Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas - BEST 2.0
The BEST 2.0 Programme is a funding facility, supported by the European Commission as part of the EU Biodiversity for Life (B4Life) flagship. It aims to support the objectives of the BEST Initiative by facilitating the continuation of important environmental and conservation work providing grant funding for small-scale and medium-scale field actions on the ground for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) – countries and territories with a special link to one of the following Member States: Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The OCTs are found in five regions around the world: • Pacific • Caribbean • South Atlantic • Indian Ocean • Polar and Sub-Polar
BEST 2.0 Map showing the 5 regions of overseas Countries and Territories eligible for grant aid
Background
The South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) is in charge of coordinating the BEST 2.0 project for the South Atlantic Overseas Territories (OTs) and cover the following areas: Ascension Island (UK), St Helena (UK), Tristan da Cunha (UK) and the Falkland Islands (UK)
The majority of Europe’s biodiversity is found in its overseas entities – European Overseas Outer Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The OCTs span the globe from the Arctic to the Antarctic. They are set in unique environments, include recognized key biodiversity areas, and most are critical to ecosystem services of local, regional and global importance.
Biodiversity in the ORs and OCTs is very rich but also at risk, particularly from being vulnerable to invasive species, development and climate change. BEST 2.0 is essential to address the conservation and sustainable development needs in the European Overseas and aims to pilot an innovative financing mechanism for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the EU OCTs by setting up a funding facility for small-scale and medium-scale field actions on the ground.
Project Objectives
Promote the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of ecosystem services
Including ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, as a basis for sustainable development in OCTs.
Enable, empower and strengthen local authorities and civil society organisations
Which are committed to local development, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem services in OCTs.
BEST 2.0 is designed provide substantive and effective support for actions at local and regional level, regional cooperation being key in the regions where the OCTs are located. BEST 2.0 will also catalyse the efforts and will constitute a key contribution to the achievement of global objectives and goals in terms of biodiversity, sustainable development and climate change.
Actions
As a grant scheme, BEST 2.0 organises calls for proposals in order to fund actions on the ground, both at the local and regional level.
61 projects have been funded by the BEST 2.0 programme:
On the South Atlantic region, of a total of 8 Small Grant proposals for the 2015 & 2017 Small Grant call, 5 projects were selected. And, of a total of 4 Medium Grant proposals for the 2016 Medium Grant call, 1 project was selected.
BEST 2.0+ is a funding facility supported by the European Commission (DG DEVCO) as part of the EU Biodiversity for Life (B4Life) flagship.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
The European Union is the key funding body in the BEST programme.
B4Life responds to global threats to biodiversity and addresses the need to enable sustainable development as part of efforts to conserve ecosystems.
