Contractual nature conservation and funding opportunities

The cultural landscape in and around Jena has been shaped by people for centuries. It is subject to constant change. Areas are converted or taken out of use completely. The lack of maintenance means that valuable habitats for plants and animals are disappearing.

The Free State of Thuringia offers various funding programmes for the implementation of measures that serve nature conservation and landscape management as well as for the promotion of landscape management and recognized nature conservation associations.

Please refer to the website of the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation under the link on this page to find out which requirements are necessary for a grant. Information can also be obtained from the lower nature conservation authority of the city of Jena.

You can view the currently funded measures in the city of Jena under Downloads.

The nature conservation part of the KULAP occupies a prominent position for contractual nature conservation in Thuringia. With this EU co-financed program, agricultural businesses maintain areas that are valuable for nature conservation and often shape the landscape every year, e.g. by

• the creation of flowering and conservation strips
• the extensive cultivation of field margins
• grazing or mowing on nutrient-poor and dry sites or meadow orchards, etc.

For the nature conservation measures in the KULAP, the agricultural enterprise and the local nature conservation authority must consult each other before submitting an application. This involves checking whether the land is suitable for nature conservation support.

The sheep-goat premium from the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation (TMUEN) will be replaced from 2023 by the reintroduction of a premium for ewes and goats. One major change is that only female sheep and goats that have reached the age of at least 10 months by January 1 of the application year will be eligible.

Agricultural subsidies are the responsibility of the Thuringian Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture (TMIL).

The second pillar of contractual nature conservation in Thuringia is the NALAP program. It is primarily aimed at associations, clubs and private individuals. In addition, smaller nature conservation projects (maximum funding volume 500,000 euros) can be funded with NALAP.

In Jena, individual private individuals are currently being supported through this program for their commitment to contractual nature conservation. Smaller projects can also be realized, such as pruning fruit trees in orchards.

This program can be used to support larger nature conservation projects. Funding is provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

In the city of Jena, projects for the renaturation and networking of habitats and the creation of recreational areas and green infrastructure close to the cityare particularly eligible for funding. A particular focus is on follow-up maintenance measures on areas of nature conservation value in the former large-scale nature conservation project, which have not yet been converted to regular use.

In addition, the Natura 2000 station "Mittlere Saale" is implementing restoration and maintenance measures in the FFH areas.

Under the title "Nature conservation starts on your doorstep - small steps towards a colorful, livable living environment" , the Nature Conservation Foundationsupports small projectson application that protect and develop biodiversity in the residential environment or settlement area according to nature conservation criteria, such as

• the ecological enhancement of areas in the form of green roofs, flowering areas, dry stone walls, Benjes hedges
• the creation of species-rich local greenery
• the redesign of hedges and the planting of new bird food trees in the local area and on the edge of the village
• the protection and improvement of the habitat for insects through bee pastures, insect hotels

Detailed information on applying for funding from the Thuringia Nature Conservation Foundation is available via the link on this page.

The Wolf / Lynx Directive makes an important contribution to improving herd protection and the economic situation for grazing livestock farming in Thuringia. Preventive measures to protect grazing animals from wolf attacks can be funded on the basis of the directive. Livestock farmers affected by a wolf attack or damage caused by the lynx can apply for compensation.