With the Biodiversity Fund, the Austrian Federal Government has created a funding scheme designed to contribute to the implementation of the Austrian Biodiversity Strategy and the achievement of Austria's biodiversity targets.

Background: Loss of Biodiversity

Globally, within the European Union (EU), and in Austria too, the ongoing trend of biodiversity loss has not been halted or reversed despite numerous efforts and successes in individual areas.

Biodiversity secures the foundations of life and is a key prerequisite for sustainable development. Human wellbeing and health depend on nature, its diversity and its ecosystem services, as do numerous businesses and therefore jobs. The conservation of biological diversity is, together with climate protection, one of the most pressing environmental tasks facing society.

In May 2020, the European Commission presented the "EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030" as one of the central initiatives of the European Green Deal, setting out the EU's objectives for the protection and restoration of biodiversity within the EU. The EU Biodiversity Strategy underlines that "investments in the protection and restoration of nature are also of crucial importance for Europe's recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and the revitalisation of the economy." The economic necessities and benefits of biodiversity conservation are likewise illustrated with concrete figures. EU member states are called upon to define their national contributions towards achieving the EU biodiversity targets.

Submissions can be made for as long as budget funds are available!

More information and everything about the thematic requirements can be found at: bmk.gv.at