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Call key data
Understanding the perceptions of and improving communication on the biodiversity crisis and nature restoration benefits to sustain citizen engagement and democratic governance
Funding Program
Horizon Europe: Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Call number
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-09
deadlines
Opening
06.05.2025
Deadline
17.09.2025 17:00
Funding rate
100%
Call budget
€ 6,000,000.00
Estimated EU contribution per project
€ 3,000,000.00
Link to the call
Link to the submission
Call content
short description
Successful proposals will contribute to the expected impacts of this destination notably by identifying mechanisms to raise awareness on the biodiversity crisis and on opportunities of biodiversity protection and restoration including for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Call objectives
With the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, and more recently the adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the EU has taken strong commitments to address the challenges of the biodiversity crisis, in addition to the current efforts towards increasing resilience to climate change embedded in the EU climate policy. Strong scientific evidence supports the need to act, given the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems for society, economy and resilience.
However, as the debates for the negotiation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation showed, there are different levels of understanding and different approaches towards challenges to be addressed among the EU society, which is increasingly polarised with activists and citizens engaged in nature protection (and more generally environment protection) on the one hand and defenders of the status quo on the other hand. This has even led to local conflicts. While the engagement of activists is visible, little is known about how the rest of society values nature and what citizens think should be done for its protection and restoration.
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Expected effects and impacts
R&I activities are expected to:
- conduct comprehensive research to better understand civil society´s plurality of perceptions and understanding of the biodiversity crisis, its underlying conflicts and links with climate change, identifying key concerns and perspectives. The analysis should identify and quantify the relevance of stakeholder groups and population segments (e.g. based on gender, age, disability, socio-economic status, ethnic and/or cultural origins, etc. and their intersections) sharing similar perceptions and interests. This analysis should build on results of existing research on the relationship between people and nature, including relationship between nature and culture, historical and/or natural heritage, effects of experiences in nature on environmental attitudes and behaviour, etc. and on the report “Methodological assessment regarding the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services” of the Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES);
- address various cases such as stakeholders depending on nature and ecosystems for their professional activities, rural communities living in both protected and not protected areas, urban communities having limited contacts with nature, etc.;
- analyse the perception of various stakeholders towards the EU commitment to protect and restore ecosystems. In particular, investigate if the need to protect and restore nature is perceived as a top-down approach or if it is understood as a necessity for the benefit of society. Explore solutions to address such issues;
- drawing on experiences of citizen engagement around the climate transition and biodiversity crisis – such as for instance the Irish Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss or local co-creation processes on sustainable transport - pilot citizen engagement (case-studies) around ecosystem protection and restoration possibly with nature-based solutions, with the participation of public authorities who have the competence to implement the results of citizen deliberation, thus creating a pathway to implementation as well as a model for best practice;
- develop approaches for each identified group to enhance the communication and dissemination of knowledge regarding the biodiversity crisis and its implications, including on climate. These strategies should aim to improve the groups' understanding of the benefits of nature restoration and empower them to make informed decisions.
A multi-disciplinary approach involving relevant biodiversity expertise should be sought. In addition, this topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines, including gender studies, and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.
Proposals should involve public authorities with the legal competence to implement policy in biodiversity and nature restoration in their pilots and in their advisory boards.
Proposals should demonstrate how they will collaborate with or build upon the work of R&I projects from any of the following previous calls and projects: The climate imperative and its impact on democratic governance (HORIZON-CL2-2023-DEMOCRACY-01-05), H2020-SC6-GOVERNANCE-2020, the Green Deal Call – cross-cutting theme on empowering citizens, the projects PHOENIX and REAL DEAL under Horizon Europe Missions.
The possible participation of the JRC in the project could involve the following contributions from the side of the Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy:
- supporting networking activities by invitations to JRC events and the Community of Practice of the Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy;
- capacity building on citizen engagement;
- offering the use of the JRC Makerspace in Ispra, Italy.
Proposals should foresee cooperation with the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity and the Science Service project BioAgora.
International cooperation is encouraged, in particular with Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The use of AI could be considered for the analyses needed under this topic.
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Expected results
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- policy-makers at all levels better understand how different groups of stakeholders and citizens perceive the biodiversity crisis and its underlying conflicts, as well as the potential impacts of new policies in this area and in climate adaptation and mitigation. This leads to better-informed and more inclusive decision-making and policy implementation, based on the identification of tensions and opportunities;
- policy-makers at all levels are able to implement innovative forms of co-creation and deliberative processes involving citizens throughout the policymaking cycle in order to improve policy-making and eventually contribute to effective mobilisation for collective action in favour of nature restoration and protection, and climate mitigation and adaptation;
- all sectors of society understand the biodiversity crisis and the full extent of its impacts on their lives, including the interplay with climate change and the need for synergies with climate adaptation and mitigation; they understand the critical role of nature restoration in addressing these impacts and are empowered to contribute to it.
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Eligibility Criteria
Regions / countries for funding
Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Armenia (Հայաստան), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Canada, Faeroes (Føroyar / Færøerne), Georgia (საქართველო), Iceland (Ísland), Israel (ישראל / إِسْرَائِيل), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Montenegro (Црна Гора), New Zealand (Aotearoa), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Tunisia (تونس /Tūnis), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна), United Kingdom
eligible entities
EU Body, Education and training institution, Natural Person, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
Mandatory partnership
Yes
Project Partnership
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States
- countries associated to Horizon Europe - see list of particpating countries
Only legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes, as beneficiaries, three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
- at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and
- at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
other eligibility criteria
Specific cases:
- Affiliated entities (i.e. entities with a legal or capital link to a beneficiary which participate in the action with similar rights and obligations to the beneficiaries, but which do not sign the grant agreement and therefore do not become beneficiaries themselves) are allowed, if they are eligible for participation and funding.
- Associated partners (i.e. entities which participate in the action without signing the grant agreement, and without the right to charge costs or claim contributions) are allowed, subject to any conditions regarding associated partners set out in the specific call conditions.
- Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees to protect the EU’s financial interests equivalent to those offered by legal persons.
- Legal entities created under EU law (EU bodies) including decentralised agencies may be part of the consortium, unless provided for otherwise in their basic act.
- International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. International organisations with headquarters in a Member State or Associated Country are eligible to receive funding for ‘Training and mobility’ actions or when provided for in the specific call/topic conditions. Other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding, unless provided for in the specific call/topic conditions, or if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
- Joint Research Centre (JRC)— Where provided for in the specific call conditions, applicants may include in their proposals the possible contribution of the JRC but the JRC will not participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Applicants will indicate the contribution that the JRC could bring to the project based on the scope of the topic text. After the evaluation process, the JRC and the consortium selected for funding may come to an agreement on the specific terms of the participation of the JRC. If an agreement is found, the JRC may accede to the grant agreement as beneficiary requesting zero funding or participate as an associated partner, and would accede to the consortium as a member.
- Associations and interest groupings — Entities composed of members (e.g. European research infrastructure consortia (ERICs)) may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’. However, if the action is in practice implemented by the individual members, those members should also participate (either as beneficiaries or as affiliated entities, otherwise their costs will NOT be eligible.
- EU restrictive measures — Entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) as well as Article 75 TFEU, are not eligible to participate in any capacity, including as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any).
- Legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine — Given the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the involvement of Belarus, there is currently no appropriate context allowing the implementation of the actions foreseen in this programme with legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine. Therefore, even where such entities are not subject to EU restrictive measures, such legal entities are not eligible to participate in any capacity. This includes participation as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any). Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for justified reasons.
With specific regard to measures addressed to Russia, following the adoption of the Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1745 of 24 June 2024 (amending Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014) concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, legal entities established outside Russia but whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50% by a legal person, entity or body established in Russia are also not eligible to participate in any capacity. - Measures for the protection of the Union budget against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary — Following the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506, as of 16 December 2022, no legal commitments can be entered into with Hungarian public interest trusts established under the Hungarian Act IX of 2021 or any entity they maintain. Affected entities may continue to apply to calls for proposals and can participate without receiving EU funding, as associated partners, if allowed by the call conditions. However, as long as the Council measures are not lifted, such entities are not eligible to participate in any funded role (beneficiaries, affiliated entities, subcontractors, recipients of financial support to third parties, etc.).In case of multi-beneficiary grant calls, applicants will be invited to remove or replace that entity in any funded role and/or to change its status into associated partner. Tasks and budget may be redistributed accordingly.
Additional information
Topics
Relevance for EU Macro-Region
EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region
UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)
Additional Information
Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funders & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (accessible via the topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are NOT possible.
Applications must be submitted using the forms provided inside the electronic submission system (not the templates available on the topic page, which are only for information). The structure and presentation must correspond to the instructions given in the forms.
Applications must be complete and contain all parts and mandatory annexes and supporting documents.
The application form will have two parts:
- Part A (to be filled in directly online) contains administrative information about the applicant organisations (future coordinator and beneficiaries and affiliated entities), the summarised budget for the proposal and call-specific questions;
- Part B (to be downloaded from the Portal submission system, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded as a PDF in the system) contains the technical description of the project.
Annexes and supporting documents will be directly available in the submission system and must be uploaded as PDF files (or other formats allowed by the system).
The limit for a full application (Part B) is 50 pages.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). It is mandatory to submit a detailed budget table using the template available in the Submission system.
Call documents
Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and EnvironmentHorizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment(kB)
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