foundations, municipalities.

Source: https://www.bmuv.de/programm/bundesprogramm-biologische-vielfalt

Funding Details

Funder

German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) / Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)

Funding Goal

Implement Germany's National Strategy for Biological Diversity by funding outstanding and innovative projects that protect, restore, and sustainably develop biological diversity across five thematic priority areas.

Funding Amount

Up to 75% of eligible costs (standard rate); up to 90% for non-profit organisations where extraordinary federal interest is demonstrated. Applicants must provide at least 25% co-financing. No published minimum or maximum total grant amount.

Deadline

Rolling (Rolling)

How to Apply

Two-stage process: (1) Submit a project sketch using the official template plus a financing plan by email to the DLR programme office (programmbuero-bpbv@dlr.de). The sketch undergoes technical and budgetary assessment. (2) If positively evaluated, applicants are invited to submit a full application via easy-Online, the federal government's electronic funding portal. Work may only begin after a formal funding agreement is issued.

Target Region

Germany (with explicit biodiversity hotspots along Baltic Sea and North Sea coasts)

Contact

DLR Programme Office (Programmbüro BPBV), Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1, Bonn | Email: programmbuero-bpbv@dlr.de | Phone: +49 228 3821-1809

Last Checked

2026-03-11 17:59

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a natural or legal person headquartered in Germany (federal states generally excluded)
• Applicant must provide at least 25% co-financing (non-profits may request up to 90% coverage if extraordinary federal interest applies)

Project Scope

• Project must fall within one of the five thematic priorities: Verantwortungsarten, biodiversity hotspots, ecosystem services, urban nature, or strategically representative measures
• Project must go beyond legally required conservation standards and demonstrate a positive long-term impact on biodiversity

Required Documents

• Submit a project sketch using the official 2023 template plus a financing plan to programmbuero-bpbv@dlr.de
• If invited, submit full application via easy-Online (federal government portal); work cannot begin before funding agreement is issued

Constraints

• Project must include comprehensive public communication measures to build societal awareness about biodiversity
• Maximum project duration is 6 years from the date of approval

Summary

The Federal Programme for Biological Diversity (Bundesprogramm Biologische Vielfalt – BPBV) was established in 2011 by Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). It funds projects of exceptional quality and innovative character that go beyond legally required standards and contribute to halting biodiversity loss in Germany. Administrative management is handled by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) as the designated programme office. The programme operates across five thematic priority areas: (1) species for which Germany bears special international conservation responsibility (Verantwortungsarten); (2) biodiversity hotspots within Germany, which explicitly include Baltic Sea coastal regions such as the Mecklenburg-West Pomeranian coast, the Usedom and East Pomeranian coast, and Western Mecklenburg's Lübeck Basin, as well as North Sea mudflats; (3) protection of ecosystem services such as clean water, food security, climate resilience, coastal flood protection, and pollination; (4) urban nature; and (5) other strategically representative measures. Eligible applicants include natural or legal persons headquartered in Germany — associations, NGOs, foundations, municipalities, and research institutions. German federal states are generally excluded, though city-states (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg) may apply on a case-by-case basis. Standard funding covers up to 75% of eligible project costs, requiring 25% co-financing; non-profit organisations demonstrating extraordinary federal interest may receive up to 90% funding. Project durations may extend up to six years. The application is open on a rolling basis and follows a two-stage process: first a project sketch submitted to the DLR programme office, then — upon positive evaluation — a full application via the federal government's easy-Online portal. The programme is particularly relevant to conservation NGOs working in Germany's coastal zones along the North Sea and Baltic Sea, as these areas are explicitly designated biodiversity hotspots within the programme. Projects involving coastal habitat restoration, salt marsh conservation, marine biodiversity protection, and ecosystem services such as coastal flood protection align well with the programme's stated priorities.

Historical Context

Programme established in 2011 by the BMUV to implement Germany's National Strategy for Biological Diversity. Funding guidelines last updated July 2021. In 2022, the programme became associated with the broader Bundesnaturschutzfonds (Federal Nature Conservation Fund). Project sketch templates were updated in 2023.

Why it was added

Broad biodiversity programme that explicitly covers marine habitats. NGOs are eligible. Rolling deadline provides flexibility.

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