Funding across the eco-region enabling ecosystem management of habitats and wildlife on a landscape level
The NGO Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) received financing via the MAVA Foundation since 1991. On behalf of MAVA Foundation PONT took over this core funding for SPP from 2016 onwards. This ensured solid core funding for SPP. Due to this long term financing SPP managed to increase its funding by other donors with a declining contribution from MAVA/PONT from 80% to 64% while increasing their financing portfolio. The latter has enabled SPP to start working more on an integrated landscape approach providing a basic framework for balancing competing demands and integrating policies for multiple land uses within a given area. As an example PONT awarded a grant for transboundary large carnivore conservation activities, specifically the monitoring of brow bears across the region. Tracking the brown bear population will shed light on the population, movements and habitats of this amazing animal. The damage caused to livestock and the development of guidelines for preventive measures in the identified conflict hotspots is part of the grant. PONT also supports SPP and the other PrespaNet partners in establishing and running their local offices. Increased local presence is considered an important step in strengthening stakeholder involvement in the Prespa region.
Classifications
Category
Scale of implementation
Phase of solution
Enabling factors
A donor willing to pay for staff salaries and overheads
Long-term secure financing
Long-term organisational development and presence on a local level
Lessons learned
In 2018, PONT granted the Society for Protection of Prespa (SPP) in Greece, a five-year grant aimed at further strengthening its institutional capacities, in order to continue its successful involvement in implementing conservation actions and facilitating integrated landscape approaches in the region. This funding across the eco-region includes an emphasis on transboundary projects, applied research, and the monitoring and management of important habitat and species such as large carnivores.
The PONT grant provides core funding to support the SPP’s main conservation work, and operational support for a dedicated team living and working in the Prespa region. A portion of the grant supports the involvement of local people in and beyond conservation actions, through the formation of a Local Action Group consisting of local authorities, farmers and cultural associations. This long-term stable core funding enabled SPP to raise sufficient co-financing from other donors (3 Foundations and LIFE funding) to increase its annual budget to realise its ambitions and goals.
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