Grant Program: Long-term conservation funding for protected areas and their buffer zones, supporting a global portfolio…

About this grant

The Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF) Grant Program offers long-term, dependable baseline funding for selected, globally recognised biodiversity hotspots, referred to as legacy landscapes. Grants are awarded to experienced, trusted conservation NGOs to help ensure the world's most precious natural landscapes are preserved for future generations. The funding model is designed to support effective management of these landscapes both now and into the future. LLF combines public and private donor funds to source significant long-term financing. Each legacy landscape receives USD one million per year in one of two forms: a Perpetual Grant, a guaranteed sum of USD one million annually for as long as possible (currently estimated at 50+ years), or a Sustaining Grant, a guaranteed sum of USD one million annually for 15 years. Legacy landscapes are ecologically intact terrestrial protected areas and their buffer zones. They must preserve the ecological functions of the protected area and buffer zone while respecting the needs and human rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and they must promote good governance and trustful cooperation with local communities, including through participation and grievance mechanisms. Grants are provided in accordance with LLF's social and environmental safeguards system. Active involvement of the local population, including transparent and culturally appropriate grievance mechanisms, is a mandatory requirement. At the time of publication, calls for applications were closed, and the page advises checking the site for future calls.

Eligibility

Grantees must be non-governmental organisations with a strong local foothold and proven credentials, including a track record of impactful conservation work at scale, experience implementing large grants with sufficient financial and administrative systems, a legal base to work in the country and landscape (such as an MoU), established trusted relations with government agencies, local communities and grassroots groups, adherence to LLF's safeguards system, and the ability to secure private match funding. Applications from consortia, particularly those including local community, grassroots and Indigenous organisations, are strongly encouraged. Landscapes must be contiguous areas of at least 2,000 km² (200,000 ha), with at least 1,000 km² (100,000 ha) classified as IUCN Category I/II or equivalent protected area, and any remaining area must have another recognised legally secured protection status. The country must be eligible for Official Development Assistance at the time the grant is awarded.

Key requirements

• ✓Projects must focus on protected areas and their buffer zones
• ✓Primary objectives must include biodiversity protection and/or climate resilience
• ✓Support for equitable development outcomes in legacy landscapes
• ✓Long-term conservation commitment and sustainability planning

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Legacy Landscapes Fund offer?

Grant Program: Long-term conservation funding for protected areas and their buffer zones, supporting a global portfolio… offers $1M.

Who can apply for Grant Program: Long-term conservation funding for protected areas and their buffer zones, supporting a global portfolio…?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; nonprofit, charity, social-enterprise, local-authority, indigenous-community, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Biodiversity funding backs habitat restoration, species protection, protected areas and nature-positive business. It comes from environment agencies, multilateral nature funds and conservation philanthropy, often through competitive calls with defined regions. Applicants are usually asked for baseline surveys, local partners and indicators that show ecological change.