GREAT BAY--Nature conservation organizations and other eligible local entities in St. Maarten have a new opportunity to secure grants of up to €100,000 for projects aimed at protecting the island's biodiversity, restoring damaged ecosystems and strengthening environmental resilience. The funding is available through the third BESTLIFE2030 Call for Proposals, with applications open until December 8, 2026.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Netherlands (IUCN NL) announced the new funding opportunity on October 8, inviting locally led conservation initiatives from St. Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius to submit proposals.
The program, co-funded by the European Union, provides financial assistance for practical conservation projects addressing environmental challenges affecting the Caribbean territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Eligible initiatives may include coral reef restoration, mangrove and seagrass protection, coastal erosion prevention, invasive species management, protection of threatened wildlife and improvements to the management of protected natural areas.
Projects must demonstrate measurable conservation benefits and provide practical solutions to clearly identified environmental problems.
Under the funding guidelines, individual projects may receive grants of up to €100,000, with applicants required to provide at least 5% co-financing toward the total project budget.
Successful projects are expected to run for between 18 and 36 months, with implementation generally scheduled to begin between July and September 2027.
The funding opportunity is open to eligible locally registered organizations, including environmental foundations, nonprofit organizations, community groups, small and medium-sized enterprises and research institutions undertaking practical conservation activities.
Government entities may also participate under the conditions outlined in the application guidelines, including partnerships with local organizations. Individual applicants and sole traders are not eligible to receive grants directly.
The latest call builds on two previous funding rounds under BESTLIFE2030.
According to IUCN NL, eighteen conservation projects have received support across the six Dutch Caribbean islands through the program's first two calls.
These initiatives address environmental challenges including invasive species, coastal erosion, marine habitat restoration, protection of turtle nesting beaches and the management of protected areas.
In St. Maarten, previous BESTLIFE2030-supported activities have included efforts to combat soil erosion and strengthen the protection of sharks and rays.
Other projects across the Dutch Caribbean have supported coral reef restoration, seagrass and mangrove conservation, and measures to improve the resilience of vulnerable habitats.
The program is designed to build on these experiences by encouraging new applicants to adopt, expand or improve conservation approaches that have already demonstrated positive results.
IUCN NL emphasized that proposals should establish a clear relationship between the environmental problem being addressed, the activities proposed and the measurable results expected.
Projects consisting primarily of academic research without practical conservation action are not the focus of the funding program.
The Dutch Caribbean contains ecosystems ranging from coral reefs and seagrass beds to mangrove forests, wetlands and tropical vegetation.
These environments support marine life, fisheries, coastal protection and other natural resources important to local communities and economies.
However, they face increasing pressures from climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution and unsustainable use of natural resources.
BESTLIFE2030 seeks to address these challenges by directing financial and technical support toward organizations working within affected communities.
Beyond providing grants, the program offers guidance, opportunities for collaboration and assistance in strengthening local conservation expertise.
IUCN NL serves as the regional hub for the six Dutch Caribbean islands and is responsible for supporting applicants and conservation projects in the region.
Applicants must submit their initial concept notes through the IUCN Grant Management System by December 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central European Time.
The application process begins with an eligibility assessment, followed by submission of a concept note. Applicants selected during the initial evaluation will subsequently be invited to submit a full project proposal.
Organizations are encouraged to review the application guidelines carefully, particularly the eligibility criteria, funding requirements and submission procedures.
Applications can be submitted in English or French.
Additional guidance and application resources are available through the official BESTLIFE2030 website.
Organizations in St. Maarten seeking clarification may also contact IUCN NL's conservation expert Caspar Verwer atcaspar.verwer@iucn.nl.
The new funding round provides another opportunity for local organizations to secure international financial support for conservation work, while strengthening the island's capacity to protect and restore its natural environment.
