Media Library
Find here our vast collection of media from over five years of gathering knowledge on private land conservation in Europe. From reports over factsheets and webinar summaries – all in one spot. Happy reading!
Funding
Read more on better financial incentives for landowners and conservationists to apply private land conservation tools
Engagement
Citizen Science and volunteering as powerful tools to educate and involve the public in the conservation on private land.
Networks
Knowledge
State-of-the-art resources, ensuring high ambition standards for nature conservation on private land.
Awareness
Raising awareness of private land conservation and helping landowners to receive recognition and public support for their conservation efforts.
Tools
Testing, improving, and harmonising private land conservation tools across various settings in Europe.
FUNDING
Explore ENPLC’s insights on the intricacies of European cross-border philanthropy, highlighting challenges and solutions in environmental conservation funding. ENPLC offers invaluable information and strategies tailored for navigating the complex landscape of environmental protection funding in Europe.
Carolina Halevy, Project Manager of the European Networks for private land conservation talking at the European Conservation Finance Bootcamp in Italy in 2023. ©Photo by Hans von Sonntag
The First European Conservation Finance Bootcamp – Synthesis report
Major financial institutions warn of economic risks from biodiversity loss. Addressing this, the European Conservation Finance Boot Camp occurred in Capalbio, Italy, from May 2nd to 6th, 2023. Organized by WWF Oasi, Eurosite, and supported by the Conservation Finance Network and NABU, the event hosted 34 participants. Experts discussed diverse conservation financing methods, including public funding, private investments, and monetized ecosystem services, emphasizing the importance of varied funding for conservation. Read the whole report here.
Improving the tax-deductibility of philantropic cross-border donations for nature conservation in the EU
The EU aims for a unified market, yet its philanthropic sector remains fragmented, particularly evident in biodiversity policy. While the Single European Act turns 30, member states grapple with varying legal traditions around philanthropy. LIFE ENPLC’s 2023 webinar highlighted the complexities of European cross-border philanthropy, noting the rise in environmental causes but also persistent challenges. Despite intermediaries like Transnational Giving Europe, the lack of a consistent EU definition for “philanthropic organization” hinders progress. Read here the whole report on the webinar.
How to set credits for ecosystem services on the international market? Synthesis Report
Outcomes of the specialist group workshop on result-based payment schemes Carbon markets are developing rapidly, and companies are lining up to purchase credits. This gives land managers new avenues for profitability through result-based schemes. But how are these credits generated? And is there a potential for biodiversity credits on the European market?
This report summarizes the outcomes of a discussion that took place in Brussels, March 27th 2023. The report highlights the growing interest in carbon and biodiversity credits, driven by increasing awareness of global warming and biodiversity loss. Key points include the necessity for a private biodiversity credits market to fill the finance gap for conservation initiatives, the importance of integrity, durability, and credibility in payment schemes, and the role of businesses in promoting environmental protection. Read the whole report here.
ENGAGEMENT
Citizen Science and volunteering as powerful tools to educate and involve the public in the conservation on private land
Working with Volunteers on private land – A Guide
This guide provides some good practices related to the management of volunteers for nature conservation work. Besides, defining processes related to volunteers, it can also be helpful to think about sustainability aspects and to take different forms of volunteering into account. Volunteering on private land involves selflessly contributing to environmental conservation efforts through organized, unpaid activities. This form of volunteering spans various roles, from guiding the public to actively participating in environmental projects. It encompasses workcamps, regular volunteering days, long-term commitments, and even corporate volunteering initiatives. Read more about working with Volunteers here.
How to Bioblitz – Guidance Document
Citizen science is hot! More people are getting involved in collecting and recording nature data. A welcome development. Large scale citizen science projects across different European countries provide researchers with valuable biological data. At the same time, they bring citizens closer to nature and teach them how to count and report observations. Bioblitz are small-scale citizen science actions. They provide valuable results and have even proven to be an efficient tool for discovering new species in an area. Bioblitzs are not that complicated and are fun to organise. So, why not organise a BioBlitz? This report will guide you through the different steps with tips and tricks on how to organise a successful event and collect high-quality data. Anyone can organise a BioBlitz. A BioBlitz is a flexible concept that you can be tailored to your capabilities and needs. How big you make the event is entirely up to you. From this guide, you can pick and choose the tips that are of interest to you. Read more here.
Networks
Find out about networking opportunities with our vast partner and ambassador network. The ENPLC partners on a European level are Eurosite – the European land conservation network and the European landowners’ organization (ELO). Together they form the ‘conservation landowners coalition’.
Knowledge
State-of-the-art resources, ensuring high ambition standards for nature conservation on private land.
- Landowner trainings
- Standarts and practices
Knowledge - Landowner trainings
Market link in HNV landscapes – Creating market links for HNV farming products and services
The concept of High Nature Value Farmland emerged in the European Union over the past two decades to promote extensive agriculture practices in specific regions. This type of farming benefits nature by preserving biodiversity and natural landscapes, such as semi-natural meadows and mosaic agricultural areas. It also contributes to society by conserving cultural landscapes and traditional knowledge related to food production. However, many farmers who maintain these landscapes struggle to sustain their livelihoods due to low income, high costs, and limited market opportunities. Supporting High Nature Value farming systems requires increasing productivity to transition from subsistence to semi-subsistence farming and generate surplus production. Read further here.
Wetland conservation – Training course for landowners
Wetlands play a crucial role in combating climate change by providing flood protection, water retention, carbon storage, and natural cooling. The Wetlands4Cities project focuses on developing urban wetlands in the Hoezebeek valley in Aalst, Belgium, to mitigate flood risks and enhance climate resilience. Natuurpunt, in collaboration with the Province of East Flanders, the city of Aalst, and private landowner Peter de Winne, plans various interventions such as increasing buffer capacity, creating marsh zones, and restoring historic weirs. Involving local residents and farmers in runoff management is also integral to the project. The collaboration between stakeholders aims to prevent flooding, restore nature, and achieve the city’s climate objectives, aligning with broader plans for green urban fringe functions. Read more here.
How to attract wild polinators
Worldwide, wild pollinators play a crucial role in the fertilization and reproduction of plants. In recent years, unfortunately, a decline in the number of these wild pollinators has been observed. To counter this declining trend, measures must be taken to protect these species – and the important role they play for biodiversity. Even as a private landowner, you can take specific actions to attract and protect – in an economically profitable way – wild pollinators.
Learn more about the topic here.
Knowledge - Standarts and practices
Standards and practices for PLC in Europe – Report
As part of the LIFE European Networks for Private Land Conservation (ENPLC), we set out to translate available standards and good practices for the governance and management of privately conserved land and testing them in the EU context. When talking about governance and management our focus is on organisational aspects that make up a successful organisation. The focus lays on those aspects that are relevant to run a private land conservation organisation including objectives, roles and responsibilities; strategic planning, strategic monitoring; operational planning; transparency and accountability, legal compliance; monitoring and evaluation of projects and activities; accounting and financial oversight; human resources; education and teaching; and communication. Thus, looking at the business site of an organisation. Such procedures could also cover other key operating areas of an organisation ranging from how to set up a conservation project to managing a conservation area or event organisation. Indeed, standards and practices could be set up for anything that a conservation organisation (working on private land) does. Read more here.
Standards and practices for PLC in Europe – Report
During the 2023 Eurosite Annual Meeting in France, the LIFE ENPLC project hosted a workshop to explore the concept of due diligence and its importance in the relationship between conservation organisations and financers (and other stakeholders). Conservation organisations and private landowners can only thrive if they are perceived by authorities, stakeholders and funders as highly qualified, reliable and ethically responsible professionals. Experiences from different parts of the world have shown that the activities of a few “rogue” organisations or people can put the reputation of a whole movement at risk. On the other hand, the question of which sources of funding to accept is creating a barrier in the flow of resources crucial for timely nature protection efforts. Working with standards and existing guidelines can ensure a more consistent level of quality, contribute to efficiency, and facilitate effective communication. Read more here.
Awareness
Raising awareness of private land conservation and helping landowners to receive recognition and public support for their conservation efforts through our Ambassador programme.
- Tools
- Conservation agreements
- Easements
- Labels
Tools
Testing, improving, and harmonising private land conservation tools across various settings in Europe.
- Conservation agreements
- Easements
- Labels
Tools - Conservation agreements
Templates Conservation agreements
Throughout the LIFE ENPLC we collected several templates of conservation agreements. This information and examples presented here do not constitute legal advice. Do not act upon any of the information provided without first seeking qualified professional counsel. Find the downloads here.
European Case studies on private land conservation tools
The aim of this report is to showcase case studies on private land conservation tools across different European countries. In this sense this document complements the report State of the art and the potential for further development of conservation agreements as private land conservation tools. Click here to see all Case Studies.
Tools - Easements
Testing conservation easements in various EU countries – lessons learnt from the case studies; Sythesis Report
The potential of conservation easements for private land conservation in the EU has been confirmed by current research (Racinska and Vahtrus 2018, Racinska, Halevy and Disselhoff 2021) and case studies from ELCN partners (Proceedings of ELCN Workshop on Legal Tools 2017). Within the LIFE+ project “Land Is For Ever” individual private landowners (EU based) have designated conservation easements as one of the most interesting private land conservation tools used in the US and have shown their willingness to participate in such an instrument when available within the EU. Despite significant differences in the legal, political, social and economic contexts between the US and Europe (as well as between EU member states), we identified promising potential cases where conservation easements can complement existing conservation tools for the long-term preservation of natural features of conservation value on privately owned properties. The following report presents an overview of these case studies. The findings were compiled in the form of case study fact sheets and interviews with the project partners involved in them. Read the whole report here.
Conservation easement template – Guidance document
This template serves as a guide for European conservation practitioners and landowners in drafting conservation easements, drawing from practices in North America and France. It emphasizes the need for customization to suit specific projects and local legal frameworks. Conservation easements vary widely in length and detail, reflecting the unique circumstances and preferences of the parties involved. While detailed easements facilitate monitoring and compliance, excessive complexity may obscure primary conservation objectives. To address this, some US land trusts are simplifying language and referring to separate documents for detailed provisions, allowing for greater flexibility over time. In the EU, where conservation easement usage is still evolving, practitioners must learn through experience due to limited guidance at the national level. Legal counsel should review and ensure the adequacy of any conservation easement before finalization and registration. Read the whole guidance document here.
International Workshop on Conservation Easements – Synthesis Report
On 6th June 2023, NABU hosted an international workshop on conservation easements in Berlin, Germany. The workshop brought together conservation practitioners and legal scholars from across Europe, joined online by experts from the US. The workshop investigated the potential of conservation easements in Europe, compared experiences with advancing the use of conservation easements in various European countries, dicussed the prerequisites for upscaling the use of conservation easements in Europe, and explored the role of networks to support conservation easement use. Read more here.
Tools - Labels
Voluntary labels for nature conservation on private land – Key Concepts Document
The aim of this document is to review and assess the use of voluntary labels for nature conservation in private lands of Europe. It provides an overview of voluntary labels for nature conservation on private lands in Europe. It defines key concepts and offers practical examples, focusing on voluntary schemes targeting biodiversity conservation. The document discusses the purpose and regulation of voluntary labels, their widespread use within private lands, and their role in promoting sustainable landscape management. Case studies highlight various voluntary labeling initiatives, showcasing their benefits for farmers, landowners, consumers, and the environment. Overall, voluntary labeling offers opportunities for market access, increased productivity, improved reputation, generating extra income, addressing environmental concerns, promoting health and safety, considering ethical considerations, and signaling product quality. Read the whole document here.
How to set credits for ecosystem services on the international market? Synthesis Report
This report summarizes the outcomes of a workshop held in Brussels on March 27th, 2023, discussing the establishment of credits for ecosystem services on the international market. It highlights the growing interest in financial contributions to nature protection and restoration amid concerns about global warming and biodiversity loss. The discussion focused on key aspects such as organizing payments for ecosystem services involving private landowners, addressing challenges, and ensuring credibility and durability of payment schemes. Various perspectives were presented, including those of landowner associations, sustainability experts, NGOs, and representatives from government and businesses. The importance of quantifying ecosystem services, utilizing digital infrastructure, and engaging multiple stakeholders was emphasized to ensure the success and sustainability of such initiatives. While challenges exist, there is a shared effort to create a robust voluntary market for ecosystem services to conserve and protect habitats globally. Read the whole report here.