Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme (ELSP)

Enriched Philanthropic Network · Found: 2026-03-10 13:22

Large-scale landscape and seascape restoration programme across Europe, primarily funded by Arcadia Fund (over $138M), awarding grants of $1.5-5M for restoration projects including marine ecosystems like reefs and seagrass beds.

Source: https://endangeredlandscapes.org/

Funding Details

Funder

Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme (ELSP) / Cambridge Conservation Initiative / Arcadia Fund

Funding Goal

Restore degraded landscapes and seascapes across Europe by funding large-scale ecosystem restoration projects that reverse habitat loss and establish resilient, self-sustaining ecosystems benefiting both nature and people

Funding Amount

Planning Grants: up to USD 120,000; Landscape/Seascape Restoration Grants (large): USD 1.5–5 million over 5 years; Seascape Restoration Grants (medium): USD 750,000–1.5 million over 3 years (120.000 € – 5.000.000 €)

Deadline

2026-01-20 (periodic)

How to Apply

Two-stage process. Stage 1: submit Expression of Interest reviewed by independent Oversight and Selection Panel. Stage 2: invited applicants submit full proposal. Planning Grant deadline was 20 January 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Monitor endangeredlandscapes.org for next round announcements.

Target Region

Europe (including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and wider pan-European coverage across 40+ countries)

Contact

endangeredlandscapes.org; Cambridge Conservation Initiative, The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK

Official Page

https://www.endangeredlandscapes.org/about/funding-opportunities/

Last Checked

2026-03-15 13:25

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a not-for-profit organisation (NGO, research institution, or social enterprise)
• Applicant must demonstrate financial resilience and project management capability

Project Scope

• Project must focus on ecosystem restoration in an eligible European country
• Seascape grants require marine or coastal ecosystem restoration focus — not plastic collection per se
• Project must demonstrate measurable biodiversity outcomes and long-term sustainability

Required Documents

• Two-stage application: Expression of Interest first, full proposal only if invited

Constraints

• Monitor endangeredlandscapes.org for next call opening — 2026 Planning Grant round closed 20 January 2026

Summary

The Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme (ELSP) is a major conservation grant programme managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and funded by the Arcadia charitable fund. Its mission is to reverse the degradation of European landscapes and seascapes by funding large-scale ecosystem restoration projects that create resilient and self-sustaining ecosystems benefiting both biodiversity and people. The programme offers three types of funding. Planning Grants of up to USD 120,000 help organisations develop restoration concepts, assess feasibility, build partnerships, and prepare full restoration applications. Landscape Restoration Grants provide USD 1.5–5 million over five years for large-scale terrestrial ecosystem restoration. Seascape Restoration Grants provide either USD 1.5–5 million over five years (large grants) or USD 750,000–1.5 million over three years (medium grants) for marine and coastal ecosystem restoration projects across European waters. Eligible applicants must be not-for-profit organisations, including NGOs, research institutions, and social enterprises, with demonstrated financial resilience and project management capacity. Geographic eligibility covers an extensive list of European countries and territories, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and dozens more across the continent. For seascape projects, sites in and around European seas — including the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Atlantic coast — are eligible. Eligible activities include habitat restoration, species reintroduction, removal of invasive species, landscape connectivity improvements, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, and enabling activities that support knowledge sharing and partnership development. Projects are expected to demonstrate measurable biodiversity outcomes and long-term sustainability. Applications proceed through a two-stage competitive process. First, organisations submit Expressions of Interest, which are reviewed by an independent Oversight and Selection Panel. Selected applicants are then invited to submit full proposals. Planning Grant applications had a deadline of 20 January 2026; the programme runs periodic calls. The ELSP is administered from the David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK.

Historical Context

ELSP was established by Arcadia as a European-focused restoration grant programme. It has run multiple rounds of Planning Grants and Restoration Grants since its founding. The programme has funded major restoration initiatives across Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the UK. It added a seascapes component, reflecting growing interest in marine ecosystem restoration alongside terrestrial projects.

Why it was added

Major pooled fund for seascape restoration in Europe; significant grant sizes for marine ecosystem projects

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