The largest programme of Switzerland’s cohesion contribution to the Czech Republic was launched on November 21, 2024. The event marking the start of the "Sustainable Tourism and Biodiversity" (BIO) programme, worth around 1 billion Czech Crowns (CHF 38.4 million), was attended by Czech and Swiss government representatives, as well as key stakeholders from the fields of science, environment, and tourism.
The overarching goal of the new cooperation programme is to reduce the pressure on ecosystems in the national parks and protected areas of the Czech Republic. The programme consists of two main pillars: the first aims to improve the management of visitor flows in protected areas. By controlling tourism activities more effectively, the programme seeks to alleviate the pressure on valuable ecosystems. The second pillar focuses on connecting isolated ecosystems and restoring watercourses and water networks that are important for biodiversity. The aim is to secure habitats for animals and plants and to halt the decline of biodiversity.
In addition, smaller projects will be supported as part of the programme, focusing on specific topics such as local conservation initiatives or research on sustainable tourism.
The programme follows a bottom-up approach: projects should, where possible, be initiated locally and closely aligned with the needs of the local population. Local knowledge and needs will be leveraged to achieve the best possible results for conservation and sustainable development.
Calls for Proposals and Project Selection
At the same time as the programme launch, a call was issued to interested parties wishing to participate in the application processes for the two pillars of “Sustainable Tourism” and “Biodiversity.” Over the coming months, suitable projects will be selected for implementation in various regions of the Czech Republic by 2029. The call offers an exciting opportunity for organizations, research institutions, and local initiatives to contribute to environmental protection and the promotion of responsible tourism.
