EU FUNDING OF NATURA 2000

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EU FUNDING OF NATURA 2000

• Graham Bennett

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PHARE PROJECT CZECH REPUBLICImplementation of
Natura 2000

• March 2004September 2005
• Main partners DDH (DK) DHV (CR) Palacký
  University Olomouc (CR) Syzygy (NL) IEEP
  (UK) Ecosystems Ltd (B)
• First phase overview of implementation issues in
  EU member states
• Main work at 15 demonstration sites
  guidelines for managing Natura 2000 sites and
  capacity-building training communication,
  management planning, monitoring, impact
  assessment etc. awareness-raising of local
  communities and visitors

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NATURA COSTS THAT CAN BE CO-FUNDED

• Total costs EU-25 6 billion/year e.g.
  Hessen 100/ha/year some countries provide up
  to 100 funding, e.g. Spain conservation
  measures in SCIs
• Administrative costs of establishing Natura 2000
  e.g. site selection process
• Management of the Natura 2000 network e.g.
  annual payments to farmers and land owners
• Capital investment and infrastructure
  development e.g. land purchase, site
  restoration measures and visitor facilities
• Compensation payments e.g. withdrawing
  existing development permission

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EU FUNDING INSTRUMENTS FOR NATURA

• European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
  (EAGGF)
• The Structural Funds (and Cohesion Fund)
• LIFE

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EAGGF

• Rural Development Regulation 1257/99 provides
  co-funding for environmentally friendly
  farming farming under restrictions in Natura
  2000 areas forestry practices in rural areas,
  including improving their ecological status
• Approximately 4.5 billion/year available for all
  rural development measures
• Examples France agri-env. payments max.
  27,000/farm/year, rural development
  payments 357233,000 (50) Germany rural
  development 150450/ha/year (50)

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STRUCTURAL FUNDS

• Aim provide co-funding for investment and
  capital expenditure to promote socio-economic
  cohesion
• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
  investments for Natura 2000 measures and schemes
  (as contribution to economic development), e.g.
  site plans
• European Social Fund (ESF) training and
  employment schemes, e.g. for Natura 2000 site
  employees
• LEADER enhance natural and cultural heritage,
  e.g. through survey work, management planning,
  management actions and promotion of Natura 2000
  sites Hessen LEADER provided 34 of 2.9
  million
• INTERREG III transboundary projects in Natura
  sites

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LIFE

• Current programme LIFE III-Nature (up to 2006)
• Wide range of actions supported, such as
  development of national inventories of habitats
  and species of Community interest
  development of management plans or management
  guidelines for Natura 2000 sites concrete
  actions for the management of the sites
  awareness-raising activities
• Site must be designated (about 10 of sites
  benefit)
• Examples UK habitat restoration 50 of 8
  million France co-funding max. 75 priority
  species and habitats Germany Biosphere
  Reserve 75 of 2 million
• Now too late for 2006 application

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FUNDING PROPOSALS FOR 20072013

• Funding for Natura 2000 should be provided
  through major EU funds, not separate fund
• Current proposal land management funding for
  Natura 2000 from European Agricultural Fund
  for Rural Development (EAFRD), including
  specific payments for Natura sites ERDF and
  ESF available to support Natura 2000,
  particularly in economically disfavoured
  areas (70 of funds to regions under 75 EU
  average income) some funds for Natura 2000
  through new LIFE Implementation and
  Governance and Information and Communication