IUCN-NL

Through the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN-NL) small grants programme funds are available for conservation projects, mainly in the tropics and implemented by NGOs. The funding programmes are based on the Ecosystem Approach Principles as adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Maximum amount available per project is 85,000 Euro. Until 2006 IUCN-NL distinguished 3 portfolios of small grants funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Tropical Rainforest Programme (TRP) grants; Small grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP); and Dry and sub-humid Areas Small grants programme (DAS).

As from 2006 the IUCN NL/ Ecosystem Grants Programme (EGP) integrates these small grants funds for projects of local organisations in the South that link nature conservation and poverty issues.

The EGP contributes to the following overall goal:

'To reverse trends of ecosystem degradation and loss in the South, and the subsequent impoverishment of vulnerable groups in society, through the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations.'

The Tropical Rainforest Small Grants Programme (TRP) was a small grants programme funded by the Dutch Government (DGIS) and administered by the Netherlands Committee for IUCN. This programme was being implemented in support of the tropical rainforest policy of the Dutch government.

The central objective of this policy is: "to encourage the conservation of the tropical rainforest through balanced and sustainable land and forest use, with a view to halting the current rapid process of deforestation along with other environmental damage and degradation". This is closely linked to the objectives of the IUCN "the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems and biodiversity". The funds of the IUCN-NL/Tropical Rainforest Programme (TRP) were especially meant to support projects in the field of conservation and sustainable management of tropical rainforests, set up and implemented by non governmental organisations (NGOs), preferably from rainforest countries.

The Small grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP) was a programme aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands. The Netherlands is a contracting party to both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as waterfowl habitat (Ramsar Convention). Therefore projects that were funded by SWP should be in line with these conventions. The central objective of the Netherlands policy on wetlands is wise use. Wise use is defined within the framework of the Ramsar Convention as "the sustainable utilisation of wetland resources for the benefit of mankind in a way that is compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the wetland system".

The Dry and sub-humid Areas Small grants programme (DAS) was targeted to the ecosystems of the Dry Areas. Approximately 70% of the 5.2 billion hectares of drylands world-wide that are used for agriculture are already degraded and threatened by desertification, which poses a threat to the livelihoods of approximately one billion people. Taking this into consideration, it becomes clear that conservation and restoration of dry and sub-humid ecosystems in relation to social issues should receive immediate attention. Critical threats to dry and sub-humid ecosystems include overexploitation of the natural resource base by unsustainable agricultural practices leading to loss in soil fertility and vegetation cover and an increased susceptibility to further degradation of the ecosystems, e.g. in the case of man-induced fires, land use conflicts and diminishing livelihood security of local people.

Land degradation and desertification are cross-cutting issues that can also be observed in other ecosystems such as wetlands and tropical rainforests. If natural resources in a dry ecosystem decrease due to over-exploitation, the pressure on adjoining ecosystems will most certainly increase. At the same time, there is a need to integrate the activities and objectives of the different 'green' conventions on the ground, and explore ways to create synergy.

With this in mind IUCN-NL manages the Dry and sub-humid Areas Small grants programme (DAS) which is funded by the Netherlands government (DGIS) with the objectives: Poverty alleviation through the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of dry and sub-humid ecosystems; Capacity building of local NGOs; and Improved policy influencing by NGOs on all levels.

Status update of PROFORIS on IUCN small grants programmes:

• Data on 232 Tropical Rainforest Small Grants Programme (TRP) projects included in August 2007;
• Data on 35 Small grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP) projects included in August 2007;
• Data on 62 Dry and sub-humid Areas Small grants programme (DAS) projects included in August 2007.

              (Look at Projects for more specific information)

               For more information on other funded projects of IUCN-NL you can click here.