The Van Tienhoven Foundation

The Van Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature Protection makes small grants available for the protection and conservation of threatened species and ecosystems across the globe.

Our mission & vision

We are concerned about life on earth, the well-being and maintenance of the variety of living organisms and their living environment. Human beings play a crucial role as actor and factor in biodiversity. We see people as instrumental in mitigating the pressures of global change on the living environment and biodiversity.

• We make small grants available to finance direct actions on species, ecosystem, and community managed nature protection that lead to change in policy and practice.
• We promote knowledge into the causes of threats and pressures on nature, in order to generate concrete actions that halt, counteract or mitigate these causes;
• We strive to influence and collaborate with governmental, non-governmental organisations, communities, individuals, and other relevant stakeholders for the sake of the conservation of nature.

Species protection

We consider protecting species essential for safeguarding our living environment.

Species protection

Animal and plant species are a key part of our planet’s biodiversity. Some species are “flagship species”. Other species can profit from their protection. Species can play a crucial role in the balance of a natural system: if these species disappear, that system may collapse.

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Ecosystem protection

We regard ecosystems as crucial in enabling life on earth to thrive.

Ecosystem protection

Key ecosystems, such as forests, coral reefs or wetlands, provide the living conditions for groups of species. These systems are under pressure, threatened and may require protection to prevent them from disappearing or deteriorating in a for living organisms less functional state.

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Community managed nature protection

We view direct community-led action vital for sustainable change.

Community managed nature protection

Involving communities in conserving biodiversity is essential if we want to succeed in safeguarding our environment. Only when communities see the benefit of stable species populations and ecosystems, we may achieve a world where humans live in harmony with nature, without threatening species, ecosystems, or local livelihoods.

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Donate

The Van Tienhoven Foundation (co-)sponsors projects with a maximum of € 10,000 through an annual call for proposals.

Donate

The Board

We are a Board geared towards supporting small grants for projects on species, ecosystem, and community managed nature protection. We manage a fund originating from the bequest of Pieter Gerbrand van Tienhoven. Membership of the Board is on a personal title and is unremunerated. Board members agree to act according to the vision of a sustainable world, where ecology, economy and social inclusion are (brought) in balance with each other. The Board is supported by an Assistant to the Board. We do not have an office and can therefore keep our overhead costs to a bare minimum. As Board, we strive to comply all our activities to the mission of the Van Tienhoven Foundation. This means all our financial investments should align with a vision to reach a sustainable world. We have entrusted our investments to the Triodos Bank and Van Lanschot in the Netherlands.

The Board consist of the following members:

We can be reached by email at applications@vantienhovenfoundation.com (Ms. Anne Maatman; assistant to the board).