Cohesion policy investing in biodiversity Mathieu Fichter Team leader "Sustainable Growth" European Commission - DG REGIO

Content 1) Biodiversity in the current cohesion policy 2) Biodiversity in the proposal for the 2014-2020 cohesion policy 3) Project examples

Biodiversity in the 2007-13 cohesion policy

Cohesion Policy 2007-13 Cohesion Policy 07-13 European Regional (€ 348 billion) European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Cohesion Fund European Social Fund (ESF) DG REGIO DG EMPLOYMENT

Investments into 'environment' in 2007-13 Cohesion Policy € 105 billion for the environment over 2007-2013 € 54 B on 'environmental services': waste & water management, nature & biodiversity protection, risk prevention € 48 B on 'low-carbon': clean transport, energy efficiency & renewables € 3 B on eco-innovation in SMEs 30% of total available funding 2007-2013

Investments Nature protection & biodiversity seen through the concept of ‘ecosystem services’ Direct support to nature/biodiversity (including Natura 2000) : € 3,9 billion (promotion of biodiversity and natural assets and nature protection) Indirect support to nature/biodiversity: € 19.3 billion (waste water treatment, rehabilitation of contaminated sites, natural risk prevention) This amount is leveraged by national contributions!

Biodiversity in the proposal for the 2014-2020 cohesion policy

Cohesion policy 2014-20: mission & goals Adoption of EC proposal on 06/10/2010 COM(2011) 615 Mission: reduce disparities between Europe's regions strengthening economic, social and terrritorial cohesion contribute to the Union Strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth Goals: Investment for growth and jobs European Territorial cooperation

Thematic objectives Among the 11 thematic objectives, 3 on sustainable growth: Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors (Thematic Objective Nr 4) Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management (Thematic Objective Nr 5) Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency (Thematic Objective Nr 6) For every thematic objective there’s a list of investment priorities which set the aims for intervention

Thematic concentration Minimum share of ERDF investments on: shift towards a low carbon economy research & innovation competitiveness of SMEs Less developed regions More developed & transition regions 80% 20% 50% 6%

Proposal for the 2014-2020 CP regulation ERDF Investment Priority on: "protecting biodiversity, soil protection and promoting ecosystem services including NATURA 2000 and green infrastructures; "action to improve the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution"; Cohesion Fund Investment Priority on: "protecting and restoring biodiversity, including through green infrastructures" "improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution Differences between scope of ERDF vs. CF on: Natura 2000 (not in CF) Soil protection (not in CF) Restoring biodiversity (not in ERDF)

Common Strategic Framework Key targets and objectives of all the CSF Funds (ERDF, EAFRD, Cohesion Fund, EMFF, ESF) Key actions for each for each CSF Fund: identify those key actions with the greatest impact on growth and jobs General implementation principles of the CSF Funds Facilitate the development of Partnership Contracts & OP's Closer coordination of CSF funds to achieve simplification & increased synergies among funds

Common Strategic Framework Investments in biodiversity & ecosystem services Investments in green infrastructure Investment in Natura 2000 Coastal protection Risk prevention Prioritised Action Framework Water retention, wetlands… Soil protection Financial instruments

Community led local development (CLLD) New possibility in 2014-2020 cohesion policy Have an integrated bottom-up approach & ensure involvement of local communities Integrated, multi-sectoral & area-based local development Led by local action groups (public & private local socio- economic interests): design & implement local development strategies Potentially good instrument for 'biodiversity type' projects/programmes MS need to 'select' it in the Partnership Agreement http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/2014/community_en.pdf

Innovation for sustainable growth with the 2014-2020 cohesion policy Photo credit: Kheng Guan Toh

Cohesion Policy funding for R&I 2007-2013 Cohesion Policy innovation support over total aid: 4% in 89’-93’ 7% in 94’-99’ 11% in 00’-06’ 25% in 07’-13’

Areas of investments in innovations Invest in innovation for: Water efficiency, water recycling Development & deployment of monitoring systems in: Biodiversity (bio-indicators…) Air quality… Ecosystem services, Payment for Ecosystem Services… Geographic & Environmental information systems (GMES – Inspire Directive) Resource efficiency Eco-innovations in companies/SMEs

Sustainable Urban Development Support integrated actions to tackle the economic, environmental, climate and social challenges affecting urban areas ERDF = increased focus on sustainable urban development: to be achieved through earmarking of a minimum of 5% of national ERDF resources for SUD Integrate biodiversity/nature aspects in sustainable urban development programmes/plans

Strategic programming Thematic objectives contribute to EU 2020 Translates objectives and targets of EU 2020 into key actions Alignment with EU 2020: evaluation, results expected, indicative allocation by thematic objective Strategy consistent with CSF, thematic objectives, investment priorities, etc. Regulations Proposed by Commission Commission delegated act Prepared by MS in dialogue with Commission, approval if Commission observations taken into account Drawn up by MS in cooperation with partners MS, except major projects, where documentation submitted to Commission, approval needed Common Strategic Framework Increasing MS competence Partnership Contract Operational Programmes Projects

Project examples

Geographic information system in Caribbean's CARIBSAT: Caribbean Satellite Environmental Information System (www.caribstat.com) Launched in 2009 for 2 years - € 2.8 Million with € 1.9 Million ERDF - Lead Partner: Centre IRD Martinique-Caraïbes International partnership with public bodies, universities, research organisations Develop instrument to monitor the environment in the Lesser Antilles based on an online geographic atlas supplied by satellite images, ground environmental data & hydro-meteorological reports Targeted on preservation of the biodiversity in land and sea, the management of the natural risks & impact of climate change

Azorean Biodiversity Portal ERDF co-financed development of a unique IT based information system on biodiversity in the Azores islands, www.azoresbioportal.angra.uac.pt Resource for fundamental research in biodiversity, education and conservation management Provides an original platform for bio-geographical and macro-ecological research on islands Species database comprised of spatial grid-based (500x500 m) presence-absence information for ca. 5000 species Many species are also accompanied by images from collections and/or live specimen

Research on Biodiversity in Canarias Islands Centre for research in biodiversity & environment University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – 3 research groups to improve knowledge & management of natural areas in Canarias - www.bioges.org Creation of a biodiversity data bank http://www.biodiversidadcanarias.es

Water retention in forests in PL Improving the surface water resources, soil and groundwater Re-naturisation of watercourses and wetlands Aligning and slowing water runoff during flood events (flood retention) Minimizing the risk and preventing droughts

Small scale water retention in lowlands Est.Investment: ca. 50 M EUR (ca. 34,2 M by Cohesion Fund) Number of structures: over 3000 Water Storage Capacity: over 31 million m3 (including storage of groundwater) Small scale water retention in mountain areas Est.Investment: ca. 43 M EUR (ca. 30 M by Cohesion Fund) Number of structures: over 3500 Water Storage Capacity: over 1,2 million m3 without storage of groundwater 26

Green Infrastructure (eco-corridors) in FR Build a regional network of preserved areas based on ecological corridors (Green & Blue corridors) Deployment of territorial contracts on ‘biological corridors’ Extensive work with local actors / municipalities / associations / environment and water authorities Investments in eco-bridges, restoration of wetlands, trainings in schools and municipalities… Planned costs over 5 years : € 3.6 million with 1.28 million ERDF.

Conclusions Funding still available to invest in biodiversity through current Cohesion Policy in the next years (actual spending of current Cohesion Policy until 2015)!’ Future Cohesion Policy provides clear support to biodiversity, Natura 2000 & Green Infrastructure Prepare now the post-2013 period!

Many thanks for your attention