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Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme
Introduction
The Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme (CCFS) was launched in 2019 to provide financial support to local non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) and villagers for organising diverse and innovative conservation activities or projects in the countryside (except Lantau Island) based on an interactive and co-operative approach.
There are four types of projects, namely the Nature Conservation Management Agreement Projects, Formulation of Proposals on Restoration of Built Heritage, Cultural Rehabilitation/Revitalisation Projects and Research Activities on Countryside Conservation and Revitalisation.
A new project type entitled Proactive Conservation (PC) was introduced under the CCFS in February 2023, with a view to deepening the sustainable conservation and revitalisation efforts for the countryside. Different from the prevailing four project types which are initiated by NPOs, the PC projects are initiated by the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) in collaboration with relevant Government Bureaux/Departments to proactively identify sites worthy of conservation, and implement targeted conservation work. The PC projects would be run by NPOs, selection of which follows the established procurement and tendering procedures of the Government.
CCFS Application
Local NPOs which want to apply for funding support under the CCFS to implement any of the above types of projects in eligible sites can submit the completed Application Form with relevant supporting documents to the Secretariat of the CCFS. Please note the cut-off date of application submission announced in the What's New of the CCFS webpage. Please refer to the Guide to Application (Version 1.8, Sep 2024) for the eligible sites for implementation of projects under the CCFS.
Nature Conservation Management Agreement (MA) projects must contribute to enhancing the ecological or nature conservation of the sites concerned through management agreements between local non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) and landowners and/or tenants. Under these agreements, NPOs may provide landowners and/or tenants with financial incentives in exchange for management rights over their land or their cooperation in enhancing ecological or nature conservation of the priority sites for enhanced conservation, private land in country park enclaves or in country parks.
Application Form for MA Projects (Version 1.7, Sep 2023)Opens in a new window
Formulation of Proposals on Restoration of Built Heritage (BH) projects aim at formulating proposals on how to restore/revitalise the target built heritage, which should include relevant studies that support the feasibility of the proposals. Proposals for funding for the reinstatement/restoration of built heritage that could bring significant benefits to the community and general public will also be considered.
Application Form for BH Projects (Version 1.7, Sep 2023)Opens in a new window
Cultural Rehabilitation / Revitalisation (CR) projects aim at enhancing public appreciation and awareness in cultural conservation of the target cultural assets, which should be unique or representative to the local community of the site under application.
Application Form for CR Projects (Version 1.7, Sep 2023)Opens in a new window
Research Activities (RA) projects on Countryside Conservation and Revitalisation should aim at harnessing the local and/or overseas experience and knowledge and injecting novel solutions and elements to tackle local challenges on remote countryside conservation and revitalisation.
Application Form for RA Projects (Version 1.7, Sep 2023)Opens in a new window
Implementation
For ALL projects, the applicant shall, within one month after the commencement of the project, submit an inception report to the Secretariat. For every six months of the project period, the applicants of the CCFS have to provide a half-yearly progress report and a statement of account with projected expenditure once every six months to the Secretariat. For every year of the project period, they have to additionally provide an annual account audited by Certified Public Accountants (CPA) (practising). When the project is completed, a completion report covering the whole project period and a final audited account. All disbursements will be subject to the progress and satisfactory performance of the project.
Report Form
Statement of Account
Auditor's Report
Logo Application
Both the name and logo of the CCFS and the CCO must be acknowledged in all publicity events and activities related to the CCFS projects, the requirements laid down in Logo Application Manual should be followed and hashtags of the CCFS and the CCO should be included in social media posts (e.g. Facebook and Instagram) related to the CCFS projects.