New document available on links between EU policy and the deliver of zoos and aquaria

eu-and-europes-zoos
On behalf of a grouping of 19 leading zoos and aquaria throughout the EU, we recently completed this study which draws out the close alignment between the EU’s principles and policues and what good zoos and allied sites are all about.
It comes complete with an introduction from the former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, [...]

Save The Rhino International’s application to the EU’s ENTRP programme

Renaud Fulconis.
 

 

 
We recently assisted Save The Rhino International to complete an initial Concept Note to the European Union’s  “enviromental and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy” This is for the protection of the Great One Horned Rhino in Nepal’s Terai grasslands.  The overall project looks to cost  2.5 million €, and we hope to [...]

EU LIFE+ Information and Communication funds undersubcribed!

This source of funds, introduced for the first time ever in September 07, seems to have been badly undersubscribed. In the UK only 3 applications were made.
Whilst this financing cannot support major infrastructure, it can fund signage, information points and possibly walkways. Restricted to EU environmental issues, it seems especially well suited to collaborative projects [...]

Partnerships to access EU funding.

Currently membership for the EU Interreg zoo and botanic garden funding partnership lead by Bristol Zoo Gardens is closed. 
We are likely to bid together for a sum in the region of  5 million €.  The ‘in principle’ membership for this project is: Emmen Zoo, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Munster Zoo and the Eden Project, [...]

Question from Martin Rule re funding for Varna Zoo, Bulgaria

Thanks for your website.
I have just visited a Zoo in Bulgaria, Varna. This Zoo suffers from stereotypical underfunding and is in dire need of all the support, advice and change that the EU accession treaty intended.
I am working with a young activist who is currently designing the Zoo’s website. He has recently appeared in negotiations [...]

Updated LIFE+: LIFE+ when to start thinking about your project

The EU’s LIFE+ application process finally opened on the 28 September 2007. A total amount of €187 million  was available for this first call for proposals, and it will be slightly more this year., 2008  The ‘closing date’ ( by when proposals have to be submitted to the national authorities) for 2008 is likely to be [...]

ENRTP Funding from EU for conservation throughout the developing world

We have just completed and submitted two ‘concept notes’ for this EU funding programme ( “environment and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy” ENRTP:
One on behalf of EAZA and Bird Life International for a project in Madagascar, and another on behalf of Save the Rhino and ZSL for work in Nepal.
This opportunity is now [...]

A handful of funders for zoos: grants for conservation; funding for widlife; funds for biodiversity education; zoos and capital investment

We will constantly update this post with more potential sources of funding for zoos.  As potentially zoos and botanic gardens from all around the world may access ( and contribute to…?) this forum, we will try and reference funders with a relevance to different parts of the world. 
Obviously “zoo projects” can mean lots of different [...]

Core funding for associations of conservation NGOs in the EU

This budget line will provide in theory up to 70%  ( in reality more like 50%) of the operating budget of a network of conservation organisations operating in at least 3 different EU States.
To qualify a network organisation would need to show that constitutionally its members are primarily active in the environmental field. It also [...]

Funding for sustainability: presentation at EAZA Conference, Warsaw September 2007

This attachment is the presentation given at 2007 EAZA Conference.  Elements are similar to that put together for BIAZA in May, but there is more information on LIFE+, AIDCO, etc.  I shall also put more on this site gradually as to these individual funding opportunties.
EAZA Presentation

Capital funding for your site: the EU’s LIFE+ Environmental

I attach here with his kind permission an interview with Karl Hansen, Director of the Living Rainforest, Berkshire.

Under the former LIFE programme Karl drew down some €2 million to support development of a new form of tropical glass house exhibit.See: life-environment-eu-interest-group-interview-with-karl-hansen-final-jan07-2.doc
The new LIFE+ programme will open in September and close again by the end of [...]

Australia, USA, Canada and NZ zoo partnerships with EU zoos

There is funding available for programmes to allow an exchange of skills ( zookeeping, zoo conservationists or scientists, or any discipline within the zoo field)
This would come from DG Education and Culture who are keen to fund less ‘academic’ and more ‘vocational’  partnerships than in the past. 80% is available to create a course, move [...]

How can zoo interests in Europe, North Africaand Western Asia benefit from the New Neighbourhood fund?

The EU has recently launched a new fund open to nearly all the states bordering the existing EU ( Central Asia and North Africa)
Physical development of a zoo site in these countries and potentially all kinds of in situ projects might well be eligible.  Organisations in country however often need the expertise of established zoos [...]

Science in Society: 100% funding from EU

This budget line lies with DG Research and is intended to help bring young people ( and those of all ages) to a greater interest in science and science careers. It also looks to enhance cooperation across the EU and look at issues of European interest
An exhibition or other similar activity coordinated on by 3 [...]

Intervening at strategy level - before the rules are made

All those funding programmes, and none of them quite fit your project, dammit!
Well, perhaps you can shoehorn whatever it is you want to do into somebody else’s funding instrument
Or perhaps you can go along and talk before the rules are made?  How much more effective and subtle to intervene at strategy level, rather than wait until [...]

Twycross Zoo wins £3 million grant from East Midlands Development Agency

Twycross Zoo- East Midland Zoological Society, UK has working with John Regan Associates Ltd secured £3 million towards its new entrance complex.
This is in view of the added value that the project provided in keeping with the Regional Economic Strategy. The building will embrace a number of ‘eco-flagship’ elements, a regional TIC,  a programme to [...]

A hidden motive for giving money to a zoo or botanic garden..?

Dr Geoffrey Miller, writing in a professional psychology journal and reported here in The Economist,  suggested that giving to good causes (including your zoo) can be as much as about unconscious human mating rituals as true benevolence: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9581656

Researching potential donors for the zoo

Researching and analysing prospective supporters for your zoo, botanic garden, aquarium or similar is clearly important. ‘People research’ , one to one discussions with your board members, networking, etc., is the place to start. Use of the internet and published sources must follow. Some questions to ask yourself:

In general what kind of person is likely to support [...]

Big Gifts for zoos

Straightforward philantropic giving is an underused funding option for zoos.  Our organisations may often have come to present something deeply meaningful in the life of individuals, and some of these may be very affluent.  In addition,  the zoo, botanic site or other organisations will probably have several different mission led projects very worthy of support.
So what [...]

Some general principles for zoos looking for funding from the EU

Get to understand the basic policies, principles and ethos of the EU first, rather than immediately plunge in with your funding need. If possible try to participate in policy making at the ground floor
Your best opportunity may not lie in the most obvious area. Thus zoos should not only look to DG Environment, but take [...]