Financing Natura 2000 GUIDANCE HANDBOOK

Financing Natura 2000 GUIDANCE HANDBOOK Introduction Structure & content Example Outlook

INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOK: Part I: INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOK: Background What is it for? Who is it for? Benefits

Background The European Commission wishes to support all present and future Member States in using the options for Community co-financing of Natura 2000 in the period 2007-2013. Within this EU-wide tender project, two different types of support have been provided : Guidance Handbook „Financing Natura 2000“ in 22 languages Workshops in each Member State inc. Romania and Bulgaria (total of 36 workshops)

What is the handbook for? Financing Natura 2000 Guidance Handbook Points out funding possibilities across EU funds Addresses all potential groups of beneficiaries Identifies all categories of Natura funding needs Links all these elements in an user-friendly way Availability depends on national programming ! The handbook presents EU funding options that are, in principle, available in all Member States However, concrete funding possibilities for Natura 2000 will be determined by the national and regional programmes that will be prepared by the Member States.

Who is the handbook for? The Guidance Handbook is intended for authorities responsible for formulating national and regional programmes (2007-2013) authorities involved in the implementation of Natura 2000, especially the development of management plans for Natura 2000 sites stakeholders in potential target groups (beneficiaries, who carry out activities related to Natura 2000 sites)

Benefits of the handbook The Guidance Handbook should help To provide an overview on the opportunities for EU co-financing of Natura 2000 in the 2007-2013 funding period. To check whether all necessary Natura 2000 actions are provided for, and if all funding opportunities are being used to fully benefit from these possibilities To support the future review of programmes To give important background information for the development of management plans First step in an ongoing process Even if national programme planning for 2007-2013 is almost finalised, the handbook could assist better understanding and implementation of the integration approach of Natura 2000 co-funding in the longer term.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE HANDBOOK: Part II: STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE HANDBOOK: How to read the tables

ACTIVITY 18: RISK MANAGEMENT Structure and content Funding possibilites are presented in a series of tables for Natura 2000 management activities: 25 types of activities determined by an Expert Working Group on the European level (so-called “Article 8 Working Group”) Spread over 4 categories of funding needs: Finalisation of sites Management planning Ongoing habitat management and monitoring Investment costs ACTIVITY 18: RISK MANAGEMENT

List of 25 types of Natura 2000 activities Structure and content Administration of site selection process Scientific studies/inventories for the identification of sites Preparation of initial information and publicity material Pilot projects Preparation of management plans, strategies and schemes Establishment of management bodies Consultation – public meetings, liaison with landowners Review of management plans, strategies and schemes Running costs of management bodies (maintenance of buildings and equipment) Maintenance of facilities for public access to and use of the sites, interpretation works, observatories and kiosks etc. Staff (conservation/project officers, wardens/rangers, workers) Conservation management measures – maintenance and improvement of habitats’ favourable conservation status Conservation management measures – maintenance and improvement of species’ favourable conservation status Conservation management measures in relation to invasive alien species (IAS) Implementation of management schemes and agreements with owners and managers of land or water for following certain prescriptions Provision of services; compensation for rights foregone and loss of income; developing acceptability ‘liaison’ with neighbours Monitoring and surveying Risk management (fire prevention and control, flooding etc) Surveillance of the sites Provision of information and publicity material Training and education Facilities to encourage visitor use and appreciation of Natura 2000 sites Land purchase, including compensation for development rights Infrastructure needed for the restoration of habitat or species Infrastructure for public access, interpretation works, observatories and kiosks, etc List of 25 types of Natura 2000 activities

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples EU funds with references to the Articles of the EU Regulations : European Social Fund (ESF) European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Cohesion Fund (CF) European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD); European Fisheries Fund (EFF); Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE+); The 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7). (The Handbook also contains descriptions of the funds!)

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples Description of funding: Article’s subject (title) Article’s content (short description of co-funded measures)

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples Points out the potential beneficiaries (relevant to Natura 2000), that could have access to the funding option described : Public administrations Farmers Foresters Private landowners Public landowners Fishermen and Aquaculturalists Land managers NGOs SMEs Educational organisations Others

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples Points out for which types of Natura 2000 sites the funding could be relevant : Agricultural land Forests Other terrestrial land (including alpine areas, garigue) Inland waters (lakes, rivers) Wetlands (marshes, bogs, swamps, estuaries) Coastal areas (sand dunes, beaches, mud flats, inshore waters) Marine areas (offshore marine areas)

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples Points out possible area-related restrictions on eligibility, eg under the Funds related to regional development: Convergence Regions (Objective 1 Regions) Phasing-out Regions Phasing-in Regions Competitiveness and Employment Regions (Objective 2 and 3 Regions)

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples Points out any other restrictions or notes, eg: References to other articles for details of funding requirements Contextual information for funding Exclusion criteria (eg for LIFE+ funding)

Notes / other restrictions Structure and content Fund Description Target groups Land types Area restrictions Notes / other restrictions Examples Outlines possible examples of using the Article in managing Natura 2000 sites: Examples of how Community funds could be used to assist in various aspects of management. Several hypothetical large-scale conservation projects are described in the Handbook. Measures in the tables related to these projects are marked in this column, eg [bear], [agri-aqua], [river] .

EXAMPLE: How to use the Handbook from the practical point of view Part III: EXAMPLE: How to use the Handbook from the practical point of view

Example 3: [river] Aim of the hypothetical Natura 2000 project: Conservation of the richness of habitats and species alongside a cross-border river basin. Strategy: Sustainable river management by Protecting and surveying of sensitive areas Restoration of parts of the river Developing sustainable tourism activities Supporting awareness raising Transnational co-operation between the two countries involved

Example [river] Planned measure: Promotion of deadwood in the alluvial forest Installation of fish ladder Purchase of land for river restoration Monitoring of the dragonfly and locust populations Construction of a visitor centre Production of a leaflet Refers to activity: [12] Conservation management measures for habitats [24] Infrastructure needed for the restoration of habitats or species [23] Land purchase [17] Monitoring and surveying [25] Infrastructure for public access [20] Provision of information and publicity material

Example [river], activity [12] Measure: Promotion of deadwood in the alluvial forest ACTIVITY 12: CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT - HABITATS Funding opportunity: EAFRD

Example [river], activity [24] Measure: Installation of fish ladder ACTIVITY 24: INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED FOR THE RESTORATION OF HABITAT OR SPECIES Funding opportunity: EFF

Example [river], activity [23] Measure: Purchase of land for river restoration ACTIVITY 23: LAND PURCHASE , INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS Funding opportunity: LIFE+

Example [river], activity [17] Measure: Monitoring of the dragonfly and locust populations ACTIVITY 17: MONITORING AND SURVEYING Funding opportunity: FP7

Example [river], activity [25] Measure: Construction of a visitor centre ACTIVITY 25: : INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS Funding opportunity: CF

Example [river], activity [20] Measure: Production of a leaflet ACTIVITY 20: PROVISION OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY MATERIAL Funding opportunity: ERDF

Part IV: Outlook Handbook from the European Commission With this handbook it is hoped that actors involved in conservation projects will recognise the diverse opportunities available through the new integrated funding approach, but also the need to actively seek funds from a diverse range of sources. Support for national implementation However, concrete funding possibilities for Natura 2000 in 2007-2013 will be determined by the national and regional programmes that will be prepared by the Member States. This Handbook is therefore not intended to be a replacement for carrying out local research on funding opportunities. But it should give managers a good starting point.

Part IV: Outlook Many approaches possible As pointed out in the introduction, the handbook is not only intended to be used by Natura 2000 project-managers, but also by authorities responsible for formulating national and regional programmes as well as potential beneficiaries (eg farmers, foresters) whose land may be designated as part of the Natura 2000 network. So: let us make the best of the Guidance Handbook !