Why we consider that funding of Natura 2000 and nature conservation is important?

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1 Speaker: Jesús Díez Vázquez Natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León (Spain) Financing Nature Conservation: necessity or affordable luxury? Why we consider that funding of Natura 2000 and nature conservation is important? If we agree that biodiversity and nature conservation is important, then financing is a necessity: û because in Europe, a big proportion of habitats and species are the result of the traditional management of land, forest and water through sustainable practices that are not competitive in a global market û because pressure of economic or leisure activities over the natural resources is increasing (we must invest more in restoration or compensatory measures) û because we have new challenges that means new financing requirements: Adaptation to climate change = changes in habitats, species behaviour, feeding and breeding 1

2 But Funding has not been/is not an easy issue We have found several problems in the last years: ß Convergence Regions (Objective 1 in previous frameworks) have many other development priorities which consume a big amount of resources: the priority is to guarantee the compatibility of those projects with nature conservation. ß Local People, mainly farmers and forest owners, doesn't perceive nature conservation as an advantage in a global market. Funds have been focused in the increase of competitiveness and due to it funds assigned to extensification have not contributed to halt depopulation and abandonment of traditional / non competitive uses of the territory in the convergence regions. And problems our Region faces now.. Natura 2000 sites entails the management of 2,5 Million Has in the region of Castilla and Leon Castilla y León: km 2 Portugal: km 2 A region larger than 1 Member States of the UE And now we are considered by the Cohesion Policy as a competitiveness region Usually less developed regions have the highest rate of biodiversity and Natura 2000 sites 2

3 Our Point of View: ß Financing nature conservation not only means financing direct management and monitoring actions ß The current integration approach for co-financing Natura 2000 using different EU Funds has shown it is not enough to guarantee the conservation status (maybe we have not implemented it as it would have been possible) ß Business and biodiversity must be explored as a key partnership to guarantee conservation status of sites and species Financing nature conservation not only means financing direct management and monitoring actions,..usually it also means financing local development. Many specific habitats actually exist due to the traditional management of crops, pastures, water or forests and the main risk for the conservation status is that local people are changing that sustainable management to a more competitive system. On other sites, due to the poor quality of life, young people are moving from the agri-forest sector to the tourism sector or to the cities (mainly in the new Member States). Loss of managers of the land means loss of biodiversity So if we want to preserve the conservation status of these habitats and species, we must guarantee the maintenance of these traditional management systems of land and water and must increase quality of life and opportunities for local population, and the question is how?

4 The current integration approach for co-financing Natura 2000 using different EU Funds has shown inadequate for its purpose. We have many successful experiences and lessons learned about the implementation of EU Funds, but may be, we have not done all we could under this approach. EU Agriculture Policy is in fact the key instrument for financing Natura 2000 sites management specially where conservation status is directly linked to the maintenance of traditional uses of the land and water (extensive farming..). But despite the positive impact of the rules and measures adopted and successful stories it has shown insufficient due to the small portion of funds directly linked to Natura 2000 sites. This link must be clearer in some specific areas as the agri-enviroment measures, for instance approving measures clearly defied in Natura 2000 management plans. Concerning Cohesion Policy, integration approach must be used in a more innovative way, mainly through the use of technological and R+D funds for environmental purposes but also using the Social European Fund for involving the stakeholders, and creating jobs and capacity building in Natura 2000 sites. Despite the importance of EU funding for Natura 2000 and biodiversity, a key element is to involve also the private sector. Business and biodiversity must be explored as a key partnership to guarantee conservation status of sites and species not only through management measures but also through restoration (mining areas..). Corporate Social Responsibility could be focused on biodiversity but also access to the management and restoration of lands owned by private companies is a key element. And additionally, in some specific cases enterprises could pay for environmental services they received from local population or from society (hydro-power enterprises for the services provided for forest managers protecting dams..). 4

5 Practical Examples: Environment and Quality of Life Visitor Centers are not only for visitors Integration approach: use of the technological Funds (ERDF): Efficiency: smart use of the ERDF Rehabilitation of historical buildings in rural areas 1.- Participative web site: - where local population and entrepreneurs can show their activities, events and services to visitors New use as Visitor Center Other uses: services to local population (cultural, social meetings, training, dissemination activities cofinanced by the ESF..) -where visitors have access to information of the natural area, resources, products and services. 2.- Environmental information Center (regional network).- Access to Internet Broad Band and WI-FI Practical Examples: Public-Private Partnership in Castilla y Leon Budgetary impact after years in nature conservation:2010 Our Strategy: Investement in M 1.- Create a public entity to adress CSR policies towards biodiversity: The natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y Leon 2.- Create a bank of nature conservation projects available to enterprises.- Ensure the future viability of projects Re g ional Gove rne m e nt Biodive rs ity Public Us e Natural He ritage Foundation (Donors ) Othe rs 5

6 Practical Examples: Bonelli Eagle Management Plan Partnership: ß Natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y Leon (Public Body) ß IBERDROLA EnergyEnterprise ß Terra Iberica NGO Budget: 1,2 M 2008/2011 Management Activities: ß Monitoring of the Bonelli Eagle ß Assessment of prey species ß management of habitat of prey species ß assessment of dangerous power lines ß agreements with farmers and land owners Conclusions 1.- If we want to preserve / increase our biodiversity we must accept to finance and pay for it. 2.- We need a clear budgetary commitment of the European Union to finance Natura 2000, as a key issue in order to achieve the target of territorial cohesion..- Integration approach could be fit for purpose if it is implemented in an innovative way. 4.- Rural Development Policy must be addressed more into the environmental targets (increasing the direct allocation of funds to Natura 2000, defining agri-environment measures as part of Natura 2000 management plans. 5.- Public-Private partnership as a result of the Social Corporate Responsibility must be enhanced.