The environmental part of the Programme covers three open calls:

• Implementation of ecosystem management plans
• Increased protection against invasive alien species
• Activities related to the protection of the environment and ecosystems carried out by the NGOs (Small Grant Scheme)

Due to considerable interest in applying (grant requested in submitted applications amounted to EUR 24.5 M while not more than 12.3 M were available) only top ranked projects received support. The selected applicants intend to undertake a range of various activities aimed at improving status of ecosystems as well as endangered species and habitats. An important feature of projects will be educational and awareness-raising activities. In case of 15 applications Norwegian partners will contribute to achieving goals of the Programme, thus a bilateral cooperation between Poland and Donor States will be strengthened.

The Programme Operator’s (Ministry of Climate and Environment) decision to award grant to the projects follows and is in line with the recommendation of the Selection Committee – an independent body consisting of Polish experts, PO’s representatives as well as members from Norwegian Environment Agency, The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, National Energy Authority from Iceland, the Financial Mechanism Office (the Brussels- based secretariat for the EEA and Norway Grants) and Norwegian Embassy in Poland.

Please find below a full list of projects that will receive support – in case of 29 applicants will receive an invitation to sign a project contact while the others remain on a reserve list.