Unlocking the potential of citizen action for nature protection and restoration

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• citizen engagement in nature conservation and restoration is leveraged;
• new business opportunities and markets in the area of nature conservation and restoration are created, thus supporting the EU objectives of nature restoration for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Scope:

The EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 acknowledges that protecting and restoring nature will need more than regulation alone and will notably require action by citizens. This topic intends to support citizens willing to take directly part in nature protection and restoration. It is expected to contribute to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and in particular to its target 21. A wide range of ecosystem types (in terrestrial environment, in fresh and/or marine water) can be considered.

Successful proposals are expected to:

• explore innovative approaches that could apply to nature conservation and restoration activities;
• develop and test new ways to restore and conserve nature that can be directly implemented by citizens at small scale. Activities are expected to go beyond monitoring, without totally excluding monitoring activities if they are needed to support innovations;
• engage with diverse local communities and/or indigenous people and consider gender and disability-sensitive and inclusive approaches to ensure equal participation and benefits for all;
• assess the possible contribution of citizens to overall biodiversity objectives and design and test social incentives that encourage citizens to take an active role in nature conservation and restoration.

Proposals should address some of the following activities:

• Development, testing and marketing of citizen toolkits for species conservation, with the following scope:
  • animal species across various taxonomic groups, including pollinating and not pollinating insects;
  • protected species or species threatened with extinction according to the European Red List^[1];
  • species suitable for direct citizen conservation action and with feasible breeding programmes.

Where necessary, the toolkit should include material for the creation of a habitat required by targeted species, such as seed material.

• Pest control or management of invasive species by citizens, in particular to prevent possible negative impacts on habitats and/or species.
• Social innovation leading to new services or products for nature restoration by citizens.

This topic should actively engage citizens and support bottom-up and participatory approaches. It is particularly relevant for SMEs, for instance for the development of kits or digital tools.

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines (e.g. gender and intersectional expertise, education and behavioural sciences) and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

Proposals should foresee appropriate resources to ensure close cooperation with the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and its Science Service. Moreover, synergies with activities under New European Bauhaus are encouraged.

[1] European Red Lists of species