Nature protection
To protect nature from exploitation and destruction, Somaha Foundation advocates the diversity of species and their habitats, especially aquatic life.
Challenge
Nature is facing great challenges: Exploitation of land and sea, climate change, increasing pollution and the spread of invasive species are leading to a global loss of species and habitat diversity. Growing demand for resources is putting increasing pressure on natural ecosystems. In particular, water bodies and their biodiversity are under threat from pollution, construction and water abstraction.
Solution
Somaha Foundation supports the resilience of species and the regenerative capacity of habitats.
In pursuit of this, the foundation is committed on three levels:
- Supporting practical nature conservation to ensure ecological processes.
- Expanding (scientific) knowledge to deepen and share knowledge of ecological systems.
- Creating economic incentive structures to strengthen the sustainable use of resources.
Somaha Foundation collaborates with Swiss funding partners on a long-term basis. Within these institutional partnerships, Somaha Foundation focuses on the joint development of interventions to address specific challenges and, among other things, supports conceptual frameworks and structures. The goal is comprehensive capacity development in local organizations and ultimately their operational and financial self-determination.
In the theme of nature protection, funding requests can also be submitted for individual projects. The focus is primarily on innovative, hands-on projects, as well as projects requiring seed funding that address a recognized societal need.
Theory of Change
The theory of change explains in more detail how Somaha Foundation’s funding intends to contribute to the protection of nature from exploitation and destruction in line with the corresponding SDGs.
Somaha Foundation
Somaha Foundation deploys its resources through professional expertise, cross-sector relationships, and financial means. This way, it supports Swiss funding partners operating in Switzerland and abroad.
Swiss funding partners
Through the support of Somaha Foundation, Swiss funding partners can strenghten their quality, increase the relevance of their activities, and expand their reach. They implement their own projects or work with local organizations on a long-term basis.
Local organizations
In collaboration with Swiss funding partners, local organizations develop their capacities, thereby strengthening their leadership and resilience. By shifting decision-making power from a higher level to the local level, their self-determination is enhanced.
Local organizations develop, share, and apply their capacities in operational projects and programs. This takes place at three levels:
- At the first level, by implementing practical nature protection projects to conserve wildlife, manage invasive species, or connect habitats.
- At the second level, by expanding (scientific) knowledge through research and knowledge sharing.
- At the third level, by creating economic incentive structures. The aim is to encourage people and organizations to act in an ecologically sound manner.
Focusing on these three levels aims to strengthen the resilience of species and the regenerative capacity of habitats.
Outcome
In the theme of nature protection, Somaha Foundation aims to strengthen the resilience of species and the regenerative capacity of habitats:
- Supporting practical nature protection projects ensure ecological processes.
- Advancing (scientific) knowledge aims to generate and profound knowledge of ecological systems, which will then be disseminated.
- Creating economic incentive structures promotes the sustainable use of resources. Soil, water, air and biodiversity resources should be used in a way that ensures their long-term availability and health.
Impact
Somaha Foundation’s objective is to protect nature from exploitation and destruction. Through its funding, the Foundation contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land).