The European Nature Trust

Charity Number: 1091283

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £544,680 (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Europe and Belize
  • Application Method: Invitation only / partnership-based
  • Founded: 2000 by Paul Lister
  • Charity Number: 1091283

Contact Details

Overview

The European Nature Trust (TENT) was founded in 2000 by philanthropist Paul Lister with a mission to protect and restore wild areas across Europe and Belize. With annual grant expenditure of £544,680 (2024), TENT operates as a grant-making charity that funds landscape-scale conservation and rewilding projects through a curated network of conservation NGOs. Unlike traditional funders, TENT does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, they proactively identify, vet, and build long-term partnerships with proven conservation organizations working on ecosystem restoration. Their innovative funding model includes “Coexistence Adventures” - wildlife watching trips where 50-100% of proceeds directly fund their conservation partners. TENT emphasizes supporting grassroots, agile NGOs working at landscape-scale to rejuvenate natural processes for climate, biodiversity, and local communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant-Making Approach

TENT operates through a proactive partnership model rather than open grant applications. They identify and approach conservation organizations that align with their strategic priorities. Grants are made to a curated network of conservation NGOs across Europe and Belize, with funding distributed through:

  • Direct grants to conservation partners
  • Revenue sharing from Coexistence Adventures (wildlife watching trips with 50-100% of proceeds to NGOs)
  • Corporate partnership facilitation
  • Co-funding arrangements with family offices and philanthropic organizations

Current Conservation Partners

Known organizations receiving TENT funding include:

  • Foundation Conservation Carpathia (Romania) - Carpathian ecosystem restoration
  • CBD-Habitat (Spain) - Iberian lynx recovery programs
  • Io Non Ho Paura Del Lupo / INHPDL (Italy) - Wolf conservation and coexistence
  • Salviamo l'Orso (Italy) - Marsican brown bear conservation
  • Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust (Scotland) - Riverwoods riparian restoration
  • UPROAR (Italy) - Film and campaign work for Marsican brown bear

Priority Areas

  • Landscape-scale rewilding: Projects working across entire ecosystems rather than isolated sites
  • Threatened species conservation: Focus on European apex predators (wolves, bears, lynx) and keystone species
  • Riparian woodland restoration: River system restoration supporting salmon and broader biodiversity
  • Community-based conservation: Projects working directly with local communities
  • Wildlife coexistence: Initiatives promoting human-wildlife coexistence solutions

Geographic Focus

  • Scotland (particularly Scottish Highlands)
  • Italy (Apennines, Abruzzo region)
  • Romania (Carpathian Mountains)
  • Spain (Andalusia, Extremadura)
  • Belize

What They Fund

  • Conservation NGO operational support
  • Species protection infrastructure (e.g., wildlife crossing fences)
  • Conservation education and awareness campaigns
  • Conservation filmmaking and media
  • Tree nurseries and habitat restoration
  • Research and citizen science initiatives
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Paul Lister (Founder) - Purchased Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands in 2003 as a pioneering rewilding initiative
  • Toby Aykroyd - Director of Wild Europe Foundation, background in economics, business management and politics
  • Ben Horne - Founder of the Cove Valley rewilding project in Devon, guides TENT's grantmaking remit
  • Catherine Capon - Trustee
  • David Elton - Trustee

Total of 5 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration from the charity.

Key Staff

  • Jacob Dykes - General Manager / Conservation Manager

Leadership Philosophy

Paul Lister's stated mission is to “connect both people and businesses to nature through an ever-increasing number of international environmental projects.” The organization emphasizes that “the future belongs to nature” and follows principles inspired by Tompkins Conservation in Chile and Argentina, including purchasing land as leverage with authorities to expand protected areas.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The European Nature Trust does not have a public application process. They operate through a proactive, invitation-based partnership model.

TENT identifies and approaches conservation organizations that meet their criteria rather than accepting unsolicited applications. According to their website, they “build long-term partnerships with proven conservation groups” and "select projects with big visions – those rejuvenating natural processes at 'landscape-scale' to restore the ecosystems all life depends upon."

Organizations interested in partnership are advised to contact TENT at hq@theeuropeannaturetrust.com, though there is no guarantee of funding consideration.

Partnership Selection Criteria

Based on their funded projects, TENT appears to look for:

  • Proven track record: Organizations with demonstrated conservation impact
  • Landscape-scale vision: Projects working across entire ecosystems
  • Community engagement: Work directly with local communities
  • Agile and pioneering: Innovative approaches to conservation challenges
  • Grassroots operation: Organizations close to the ground with deep local knowledge
  • Big visions: Ambitious ecosystem restoration goals
  • Ecological restoration focus: Projects that rejuvenate natural processes

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the relationship-based model, partnerships likely develop over extended periods of engagement.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no open application process.

Application Success Factors

While TENT doesn't accept applications in the traditional sense, understanding their approach can help conservation organizations position themselves strategically:

What TENT Values

  1. Landscape-scale thinking: TENT founder Paul Lister emphasizes that “the future belongs to nature,” reflecting a preference for ambitious, ecosystem-level restoration rather than isolated interventions.
  1. Local expertise and community connection: All their funded partners are grassroots organizations with deep local knowledge and community relationships. Their wildlife trips are “guided by local experts and ecologists.”
  1. Species-focused conservation with broader ecosystem benefits: Priority given to projects protecting threatened species (wolves, bears, lynx, salmon) that play keystone roles in ecosystem health.
  1. Coexistence solutions: Emphasis on human-wildlife coexistence, as evidenced by partnerships like Io Non Ho Paura Del Lupo (which translates to “I Am Not Afraid of the Wolf”) and infrastructure projects like the SS17 road fence to prevent bear collisions.
  1. Conservation communication: TENT values partners who can tell compelling stories about their work, supporting film projects like UPROAR and hosting conservation film events.

Recent Funded Projects Demonstrate TENT's Interests

  • SS17 Fence, Abruzzo, Italy: “Significant funding package” for wildlife crossing infrastructure to protect Marsican brown bears (population ~60 individuals) from vehicle collisions
  • Community Tree Nursery, Kyle Riverwoods, Scotland: Match-funding with Louis Vuitton and Banister Charitable Trust for native tree propagation
  • Wolf Conservation Communications, Italy: Multi-year support for INHPDL's awareness and citizen science work
  • Iberian Lynx Recovery, Spain: Ongoing support to CBD-Habitat for species brought “back from the brink”

Strategic Positioning

While you cannot apply to TENT, organizations working in landscape-scale European conservation could:

  • Demonstrate proven conservation impact at scale
  • Show community engagement and local support
  • Focus on charismatic threatened species within ecosystem context
  • Develop compelling visual storytelling about your work
  • Work in regions where TENT already has presence (or nearby ecosystems)
  • Consider hosting wildlife watching experiences that could align with TENT's Coexistence Adventures model

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: TENT is not a funder you can apply to directly - they select and approach partners proactively
  • Relationship-based model: Funding flows through established partnerships built over time rather than competitive grant rounds
  • Innovative funding mechanism: Wildlife tourism (Coexistence Adventures) generates 50-100% of trip costs as direct funding to conservation partners
  • Strategic rather than responsive: TENT identifies conservation priorities and finds partners to address them, rather than responding to proposals
  • Long-term partnership approach: They “build long-term partnerships” and “enable groups to grow” rather than one-off project grants
  • Corporate facilitation role: TENT serves as an intermediary connecting corporate partners (Louis Vuitton, Jack Wolfskin, Samsung, etc.) with conservation work
  • Quality over quantity: With £544,680 in annual grants distributed among a curated network, partnerships are substantial and sustained
  • Transparency considerations: Limited public information about specific grant amounts, decision-making processes, or partnership criteria

While TENT is not accessible through traditional grant applications, conservation organizations working at landscape-scale on European ecosystem restoration should be aware of them as a potential future partner if their work aligns and comes to TENT's attention.

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References

All sources.