The IUCN Save Our Species programme, in collaboration with the European Union, is pleased to announce the launch of the European Fund for Youth Action on Pollinators, an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering youth to protect pollinators and address biodiversity challenges. Pollinators play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting agriculture, yet their populations face alarming threats from unsustainable land use, intensive farming, pesticide exposure, invasive alien species, pollution, and climate change. In response to this critical issue, the Fund has been established as part of the Youth for Pollinators Pilot Project, initiated by the European Parliament in 2022. It reflects the goals of the IUCN Youth Strategy 2022–2030, which champions youth-led conservation actions. 

Supporting youth-led action for pollinators 

Running until 2027, the European Fund for Youth Action on Pollinators will provide grants to projects supporting youth-led actions. These grants will support efforts such as restoring pollinator-friendly habitats, raising public awareness about the importance of pollinators, improving knowledge on threats to pollinator populations, and devising strategies to address them. By connecting youth-driven conservation initiatives with expert knowledge, the Fund aims to mobilise efforts for biodiversity protection, strengthen Europe’s capacity to preserve pollinator diversity, and ensure food security for future generations.  

Additionally, the initiative supports the implementation of regional and global biodiversity goals, including the European Commission’s EU Pollinator Initiative – an essential component of the European Green Deal and the broader EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – which outlines actions to halt pollinator decline. By engaging young people in conservation efforts, the Fund also contributes to the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, while aligning with the Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention for Biological Diversity. 

Building a community of conservation innovators 

Through the IUCN Save Our Species programme, this Fund will foster collaboration between young pollinator advocates and pollinator experts. Grantees will benefit from resources, technical guidance, and a dynamic network to exchange ideas and share successes. The initiative will also promote knowledge-sharing and best-practice implementation, with successful methodologies integrated into the PANORAMA Solutions platform. 

Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General, IUCN said, “The active participation of young people is essential to driving the systemic change we urgently need to prevent biodiversity loss and ensure that nature conservation contributes to a just, equitable and sustainable world. Projects like this, co-funded by the European Union, are critical to supporting the many forms of leadership young people are demonstrating to mobilise behavioural change that brings us closer to living in harmony with nature.” 

Call for proposals opening in June 2025 

The European Fund for Youth Action on Pollinators invites young leaders to play a pivotal role in shaping a future where pollinators thrive, by implementing action to tackle the causes of their decline, improving knowledge, and mobilising society for the conservation of pollinators. IUCN invites proposals for projects of up to 15 months in duration, located in EU countries*. Grants of up to 70,000 EUR will be awarded to youth-led organisations, and grants of up to 15,000 EUR will be granted to individual EU citizens or residents between 18 to 35 years of age.  

A call for proposals will be launched on IUCN’s Save Our Species website in June 2025 as part of this 30-month initiative.  

*The call will be open to organisations operating in the European Union, EU overseas countries and territories are not eligible, except for the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira