WWF Central and Eastern Europe

Introduction

EU policy, legislation and funding programmes are central to WWF-CEE’s efforts to “Save the Green Heart of Europe”, i.e. to conserve many of Europe’s most valuable remaining rare species and areas of wilderness, forests, rivers and wetlands in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Moldova.

Work Programme

The FY2023 work programme contributes to all 21 specific objectives from the FY2024-25 FPA (including for organisational development).

Focus Areas

• Implementation of relevant policies under the EU Green Deal
• Implementation of the EU Nature and Water Framework Directives

These efforts aim to ensure the sustainable management of forests and river basins, and to maintain or improve the status of key species including large carnivores, bison and sturgeon.

Engagement with Authorities

We will engage national authorities to make ambitious pledges on meeting the following targets of the Biodiversity Strategy:

1. 30% protected areas
2. 10% strict protection

Climate Change Efforts

Climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts are focused on:

• National policy-making
• Biodiversity safeguards for renewable hydropower and biomass

We will also advocate for integrating biodiversity and climate targets into sectoral decision-making, including:

• Transportation and other infrastructure
• Forestry
• Water and basin management
• Funding measures under the Operational Programmes, the Common Agricultural Policy, and National Recovery and Resilience Plans

Advocacy and Public Engagement

In case our advocacy efforts are not successful, we will bring violations of EU environmental policies to the attention of:

• The EU Commission
• National courts
• The public

In support of these efforts and to mainstream environmental work in societies of CEE countries, we will engage the general public, especially youth, as well as businesses in taking action for biodiversity and climate.