Nature has no borders

European Call for Projects

Fondazione Capellino will fund projects that restore and strengthen connections between natural land and freshwater habitats. Organisations leading projects in 9 European countries are invited to apply.

Better connected nature supports greater biodiversity, builds resilience, and helps ecosystems better withstand the impact of human activity.

The strongest applications will first be selected by an internal panel before being put to a public vote. The 12 winning projects, across 3 categories, will receive financial support from the Foundation.

Read the Call for Projects Submit your project

2.2 Million Available for the winning organisations

1.8 Million Available for organisations that take part but are not selected

3 Project categories

9 Participating European countries

12 Total winning projects

Connect natural areas

Reduce barriers and habitat fragmentation

Restore landscapes and rivers

Create new protected areas

Who can take part

Eligible applicants

Non profit organisations
Local authorities
Organisations managing protected areas and parks
Universities and research centres
Non-profit public-private partnerships.

Geographical scope of the projects

Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland and Malta

Any cross-border projects will be assigned to the country of the promoting association.

Categories and application timeline

Category A Projects

APPLICATIONS OPEN 15th July to 30th September 2026
SELECTION OF 20 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS 1st to 14th October 2026
PUBLIC VOTE 15th October to 15th December 2027
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 5 WINNING PROJECTS 23rd December 2026
WINNERS’ EVENT 16th January 2027

Category B Projects

APPLICATIONS OPEN 15th July to 30th November 2026
SELECTION OF 10 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS 1st to 15th December 2026
PUBLIC VOTE 16th January to 31st March 2027
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 4 WINNING PROJECTS 19th April 2027
WINNERS’ EVENT 30 April 2027

Category C Projects

APPLICATIONS OPEN 15th July to 31st January 2027
SELECTION OF 10 ELIGIBLE ENTRIES 1st to 28th February 2027
PUBLIC VOTE 1st April to 30th June 2027
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 3 WINNING PROJECTS 14th July 2027
WINNERS’ EVENT 15th September 2027

Read the Call for Projects Submit your project

A European
Citizens’ Initiative
for biodiversity

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) aims to address the fragmented regulations that currently affect biodiversity restoration across Europe. By signing the initiative, you are calling on the European Commission to create a joined up legal framework protects and connects natural habitats across the continent.

The campaign to collect signatures will take place in 9 of the 27 EU Member States. However, citizens of all 27 Member States can sign the initiative. To succeed, the ECI must collect at least one million signatures, while also reaching the minimum required number of signatures in at least 7 of the 9 participating countries.

Minimum signature thresholds per country:

• Italy 54,720 • France 58,320 • Belgium 15,840 • the Netherlands 22,320 • Germany 69,120 • Malta 4,320 • Spain 43,920 • Austria 14,400 • Finland 10,800

Signature collection period:

15th October 2026 – 14th October 2027

01

Habitats are fragmented

Roads, dams and cities create barriers that interrupt the natural movement of wildlife. Nature needs connected landscapes to survive and thrive.

02

Nature knows no borders

Wolves, rivers and forests do not recognise national borders. Protecting nature requires a shared European approach that safeguards ecological corridors across countries.

03

The laws exist, but they do not communicate with one another

Europe already has important laws and policies to protect biodiversity, but they are spread across different areas and not well connected. A common framework is needed to bring them together and make them more effective.