Call for citizen science and community projects in Vilnius: up to EUR 5000 for environmental education

Vilnius City Municipality has announced the 2026 call of the Environmental Education Support Programme. It is a relevant opportunity for communities, non-governmental organisations, associations, public and budgetary institutions to implement environmental and citizen science projects in the capital.

Key information in brief

Application period: 9 January 2026 - 23 February 2026
Maximum amount per project: up to EUR 5000
Project implementation: in 2026
Final report: by 10 December 2026
Who can apply: non-profit legal entities
Per organisation: one application

Project activities, services, authors' fees and other justified costs are funded. Salaries are not funded, but up to 10 per cent may be budgeted for project management. Costs are reimbursed on submission of payment requests, without waiting for the end of the project.

Why does this matter for citizen science?

This programme openly invites city residents to become active participants in getting to know the environment: to collect data, observe, analyse, learn and act together. Most of the themes fit directly with citizen science principles: an open logic of data collection, community involvement and practical benefit for the city.

2026 themes and possible citizen science directions

1. Invisible pollution: air and noise
Air and noise pollution strongly affect quality of life, although they often go unnoticed. Possible activities:

community air and noise measurements near schools or residential buildings
data analysis and public discussion of the data
maps of the city soundscape
experiments and observations on a clean air street

2. Biodiversity in the city
The city is a living ecosystem that faces serious threats today. Particular attention is paid to invasive species. Possible directions:

recording invasive species and creating maps
citizen science projects with schools and communities
turning the grounds of apartment blocks or educational institutions into oases of biodiversity

3. The city in the forest and the forest in the city
Vilnius is a city of forests, so applicants are invited to explore urban forests as complex ecosystems:

observations of urban forests
community initiatives for getting to know and caring for forests
the forest as a learning space

4. The city by the river: protection of rivers and waters
The Neris and the Vilnelė are important corridors of life in the city. Possible activities:

water quality observations
educational hikes and studies of river habitats
citizen science clean-up events for the protection of riverbanks

5. Community nature experts
This theme is intended to strengthen local competences:

programmes of training and hands-on sessions
knowledge transfer to communities and schools
joint projects with scientists and environmental experts

6. Residents' science for environmental protection: the city as a living laboratory
The theme is directly oriented towards citizen science:

air, water and biodiversity observations
work with digital platforms, e.g. iNaturalist
collecting urban environmental data and using it in education

The Lithuanian Citizen Science Association encourages communities and organisations to take up this opportunity. If you have an idea that combines getting to know the environment, data collection and residents' involvement, this call is particularly well suited to it.

More information is available on the Vilnius City Municipality web page.