Biodiversity conservation

2011-2020 has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the 'International Decade for Biodiversity'. Biodiversity provides us with food, fuel, medicine, shelter and a cultural and spiritual connection to nature. In 2005, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being delivering a state-of-the-art appraisal of the trends in the world's ecosystems, the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.

Therefore, preference will be given to projects aimed at:

conservation and restoration of populations of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, as well as their habitats;
improvement of management of specially protected natural areas (PAs) and sustainable development of its buffer zone;
elimination of threats to biodiversity and ecosystems located outside protected areas;
the fight against alien species, whose fault is reduced in the number of indigenous species;
expansion and strengthening of networks of natural territories for biodiversity conservation (Ramsar sites, Bionet, Key botanical and ornithological territories, Emerald network);
involvement of the local population in the conservation and sustainable use of natural ecosystems;
protection of rare species of cultivated and wild populations of domesticated plants and animals;
conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources that have actual and potential value for the agricultural and forestry industries;
development and implementation of environmentally friendly methods of pest control in agriculture and forestry;
creating opportunities for local farmers in the field of biodiversity conservation;
stimulation of project proposals for conservation of biological diversity in agricultural lands, including demonstration of progressive technologies and their dissemination;
building the capacity of public initiatives in this area, increasing the awareness of local communities about threats to biodiversity;
development of agroecotourism on and in the immediate vicinity of protected areas.