Endangered Landscapes And Seascapes Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_74324947

Annual Expenditure: £12.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: US$10-15 million (approx. £8-12 million)
  • Success Rate: ~9% (planning grants); highly competitive for restoration grants
  • Decision Time: 3-6 months from application deadline
  • Grant Range: US$120,000 - US$5,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Europe (including Turkey, Russia, Georgia, and North Africa)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.endangeredlandscapes.org/

Email: elsp@jbs.cam.ac.uk

Address: Cambridge Conservation Initiative, Cambridge, UK

Pre-application Support: Drop-in sessions available - contact the team to book a 1:1 meeting with the Programme Management Team to discuss project ideas

Overview

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme was established in 2016 through an inaugural US$30 million grant from Arcadia, a charitable fund. Since then, Arcadia has contributed over US$138 million to the programme, including a US$72 million gift in 2023 to implement Phase III, with over US$31 million dedicated specifically to marine ecosystem restoration. Managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (a partnership between the University of Cambridge and ten leading international biodiversity conservation organisations), the programme supports large-scale restoration of Europe's most treasured but endangered ecosystems. Since 2018, it has awarded 41 grants totalling nearly US$50 million to 14 projects, with restoration efforts extending over 150,000 hectares. The programme addresses both the biodiversity and climate crises by funding inspirational landscape and seascape restoration initiatives that deliver benefits for nature, climate, and people. Projects have leveraged an additional US$36 million in complementary funding, demonstrating significant impact and strategic value.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Landscape Restoration Grants: US$1.5 - US$5 million over five years

  • Large-scale terrestrial ecosystem restoration projects
  • Periodic competitive calls (most recently October 2024)
  • Expression of Interest process followed by full application for shortlisted projects

Seascape Restoration Grants: US$750,000 - US$5 million over five years

  • US$1.5 - US$5 million for established organisations with ambitious marine restoration plans
  • US$750,000 - US$1.5 million for national organisations aiming to grow expertise and ambition in seascape recovery
  • Periodic competitive calls (most recently February 2024)

Planning Grants: Up to US$120,000

  • Support for developing comprehensive restoration plans
  • Next call expected Autumn 2025
  • Competitive process (9% success rate based on recent data: 9 awards from over 100 applications)

Priority Areas

The programme seeks landscapes and seascapes that:

  • Support viable populations of native species with capacity for landscape-scale movement
  • Provide space for natural functioning of ecological processes
  • Deliver sustainable cultural, social, and economic benefits to people
  • Are resilient to climate change
  • Restore and harness ecosystem processes
  • Bring back nature to degraded landscapes and seascapes
  • Revitalize local economies

Geographic priorities: Particularly welcome applications from geographic areas currently not receiving significant conservation attention and/or underrepresented in the programme portfolio

Sectoral approach: Projects working across multiple sectors including energy, transport, tourism, and food production

Scale: Large-scale restoration activities over tens of thousands of hectares of land and sea

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the programme:

  • Does not fund projects where government agencies, for-profit companies, or individual private landowners are major beneficiaries of funding (though they can be partners)
  • Focuses on landscape/seascape scale rather than single-site conservation
  • Limits to no more than two landscape and two seascape restoration projects per country at a time (though the Oversight and Selection Panel may exercise discretion)
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Governance and Leadership

Oversight and Selection Panel

Applications are selected through a competitive process by the Programme's independent Oversight and Selection Panel, chaired by Angelo Salsi. Salsi succeeded Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS, the eminent British ecologist who chaired the panel from 2017 to 2023. The panel comprises 15 distinguished experts with wide-ranging experience in conservation, ecology, marine science, and policy. In 2023, the panel was expanded to include four distinguished marine experts to support the growing seascapes work. The panel is responsible for independently applying programme criteria and providing guidance and oversight on overall implementation and strategy.

Programme Management Team

Dr David Thomas, Programme Director: Over 30 years of conservation experience with IUCN and BirdLife International. Thomas states: “Restoring ecosystems at scale is urgent if we are to address the linked biodiversity and climate emergencies.” On the marine expansion, he noted: "It's especially exciting that we will now be able to fund more projects focused on Europe's seas, where many habitats are in poor condition and species are in decline. Experience shows that with the right interventions, marine ecosystems can recover."

Sarah Sanders, Senior Programme Manager: Background in environmental conservation with expertise in resource management and capacity building.

Berry Mulligan, Seascapes Programme Manager: Ecologist specializing in marine conservation with experience in marine protected areas and habitat restoration.

Dr Nancy Ockendon, Science Manager: Supports projects in scientific methodology and monitoring. Previously worked with Conservation Evidence and British Trust for Ornithology. Ockendon emphasizes: "We've realised that nature can restore itself. For animals and plants to be resilient to climate change, they need open, diverse space. Thinking at landscape and seascape scales meets a lot of these needs."

Dr Taylor Shaw, Conservation Scientist: Focuses on monitoring restoration interventions with background in soundscape ecology and forest biodiversity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Expression of Interest Process:

  1. Periodic competitive calls announced on the programme website
  2. Expression of Interest (EoI) forms submitted by specified deadline
  3. Independent expert panel reviews applications using robust criteria
  4. Shortlisted applicants invited to develop full proposals
  5. In-principle offers made to successful projects
  6. Project plans finalized before grant contracting

Application Support:

  • Drop-in sessions available: Book short 1:1 meetings with the Programme Management Team to discuss ideas
  • Detailed Guidance for Applicants documents provided for each funding call
  • Programme team contactable at elsp@jbs.cam.ac.uk for information and partnership proposals

Lead Partner Requirements:

  • Must be not-for-profit, non-governmental organisations
  • Must have previously managed grants of no less than 60% the amount being requested
  • Must be well-established and currently or very recently active in the project landscape

Decision Timeline

Typical Process:

  • Call opens: 2-3 months for Expression of Interest submissions
  • Review period: 2-4 months for panel assessment
  • Full proposals: 2-3 months for development (for shortlisted applicants)
  • Final decision to contracting: 3-6 months

Recent Examples:

  • October 2024 Landscape call: Deadline January 2025, decisions expected mid-2025
  • February 2024 Seascape call: 56 eligible applications received, in-principle offers made to seven projects beginning in 2025

Success Rates

The programme is highly competitive:

  • Planning Grants: Approximately 9% success rate (9 awards from over 100 applications in 2023)
  • Landscape Restoration Grants: The October 2024 call received 106 expressions of interest, with approximately 7 projects expected to be funded
  • Seascape Restoration Grants: 56 eligible applications in February 2024, with 7 projects receiving in-principle offers (~12% success rate)

Overall statistics: Since 2018, the programme has awarded 41 grants from hundreds of applications

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed. However, the programme operates periodic calls for different grant types, suggesting applicants can reapply in subsequent rounds. For specific guidance on reapplying, contact the programme team at elsp@jbs.cam.ac.uk.

Application Success Factors

What the Programme Values

1. Bold and Innovative Vision: The programme seeks “bold and innovative projects that have a long-term vision and want to deliver impact on the ground.” Some projects supported have 200-year visions, demonstrating the programme's appreciation for long-term thinking.

2. Strong Partnerships: Successful projects are “driven by strong partnerships, supported by local communities and are working with a range of sectors to deliver for nature, climate and people.” Collaborations can include international and national NGOs, government agencies, research organisations, utilities companies, community organisations, landowners, social enterprises, and private sector partners.

3. Knowledge Sharing: The programme is “keen to support projects willing to share their experiences and learnings with the restoration network and the wider restoration community.” This includes participating in network activities and contributing to collective learning.

4. Evidence-Based Approach: Dr. David Thomas emphasizes: "It's important to think about the purpose of monitoring when choosing indicators – how will the data be used, who is the audience, and is it information that the audience needs and that will be persuasive?" The programme builds evidence through careful monitoring and thoughtful indicator selection.

5. Community Engagement: As Thomas notes, landscape-scale restoration requires involving “people in many different sectors: energy, transport, tourism, food production, all with their own priorities.” Successful projects demonstrate ability to work across sectors and engage diverse stakeholders.

Recent Successful Projects

Seascape Examples (2024-2025):

  • Amvrakikos Gulf, Greece (Blue Marine Foundation): 40,000 ha seascape supporting Critically Endangered bottlenose dolphins and 300+ bird species
  • Greater Thames Estuary, UK (ZSL): 250,000 ha coastal landscape with crucial nursery grounds for sea bass, flounder, and Critically Endangered European eel
  • Lemnos Island, Greece (BirdLife Europe & Central Asia): 20,000 ha seascape with largest Neptune grass meadow in eastern Mediterranean

Landscape Examples:

  • Cairngorms Connect, Scotland: Beaver reintroduction after 400-year absence
  • Solent Seascape Project, UK: 270+ Seagrass Champions restoring seven hectares of seagrass meadows
  • Greater Côa Valley, Portugal: Completed Phase 1 project
  • Carpathian Mountains, Romania: Completed Phase 1 project

Strategic Positioning

Geographic Gaps: “Proposals are particularly welcome from projects in geographic areas which are currently not receiving significant conservation attention and/or are underrepresented in the Programme portfolio.”

Country Limits: The programme aims to fund no more than two landscape and two seascape projects per country at a time, though discretion is exercised. This suggests applicants from underrepresented countries may have competitive advantage.

Marine Opportunities: With over US$31 million dedicated to marine restoration and recent panel expansion to include marine expertise, seascape projects represent significant opportunity. As Thomas states: "It's especially exciting that we will now be able to fund more projects focused on Europe's seas, where many habitats are in poor condition and species are in decline."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Scale Matters: Think landscape/seascape scale (tens of thousands of hectares), not site-based conservation. The programme funds transformation of entire ecosystems, not isolated pockets.
  1. Long-term Vision Required: Projects with 200-year visions have been funded. Demonstrate how your project addresses long-term ecological resilience, particularly climate change adaptation.
  1. Multi-sectoral Engagement is Essential: Successful applications demonstrate ability to work with energy, transport, tourism, food production, and other sectors beyond traditional conservation. Show how you'll navigate different priorities and build consensus.
  1. Evidence and Monitoring: Develop clear monitoring plans with purposeful indicators. Be prepared to explain how data will be used, who the audience is, and why it will be persuasive to key stakeholders including policymakers.
  1. Partnership Leverage: Demonstrate strong collaborative networks and potential to leverage additional funding. Previous grantees have raised US$36 million in complementary funding, showing the programme values projects that attract matched funding.
  1. Knowledge Sharing Commitment: Emphasize willingness to participate in the programme's restoration network, share learnings, and contribute to the broader European restoration movement. This is explicitly valued in selection.
  1. Highly Competitive - Differentiate: With ~9-12% success rates, applications must stand out. Consider geographic gaps, underrepresented ecosystems, innovative approaches, and exceptional partnership models. Utilize pre-application drop-in sessions to test ideas and refine proposals before submission.

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References