1. Financing Natura 2000 - Cost estimate and benefits of Natura 2000
C. Kocman (EC)
M. Kettunen (on behalf of the consortium)
Coordination Group for Biodiversity & Nature
27 June 08
Borschette Centre, Brussels

2. Objective & tasks of the project
Support the Commission to ensure adequate financing for Natura 2000 network
Increase awareness of the socio-economic benefits associated with N2K
Parts / tasks
1. Updating and refining the costs estimate of the N2K financial needs
2. Providing good practise examples of using the “integrated Community co-financing model” for N2K sites
Developing methodology to investigate socio-economic benefits of N2K
Duration: Jan 08 – Jun 09
By: IEEP, WWF & RSPB

3. Part 1: N2000 cost estimate Lead: RSPB Objective
Update and refine the costs estimate of the N2K financial needs
Tasks
Design a questionnaire (with guidance) to collect MS data
e.g. one off & reoccurring costs
planning, investment, management, monitoring …
Support to MS to complete the questionnaire
Note: analysis & summary of the submitted data will be done by the Commission

4. Part 2: N2000 good practice examples
Lead: WWF
Objective:
Provide documented examples of N2K sites where EU co-financing has been used in a successful and innovative manner
Tasks
Identify N2K financing “good practise” examples in the EU
10 of identified examples will be selected for further documentation & analysis (e.g. lessons learned)
if possible, a balanced representation of different MS
Good practise:
successful management through the use of several major EU funds
not only LIFE+

5. Part 3: Socio-economic benefits of N2000
Lead: IEEP, case studies RSPB & WWF
Objective
Develop a standard approach / methodology (with guidance) to systematically identify & evaluate different socio-economic benefits provided by N2K site
Target audience: ! practitioners !
Tasks
literature review
development of a methodological toolkit
application of the toolkit to five case studies
refining the toolkit based on lessons learned

6. Part 3: Socio-economic benefits of N2000
Underlying ideas & building blocks
Benefits to be looked at:
benefits arising from N2K ecosystem services (ES)
benefits arising from the “existence” of the site
(e.g. secondary /induced effects of visitor and employee spending that cannot be directly linked with ES)
Providing “benefit by benefit” / “ES by ES” guidance on how to identify / quantify / monetise socio-economic benefits
All possible ES / benefits provided by N2K sites to be considered
(i.e. not only tourism!)
Qualitative, quantitative & monetary aspects & evaluation methods included
Guidance to combine / aggregate different benefits (e.g. monetary values) to come up with overall estimates for site’s benefits will be provided

7. Cooperation with Member States
Cooperation with MS seen as an important element of the project !
MS working group has been established to support the developments (Tasks 1 & 2 in particular)
First meeting 18 July 08 (suggested)
Main task: to discuss & agree on the Task 1 questionnaire

8. Where are we now & what next?
Task 1 – cost estimate
Draft questionnaire has been developed & sent to MS working group for comments
Aim: Q to be sent out by end of July 08 to all MS
Aim: responses from MS during autumn
Task 2 – good practise
Request of info sent to MS working group & also several to WWF partners
Collecting “long list” of potential examples close to finalisation
Decision of 10 examples end of July 08 (interim report)
Task 3 – N2K benefits
Literature review ongoing – finalised by end of July 08 (interim report)
Aim: methodological toolkit ready Oct 08
Aim: testing toolkit at case study sites Oct / Nov 08 – Mar 09

9. Andreas Baumueller & Alberto Arroyo Schnell
Thank you!
Consortium:
Marianne Kettunen
Paul Morling
Andreas Baumueller & Alberto Arroyo Schnell
(c) BBC news
(c) Guardian
(c) S. Simis
(c) SMILEY N. POOL/DMN