National Species Assistance Programme

The National Species Assistance Programme (nAHP) is dedicated to the protection of species that are particularly affected by the expansion of renewable energy. Its funding is directed primarily towards projects that support these species and their habitats.

The objective of the nAHPnAHP is to achieve long-term improvements in the conservation status of various species, as well as in the quality and ecological connectivity of their habitats. In doing so, the programme is intended to accompany the expansion of renewable energy. To this end, it finances concrete, area-based conservation measures for species adversely affected by wind energy installations, solar parks, or grid expansion.

Effective species conservation depends on a robust evidence base, particularly with regard to habitat use, disturbance effects, and the effectiveness of compensatory measures. With funding provided by the BMUKN, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) supports research projects within the thematic field “Nature Conservation and Renewable Energy” that generate this knowledge and facilitate its practical application. The overview below brings together projects with a direct link to the National Species Assistance Programme (nAHP), ranging from studies on bats in forest ecosystems and the ecological impacts of specific solar installations to the development of innovative avoidance measures for onshore and offshore wind energy facilities. A complete list of nAHP projects is available on the BfN website