The second call for proposals under the BESTLIFE2030 Programme will channel over €8 million to support 81 locally led biodiversity projects across the European Union’s outermost regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). This milestone reflects strong interest in the Programme and contributes to the overall €23.4 million budget, which is expected to fund approximately 234 projects across four calls.
Building on the first call, which awarded 57 grants and mobilized €5.57 million, the second round expands both the number of initiatives and the diversity of organisations leading conservation efforts. The funded projects cover a wide geographic range across ORs and OCTs, demonstrating steady uptake as the Programme progresses through its implementation phase.
The portfolio emphasizes practical, on-the-ground ecological action, with ecosystem restoration and species conservation emerging as the most common activities. Other key thematic areas include sustainable management, protected areas, and invasive alien species control, all aligned with BESTLIFE2030’s objective to enhance ecosystem resilience and safeguard threatened and endemic species in ecologically vulnerable regions.
The second call also highlights broad participation and local leadership. Lead applicants include non-governmental organisations, research institutions, local authorities, and other eligible entities. Expanding eligibility between calls has enabled a more diverse range of actors to lead projects, reinforcing the Programme’s commitment to locally driven conservation tailored to specific ecological contexts.
With two calls completed and two more planned, BESTLIFE2030 is steadily progressing toward full implementation of its €23.4 million budget. The 81 recommended projects will move into the contracting and implementation phase, directly strengthening conservation action across ORs and OCTs and advancing the EU’s biodiversity objectives. The second call’s results demonstrate sustained momentum and continued stakeholder interest, affirming BESTLIFE2030 as a key mechanism for supporting biodiversity conservation in Europe’s overseas regions.
