Priority to nature

Biodiversity loss is a crisis unfolding before our eyes. It is paramount to take immediate measures to reverse the trends that lead not only to the mass extinction of species but also to consequences detrimental to our own survival.The timing and political context is opportune as a new policy framework for biodiversity conservation in expected to be agreed and adopted at international and European levels in 2020 (an 2021 due to the pandemic). However, nature protection in Greece is not a political agenda priority and the topic is largely absent from the public discourse.

The Green Tank, through the “Priority to Nature” project, aims to influence the new political framework to halt the loss of biodiversity, with an emphasis on Greece.

Specifically, the Green Tank will undertake and present an assessment of the implementation of the national biodiversity strategy and its first action plan since their adoption in 2014 to date. The Green Tank will also document the most important biodiversity policy development and aim to participate in the public discourse until the final adoption of the new post-2020 framework.

The report has now been launched.

You can read the full report or its executive summary. The Annex with the detailed analysis is available in the Greek version.

Project news:

 

For additional information contact: Ioli Christopoulou

The project “Priority to nature” is being implemented under the Active citizens fund in Greece by the Green Tank.

The Active citizens fund in Greece is supported through a € 12m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The program aims to develop the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector in Greece, and to strengthen its role in promoting and safeguarding democratic procedures, active citizenship and human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow.

For more information: www.activecitizensfund.gr

About the EEA Grants:

Τhe EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA Grants are available to the 13 EU member countries that joined the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2004, 2007 and 2013 as well as Greece and Portugal. The decision-making body of the EEA Grants is the Financial Mechanism Committee, which is composed of representatives of the Foreign Ministries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Τhe Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund programme in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow.

About Bodossaki:

The Bodossaki Foundation is one of the most respected privately-owned public benefit organizations in Greece. The Foundation is the culminating point of its founder’s brilliant course in life and remains the carrying vessel of the values and ideas that he faithfully served throughout his eventful life.

The Foundation was established in 1972 by Prodromos – Bodossakis Athanassiades who decided to donate his entire fortune to support health care, equal opportunities, quality in education, scientific progress and environmental protection. The Foundation has a deep knowledge of social needs in Greece and has administered so far more than €450m supporting its causes.

The Bodossaki Foundation also supports NGOs working with socially vulnerable groups and has lately set the strengthening of civil society as one of its primary objectives. Since 2013 it administers the regranting facilities of the EEA Grants for civil society in Greece.

For more information: www.bodossaki.gr

About SolidarityNow:

SolidarityNow (SN) is a non-governmental organization established in 2013 to respond to the needs, and advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, indiscriminately. SN’s Headquarters are in Athens, with large operations in Thessaloniki and activities across the country. The organization’s vision is to improve people’s lives and to empower them to create a just and inclusive society. SN’s actions fall under three main strategic priorities: a) Promoting safety and protection; b) Catalyzing livelihoods opportunities; c) Strengthening the independence of civil society and defending open society values. SN has supported 300,000 people to date, both through direct project implementation and through regranting programmes. Through its regranting initiatives, SN has supported 73 different programs and provided a total funding of € 14.4M to support Greek civil
society organizations.

For more information: https://www.solidaritynow.org/