Across the Caribbean, the Pacific, Macaronesia, Amazonia, the Indian Ocean, and North Atlantic, a different kind of conservation has taken hold. It might not always make headlines, it’s community-led, and, most importantly, it works.
With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s success will depend in no small part on the EU’s Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). These regions, hosting over 80% of the EU’s biodiversity, hold immense potential for conservation, restoration and sustainable use.
“From marine sanctuaries in the Azores to shark conservation in the Canary Islands, coastal restoration in Guadeloupe, Queen Conch recovery in the Dutch Caribbean and shark behaviour monitoring in French Polynesia, these are not just local projects—they are European achievements. They show what is possible when we invest in nature and in the people who care deeply about it,”— MEP André Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal).
Through the BESTLIFE2030 Programme, these regions are demonstrating that targeted, locally grounded action is a powerful driver of both EU and global goals, including those of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
“The global significance of biodiversity in the Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories has become increasingly evident, and we need to ensure these communities have the tools to contribute meaningfully,” —Anne Burrill, Head of Unit, LIFE Environment, CINEA.
“The clock is ticking, and BESTLIFE2030 is one of the EU’s best-positioned instruments to help deliver on global biodiversity targets. It is a model of inclusive, collaborative conservation that empowers local communities to turn global ambition into tangible results,” — Boris Erg, Director, IUCN European Regional Office.
Originally launched in 2008 following a call from Réunion Island to close the biodiversity funding gap for EU Overseas, the BEST Initiative has since evolved into a fully integrated component of the EU LIFE Programme. With a total budget of nearly €32 million, BESTLIFE2030 supports small grants—up to €100,000—for high-impact, community-based projects that align with key policy frameworks like the EU Biodiversity Strategy, Birds and Habitats Directives, and the Nature Restoration Regulation.
Islands of innovation
Since 2011, 153 projects have been funded across 9 Outermost Regions and 25 Overseas Countries and Territories, with the goal of supporting more than 200 by 2030. These projects focus on ecosystem restoration, invasive species management, species conservation and climate adaptation.
At the event in Brussels, four local projects illustrated the biodiversity challenges in their regions and the solutions being implemented to address them:
- French Caribbean: Rona Dacourt led the Restoration of the floral biodiversity of the Perle–Rifflet coastline in Guadeloupe, replacing invasive coconut palms with native vegetation to stabilise an eroding shoreline.
- Dutch Caribbean: Michiel Van Nierop presented the Curaçao Queen Conch Hatchery, where over 60 million eggs have been outplanted to recover a threatened species and support sustainable fisheries.
- Pacific: Clémentine Séguigne introduced Ma’oCycling, a project monitoring tiger and silky sharks’ behaviour after the gradual end of fish waste dumping near Tahiti, balancing species protection with human safety.
- Macaronesia: A regional effort to develop conservation strategies for sharks and rays in the Canary Islands was also featured, highlighting stakeholder engagement and science-based planning.
Monitoring progress—and where gaps remain
The event also saw the launch of the policy brief BESTLIFE2030 contributions to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. At the strategy’s midway point, the brief reports mixed progress with 10 out of 29 sub-targets are on track, while 14 lack sufficient data according to the Joint Research Centre’s assessment.
“This is a pivotal moment—not just to assess where we stand, but to ensure that local efforts are fully recognised in EU biodiversity progress. As the European Union is discussing the next Multiannual Financial Framework, it is essential that at least 10% of the EU budget is allocated to biodiversity conservation and that key nature conservation funding instruments continue in the next programmatic period (2028-20234), notably the LIFE programme” —Tommaso Demozzi, Biodiversity Policy Officer, IUCN EU Representative Office.
The policy brief highlights 57 ongoing projects under BESTLIFE2030 and their combined environmental and socio-economic impact. It makes three key recommendations:
- Close monitoring gaps using IUCN tools and Standards like the Red Lists and Green List.
- Enhance biodiversity financing, especially for small grant schemes such as BESTLIFE2030.
- Empower local communities to implement biodiversity strategies in practice—not just on paper.
Putting biodiversity action on the map
To connect these diverse efforts, IUCN launched the BESTLIFE2030 interactive map, a user-friendly platform that makes biodiversity action visible, searchable and strategic.
“This map was built to bridge the visibility gap for biodiversity efforts happening in some of the EU’s most remote and fragmented regions,” said Erwin Jayson Amavassee, Programme Officer at IUCN’s EU Representative Office. “It consolidates projects into a unified, interactive visual that helps us understand not only where conservation is happening, but where more attention is needed.”
The map allows users to explore projects by theme, location, and funding. It identifies gaps, overlaps, and opportunities—supporting better coordination and stronger policy links. By integrating layers such as protected areas and key biodiversity sites, it also reinforces ecological connectivity across distant regions.
“Too often, biodiversity work in isolated or underfunded areas goes unseen,” said Margaux Ysebaert, Communications Officer at IUCN’s EU Representative Office. “The map gives these local actions a platform—linking them to broader strategies, helping policymakers and funders see where support is working, and where it’s still needed,” said Communications Officer Margaux Ysebaert, encouraging new applicants to join the Programme.
From restoration to return
One of the Programme’s most symbolic successes came from French Polynesia. On Kamaka Island—once overrun by invasive rats and devoid of seabird life—a remarkable recovery is underway. With support from BEST 2.0+ and innovative drone-assisted eradication methods, the island was declared rat-free in 2023. Solar-powered sound systems and artificial burrows were used to encourage the return of native seabirds.
By mid-2024, the endangered Polynesian storm-petrel was observed nesting for the first time in over a century, alongside five other breeding seabird species.
“The Kamaka Island story shows what’s possible when trust, innovation, and local leadership come together. BESTLIFE2030 isn’t just about funding conservation—it’s about empowering communities to turn ambition into action, and transforming fragile ecosystems into places of hope,”—Cristina Romero, Programme Manager, BESTLIFE2030, IUCN EU Representative Office. She highlighted that for many local actors, biodiversity is not an abstract concept—it is deeply tied to identity, livelihoods, and place. Programmes like BESTLIFE2030 give these actors the tools, recognition, and autonomy they need to lead.
Shared goals, local solutions
The Brussels event brought together Members of the European Parliament, EU institutions, civil society organisations, and local grantees—online and in person. It reflected the growing global interest in how ORs and OCTs can lead biodiversity and climate action from the ground up.
“There is no shortage of ambition—we now need to close the gap between political vision and practical implementation,” said MEP Catarina Vieira (Greens/EFA, Netherlands).
“Programmes like BESTLIFE2030 show that biodiversity protection is not only possible—it’s already happening. We must fight back against negative narratives and use tools like these maps to show that real, local impact is within reach.”
A strong advocate for inclusive environmental policy, MEP Vieira praised the initiative for integrating social, economic, and ecological dimensions. Drawing on her own roots in an Outermost Region, she called for cross-party unity in pushing forward laws such as the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and encouraged seizing every opportunity in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework to secure resources for biodiversity.
In closing, Roxana Bucioaca, Portfolio Manager for IUCN’s Protected and Conserved Areas team, urged participants to look beyond individual success stories and see the collective momentum that is building.
“Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework is not just about reaching 30%—it’s about how we get there: through equity, effective management, and ecological connectivity,” she said. “BESTLIFE2030 bridges the local and the global, helping transform grassroots conservation into strategic policy impact.”
She emphasised that IUCN will continue contributing through its knowledge products, tools, and networks to ensure this model of inclusive conservation is strengthened and scaled.
“These are European achievements,” she concluded, “but their impact is global.”
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