On the Ground

This site displays on the ground initiatives working on  Private Land Conservation in Europe.

Click on the country to learn more about private and civic land conservation initiatives in that region:

European private land conservation practitioners work to conserve land across varying landscapes including Mediterranean habitats in Italy and Portugal, the rivers of Germany, and the tablelands and mountains of Catalonia. Private and civic land conservation in Europe help accomplish the European Union’s biodiversity policy target, including the enlargement and management of protected natural areas in the EU-wide network Natura 2000

The European Land Conservation Network (ELCN) was created in 2017 to provide a community of practice for land conservationists across the continent. In 2020 the network became officially part of Eurosite. Eurosite is a platform for European site managers and land conservation practitioners to network, connect and exchange experience on the protection, restoration and stewardship of diverse, healthy and resilient ecosystems and natural spaces, both terrestrial and marine, across Europe. Eurosite – the European Land Conservation Network is currently coordinating the LIFE project “European Networks for Private Land Conservation” (LIFE ENPLC), which aims to further advance private land conservation together with the European Landowners Organization (ELO) in Europe. The project unites landowners and conservationists under one umbrella working on key topic areas of funding, knowledge, awareness, civic engagement and tools for private land conservation.  The project partners are Federatie Particulier Grondbezit, Aanspreekpunt Privaat Beheer – Natuur en Bos, Natuurpunt, Latvian Fund for Nature, Rewilding Portugal, EEML – Estonian Private Forest Union, NABU – Naturschutzbund Deutschland, Fondation François Sommer, Xarxa per a la Conservació de la Natura, CSOP – Czech Union for nature conservation, WWF Oasi, Montis – Associação de Conservação da Natureza, MIB – Latvian Forest Owners, Fundacion Artemisan, Associação Nacional de Proprietários Rurais Gestão Cinegética e Biodiversidade and Fundatia ADEPT. 

Network Activities

Based on a survey we collected information on civic and private organisations who are working on PLC in Europe. 

0
Number of survey participants
Countries represented
Germany 25%
Italy 25%
Spain 25%
Belgium 25%
Types of organisations
For-profit company 25%
Non-profit organisation 75%

Land area protected

The following number provides an indication on the approximate land area under management of survey participants.

0 ha
Nature Conserved

How survey participants are carrying out private land conservation

Survey participants could indicate how they are contributing to the conservation of private land. 

Landowner
50%
Land acquisition
75%
Land stewardship and management
100%
Education/Outreach
100%
Training/capacity building
50%
Network/Alliance/Coalition
50%
Law/policymaking/government relations
50%
Funder/donor
0%
Research
25%
Data/technology/geospatial analysis
0%

Conservation tools used to protect private land

Survey participants listed conservation tools they are working with to protect the land under their management. Learn more about these conservation tools here

Conservation easement
0%
Formal certification/label
0%
Informal certification/label
0%
Formal stewardship agreement
0%
Informal stewardship agreement
0%
Conservation lease
0%
Safe harbour agreement/ Temporary nature
0%
Fee simple ownership
0%