In order to offer financial support for environmental initiatives which aim to further the goals and objectives of the Strategy for Nature, Guernsey’s Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services (ACLMS) is launching the Strategy for Nature Fund.
Since the former Biodiversity Strategy was passed in 2015, ACLMS has provided funding to several community projects and charities in Guernsey in order to support its delivery. This has supported many projects including:
- The establishment of The Pollinator Project;
- Donation to La Société Guernesiaise for the running costs of SeaSearch;
- Annual funding for the BioBlitz.
The Strategy for Nature (SfN) superseded the Biodiversity Strategy in 2020.
The Fund is in recognition that, just like the Biodiversity Strategy, the Strategy for Nature is not simply a government document; it is a framework for the whole community and it requires support and action from the whole community in order to achieve its goals and objectives.
As such, the Fund has been developed for individuals, educational facilities and charity organisations wishing to engage in projects that benefit the environment and local community.
Applications are welcome from Friday 3 September until 9am on Monday 1 November.
A total of £40,000 is being donated through the Fund in the form of grants to projects that are aligned with the goals of the Strategy for Nature:
- Goal 1: Connect the island community with nature
- Goal 2: Care for nature to ensure the diversity and resilience of natural capital and assets
- Goal 3: Foster and share knowledge about nature
Of the total donation, up to £9,000 will be dedicated specifically to a bursary for students completing graduate or post graduate degrees in a relevant subject with a commitment to carry out data collection for their research project on-island. This bursary will be shared between up to three students (e.g. 3 x £3,000 grants).
The remaining £31,000 forms the bulk of the Fund and is open to local charities, education facilities and the general public, for projects based in Guernsey or Herm which meet at least one of the objectives of the Strategy for Nature. Again, this amount will be split between projects; an amount up to £5,000 can be applied for at one time, whether it is for the full cost of the project, or as part of the costs.
More information about the Strategy for Nature, the Fund and how to apply can be found here.
