Large-Scale Nature Conservation Projects (chance.natur)

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

BfN/BMUV programme funding nationally significant nature and cultural landscapes. Rolling applications. Eligible: NGOs, associations, municipalities. Could include coastal and marine habitats.

Source: https://www.bfn.de/foerderprogramm/naturschutzgrossprojekte

Funding Details

Funder: Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) / Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMUV)
Funding Goal: Funding of large-scale nature conservation projects in areas of outstanding national and international significance for nature conservation. Projects must permanently protect or develop natural landscapes, cultural landscapes with outstanding habitats, and particularly endangered plant and animal species. Projects must be representative and characteristic for their habitat type in Germany.
Funding Amount: Approx. 12.8 million EUR annually (national total for all large-scale nature conservation projects). One of the largest funding lines for nature conservation in Germany.
Deadline: Rolling basis (Rolling)
How to Apply: Applications submitted to BfN (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation). Procedure details and required forms available at bfn.de/verfahren-ngp. Rolling application basis with selection by BfN and BMUV.
Target Region: Germany (nationally significant natural and cultural landscapes)
Official Page: https://www.bfn.de/thema/naturschutzgrossprojekte
Last Checked: 2026-04-20 13:44

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Eligible applicants: NGOs, associations, and municipalities

Project Scope

Project area must be of nationally and internationally outstanding significance for nature conservation
Project must be representative for its habitat type in Germany
Large-scale projects covering significant geographic areas preferred

Required Documents

Submit application and required forms to BfN (see bfn.de/verfahren-ngp)

Constraints

Long-term commitment to nature conservation required
Germany-only programme

Summary

The Large-Scale Nature Conservation Projects programme (Naturschutzgroßprojekte - chance.natur) is one of Germany's largest and longest-running nature conservation funding instruments, operating since 1979 under the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and BMUV. With an annual budget of approximately 12.8 million EUR, it funds projects in areas of outstanding national and international significance for nature conservation. The programme supports the permanent protection and development of natural landscapes as well as cultural landscapes with outstanding habitats and particularly endangered plant and animal species. Projects must be representative and characteristic for their habitat type in Germany. As of the latest available data, 93 projects covering more than 7,500 km2 have been funded over four decades, with significant spillover benefits for regional development beyond pure nature conservation. Eligible applicants include NGOs, associations, and municipalities. Projects typically involve large geographic areas and multi-year commitments to nature conservation. Applications are processed on a rolling basis, with BfN and BMUV making selection decisions. The programme includes a formal procedure with specific required forms available from BfN. The programme is Germany-focused but explicitly notes national and international significance as a criterion. Marine and coastal habitats are within scope where they are nationally representative. The programme does not target small-scale or time-limited projects — it is oriented toward transformative, long-term nature conservation initiatives of exemplary character.

Historical Context

Programme running since 1979. As of latest data, 93 large-scale nature conservation projects have been funded, covering more than 7,500 km2 in total. One of Germany's longest-running and largest nature conservation funding programmes.

Why it was added

Covers large-scale conservation including potentially coastal/marine landscapes. Substantial funding possible but webpage last updated 2020 - needs verification.

Sources

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