Tuscany Environment Foundation

Aim

TEF works to protect and restore Tuscany’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems by empowering the most effective grassroots initiatives.

Climate change, unsustainable resource use and pollution are driving the loss of nature everywhere — and Tuscany is no exception. Droughts, floods, landslides and extreme storms are becoming more frequent and devastating.

Across Tuscany, many inspiring grassroots groups are already working hard to restore forests, protect rivers, and conserve threatened species. But too often, these local champions lack the resources and guidance they need to scale up their efforts.

That’s where TEF comes in. We connect these initiatives with funding and expert advice, helping them grow, replicate and deliver lasting environmental and socio-economic benefits.

How We Work
 We carefully select projects that can deliver measurable results:

• Tangible impact: real, evidence-based improvements on the ground.
• Scalability: the potential to expand or be replicated, multiplying benefits for nature and communities.

Beyond funding, our Advisory Board of leading scientists and technical experts helps these organisations strengthen their projects and maximise their impact.

Since 2021, TEF has awarded over € 200,000 to 16 projects and initiatives.  

You can see projects and initiatives awarded by TEF HERE

Why Donate
Every donation to TEF supports local people on the frontlines of nature protection. By combining rigorous project selection with hands-on support, we ensure that your contribution has the greatest possible impact — protecting and regenerating Tuscany’s environment for the benefit of both nature and people.

Examples of some TEF success stories include:

• a grant to monitor and protect marine turtle nests; 
• a programme focused on sea-grass meadows, critical for marine biodiversity and carbon capture;
• a successfully campaign at the national and European level for the protection of beavers in Central Italy;
• a citizens' science project recording butterflies and bees of Tuscany to protect them; 
• a wetland restoration project in Sant’Antonio Forest; 
• significant progress in reducing marine plastic pollution in the fishing industry.

From clockwise: a turtle hatchling PC Marco Brandi; TEF and Marevivo giving reusable boxes to fishermen in Marina di Carrara; Posidonia meadows in Talamone Bay; a "cabbage butterfly" PC Giacomo Radi.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 20th January 2027 at 1:00pm