What Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme does

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme (ELSP) is a Cambridge-based, Arcadia-funded grant-making conservation initiative that supports large-scale ecosystem restoration across Europe. Founded in 2019 and managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, the programme operates as a portfolio orchestrator with a small core staff of six, deploying capital through a competitive grant process to a network of 30+ partner NGOs, universities, and government agencies. Its portfolio spans 13 active restoration projects in 12 countries — including the UK, Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, and Belarus — covering forests, grasslands, wetlands, saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, and offshore marine ecosystems. Reported outcomes include 204,955 hectares of land and sea under direct restoration, 160,000 hectares of new protection status, an 80% reduction in illegal fishing in Gökova Bay, 1,145 marine patrols in 2023, and 36+ Mediterranean monk seals recorded in project areas.

ELSP's core "products" are not commercial offerings but structured programmatic instruments: Restoration Projects (large-scale, multi-year land and seascape restoration such as Transforming the Thames, Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya, and Iron Curtain to Green Belt), Enabling Projects (knowledge and capacity work including Nature Positive Enterprises and the Sustainable Use toolkit), Science & Monitoring (peer-reviewed research, KPIs, and a Monitoring Hub), and Resources & Toolkits (practitioner guidance). The technical stack is science-based and monitoring-heavy: adaptive management frameworks, GPS-tracked marine ranger patrols, solar-powered underwater monitoring stations, and AI-assisted individual animal identification. The programme does not sell products or services; revenue is almost entirely grant income from Arcadia Fund — a $72 million Phase 3 gift was announced in 2023, with $25 million deployed to seven new seascape projects in February 2025 and $28 million in co-funding secured from third parties by September 2022.

Name

Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme

Legal name

Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme

Website

https://endangeredlandscapes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme is a Cambridge-based, Arcadia-funded grant-making initiative that supports large-scale ecosystem restoration across Europe through a portfolio of 13+ landscape and seascape projects in 12 countries, serving conservation NGOs, local communities, and government agencies as grantees and partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Grant Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD)

Keywords

• Ecosystem restoration
• Landscape conservation
• Seascape restoration
• Habitat restoration
• Biodiversity conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Grant funding from Arcadia: Primary funding from Arcadia Fund, a charitable foundation. In 2023, Arcadia announced a $72 million gift to support a third phase of restoration projects, with over $30 million dedicated specifically to seascape restoration.
2. Co-funding from projects: Projects supported by the programme secure co-funding from other sources, with $28 million in co-funding secured by September 2022 across the portfolio.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme is a grant-making conservation initiative that funds and manages a portfolio of large-scale landscape and seascape restoration projects across Europe. It provides competitive grants to conservation NGOs and partner organizations for ecosystem restoration, supports scientific monitoring of ecological recovery, and builds practitioner capacity through knowledge-sharing toolkits and enabling projects. The programme is funded primarily by Arcadia Fund and operates as a portfolio of restoration initiatives rather than a single commercial offering.

Product overview

The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme is a conservation initiative managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in partnership with Arcadia. It operates as a portfolio of restoration programmes rather than a single unified product, encompassing: Restoration Projects (large-scale landscape and seascape restoration across Europe), Enabling Projects (collaborative initiatives advancing knowledge and removing barriers to recovery), Science & Monitoring (evidence-based approaches with peer-reviewed research), Resources & Toolkits (practical guidance for practitioners), and Communications campaigns including Restoration Works. The portfolio includes active restoration projects such as the Solent Seascape Project (UK), Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya (Türkiye), Transforming the Thames (UK), Iron Curtain to Green Belt (Bulgaria), Kakheti Steppes (Georgia), and planning grants like Racha-Likhi Ridge (Georgia).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Restoration Projects Large-scale landscape and seascape restoration initiatives across Europe, supporting ecosystem recovery in degraded habitats. Each project is funded through a competitive grant and executed by partner conservation organizations, with support from the programme's science and monitoring framework. Projects include the Solent Seascape Project (UK), Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya (Türkiye), Transforming the Thames (UK), Iron Curtain to Green Belt (Bulgaria), Kakheti Steppes (Georgia), Iori River Valley (Georgia), Northern Cyprus, Central Apennines (Italy), Danube Wilderness (Hungary), and Sejerø Bay (Denmark).
• Enabling Projects Collaborative initiatives that advance knowledge, inspire creative engagement with nature, and remove barriers to large-scale ecosystem recovery across Europe. Includes Nature Positive Enterprises (building capacity in nature-positive enterprise development in Kakheti, Georgia and Sakar, Bulgaria) and the sustainable use toolkit project led by TRAFFIC with FairWild Foundation, BGCI, and IUCN SSC/CEESP.
• Science & Monitoring Evidence-based restoration supported by monitoring programmes, peer-reviewed research, and experimental approaches to track ecological recovery indicators across the portfolio. Includes the Monitoring Hub, Key Performance Indicators, and adaptive management support for funded projects.
• Resources & Toolkits Peer-reviewed papers, guidance documents, and practitioner toolkits for landscape and seascape-scale restoration for restoration practitioners and partner organizations. Includes toolkits on sustainable use of wild plants and fungi, nature-positive enterprises, and partnership development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 153,000 hectares of restoration delivered by September 2022
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Mayors of EuropesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Network organization partnering with Rewilding Europe through an ELSP Advancing Restoration Knowledge grant to support wildlife comeback through local leadership.
• Cambridge Conservation InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe programme is managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) in partnership with Arcadia. CCI brings together the collective expertise of its member organizations for conservation research and practice.
• Fauna & FloracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFauna & Flora leads the Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya project in Türkiye, working with Akdeniz Koruma Derneği. Also leads the Nature Positive Enterprises project providing toolkit resources for restoration practitioners.
• Akdeniz Koruma Derneği (Mediterranean Conservation Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKD (Mediterranean Conservation Society) co-leads the Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya project with Fauna & Flora, implementing marine protection and restoration along 500 km of Türkiye's Mediterranean coast.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSL leads the Transforming the Thames project to restore the Greater Thames Estuary. The five-year project brings together 20 partners to restore coastal habitats.
• Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSPB (BirdLife Bulgaria) leads the Iron Curtain to Green Belt project in Southeast Bulgaria, restoring ecological networks across 810,000 hectares of steppe landscape.
• SABUKO (Society for Nature Conservation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSABUKO leads the Iori River Valley and Kakheti Steppes projects in Georgia, and the Racha-Likhi Ridge planning project. Key partner for grassland and steppe restoration in the Caucasus region.
• Blue Marine FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Marine Foundation leads the Solent Seascape Project in the UK, the UK's first large-scale seascape restoration initiative. Also leads the Amvrakikos Gulf project in Greece.
• UNEP-WCMCsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProject partner for the Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya project, providing technical support for marine ecosystem monitoring and assessment.
• Ege UniversitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in the Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya project, providing scientific research support for marine ecosystem restoration.
• Bangor UniversitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner providing research expertise for the Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya marine restoration project.
• Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and ForestrysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment partner supporting marine protection efforts, designation of protected areas, and policy alignment for the Türkiye marine restoration project.
• University of PortsmouthsupportingTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner for the Solent Seascape Project, providing scientific monitoring and marine science expertise for oyster reef restoration.
• Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for the Solent Seascape Project, leading seagrass restoration efforts including seed collection and planting in the River Hamble.
• RSPBsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner for the Solent Seascape Project, contributing to seabird nesting habitat restoration and breeding success monitoring.
• Project SeagrasssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for the Solent Seascape Project, providing expertise in seagrass restoration and monitoring.
• Natural EnglandsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment partner for the Solent Seascape Project, providing regulatory guidance and conservation expertise for habitat restoration.
• Environment AgencysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment partner for the Solent Seascape Project, supporting reef restoration work and environmental management.
• Rewilding RhodopessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Iron Curtain to Green Belt project, contributing to rewilding efforts in the Rhodope Mountains region of Bulgaria.
• TRAFFICsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the Enhancing Restoration Through Sustainable Use project, developing a toolkit for practitioners on sustainable wild plant and fungi use in landscape restoration.
• FairWild FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the sustainable use toolkit project, contributing expertise on sustainable wild species harvesting standards.
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the sustainable use toolkit project, contributing to the Global Biodiversity Standard and restoration certification guidance.
• IUCN SSC/CEESPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the sustainable use toolkit project through the Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group.
• BirdLife Europe & Central AsiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Kakheti Steppes project in Georgia and the Lemnos Island restoration project in Greece.
• Doggerland FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Rewilding the Dogger Bank project, restoring marine ecosystems across UK, Netherlands, Germany, and Danish waters spanning 2.5 million hectares.
• Society for Protection of Turtles (SPOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Rewild Cyprus Seas project in Northern Cyprus, working to establish No Take Zones and restore seabird nesting sites.
• WWF DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Sejerø Seascape project in Denmark, restoring eelgrass meadows, mussel beds, and stone reefs in Sejerø Bay.
• Hellenic Ornithological SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Lemnos Island restoration project, contributing ornithological expertise and local conservation knowledge.
• WWF MediterraneancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Southern Apulia Seascape restoration project in Italy, restoring seagrass meadows and developing no-take zones along 190 km of coastline.
• Rewilding EuropesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Accelerating Coexistence project, developing guidelines for human-wildlife coexistence across Europe and partnering with Mayors of Europe.
• Turkish Coast GuardsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment enforcement partner for marine protection in Türkiye, collaborating with marine rangers on patrol and compliance activities.
• WWF UKsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Racha-Likhi Ridge planning project, supporting ecological corridor assessment in Georgia.
• NACRESsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Racha-Likhi Ridge planning project, contributing to conservation planning in the Caucasus region.
• Society for Protection of Turtles (SPOT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Northern Cyprus seascape project, implementing turtle conservation and marine protection efforts.
• UIDP SlivensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal development partner in the Iron Curtain to Green Belt project, supporting community engagement in Southeast Bulgaria.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF national offices (Denmark, Mediterranean, UK, Italy) lead multiple ELSP-funded seascape and landscape projects. WWF is a broad incumbent in ecosystem conservation and a major grantmaking and implementing organisation across Europe and globally.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest global conservation NGOs, TNC conducts large-scale landscape and marine restoration globally using science-based, monitoring-driven methods comparable to ELSP's approach, but at substantially greater geographic and financial scale.
• BirdLife International: BirdLife Europe & Central Asia and partner organisations lead several ELSP projects (Kakheti Steppes, Lemnos, Iron Curtain to Green Belt via BSPB). BirdLife is a global avian and habitat conservation incumbent with comparable science-led restoration programmes.
• Conservation International: Conservation International is a global environmental NGO with large-scale, science-based ecosystem restoration programmes and partnerships with corporate and philanthropic funders — a broader-incumbent peer to ELSP in mission and grantmaking scale.
• Fauna & Flora: Fauna & Flora is both an ELSP project lead (Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya, Nature Positive Enterprises) and a global conservation incumbent operating across 40+ countries. It is a comparable grant-recipient and partner, with significantly larger scope.

Direct peers

• Wetlands International: Wetlands International is a specialist NGO focused on wetland and coastal habitat restoration globally, overlapping directly with ELSP's saltmarsh, seagrass, and estuarine restoration portfolio (e.g., Thames Estuary, Solent).
• Open Rivers Programme: Also funded by Arcadia and managed alongside ELSP, the Open Rivers Programme restores riverine ecosystems across Europe. ELSP's own website highlights overlapping geographies and complementary restoration work with this programme, making it a direct structural peer.
• Blue Marine Foundation: Blue Marine Foundation leads two ELSP-funded seascape restoration projects (Solent, Amvrakikos Gulf) and is itself a marine-focused conservation grantmaker. It is a direct peer in marine seascape restoration methodology and project scale.
• Rewilding Europe: Rewilding Europe operates large-scale, landscape-level ecosystem restoration across the continent and is also an ELSP project partner (Accelerating Coexistence). It is the closest direct peer in mission, geography, and restoration scale across European landscapes.

Emerging players

• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): ZSL leads ELSP's Transforming the Thames project and runs conservation and species recovery programmes globally. As a science-led, restoration-implementing organisation, it is comparable in technical approach though narrower in thematic focus than ELSP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8kRbHkplGk4
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/endangered-landscapes-and-seascapes-programme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme