Funding, purchase or lease of land and urgent management in Central and Eastern Europe by local organisations

The EECONET Action Fund (EAF), created by EUROSITE, EURONATUR and the EUCC in 1995, has contributed to the long term protection of more than 150,000 hectares of internationally important nature conservation areas in Central & Eastern Europe as well as in Spain. This has been done partly through purchase or long term land lease by NGO’s or National Parks, nature restoration and urgent management measures, and through spin-off effects of such actions. There is active collaborate with the NGOs in the region in the joint implementation of nature conservation and restoration projects.

The EUCC is providing the Secretariat of this Fund and, in that capacity, also helps local and national NGOs in the preparation of funding proposals to the EAF. Special attention is given to promoting an active NGO-role in the ownership and/or management of nature areas which are considered future Natura 2000 sites, particularly if these sites are private property of farmers or others not primarily interested in nature conservation.

EUCC will continue to closely collaborate with a considerable number of NGOs in a comprehensive effort for nature conservation in Central & Eastern Europe, under the auspices of the EECONET Action Fund.