SURF‐Nature: How can the project support local stakeholders? Insight and Preliminary Results

1. SURF‐Nature: How can the project support local stakeholders? Insight and Preliminary Results Peter Tramberend Environment Agency Austria

2. Content • SURF Project • Analysis of operational programmes • Thematic booklets • Upcoming acitivites • Conclusion

3. History of SURF-Nature 1/2 • 2004: EU communication on the Financing of Natura 2000 • support in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity became more pronounced • For the first time the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007-2013 contains options for financing natural heritage, biodiversity and nature conservation, (including Natura 2000) • “Stop the loss of biodiversity” 2010 - Target

4. History of SURF-Nature 2/2 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007 -2013 • about 3 billions to support the protection of biodiversity and nature conservation measures • can be accessed by a wide range of stakeholders • activities need to be linked with the broader development of the area • a large number and variety of opportunities for financing nature conservation • great potential to learn from each others approaches Project idea for SURF-Nature developed in 2008

5. Key facts • 14 partners from 10 countries in Europe • Austria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, UK • Authorities and public bodies responsible for implementation, experienced in applying for ERDF • Lead partner: Environment Agency Austria • Projekt coordination: WWF-Germany • Project Programme: Interreg VIc • Duration: Jan 2010 – Dec 2012

6. General objectives • Improve regional policies and practices for nature conservation and biodiversity • by increasing the opportunities for and the impacts of financing nature conservation measures from ERDF funds

7. Further objectives • Identify and analyse different approaches in different regions • Establish a network of experts • Raise awareness and knowledge among stakeholders • Improve the quality of future nature conservation projects • Positively influence the strategic planning and funding allocation for 2014+ • www.surf-nature.eu

8. Target groups • national, regional and local authorities from environmental protection, nature conservation and biodiversity • national, regional and local authorities for regional development • managing authorities e.g. protected areas • special interest groups e.g. tourism • project applicants

9. Analysis of Operational ProgrammesResults

10. Cohesion policy • ERDF European Regional Development Fund • ESF European Social Fund • CF Cohesion Fund Objective Fund Convergence ERDF ESF CF Regional Competitiveness ERDF ESF Territorial Cooperation ERDF • Convergence – growth and employment in less developed MS and regions • Region. Competitiveness – employment, attractiveness • Terr. Cooperation – all regions

11. Cohesion policy • OP definetheprioritiesofmemberstate/regionsandthewayoftheimplementation • Currentperiod 335 OPs for ERDF areadoptedby EU Commmission Level Policystage EU Community strategicguidelines on cohesion Member State National strategicreferenceframework Member State/Regions Operational programmes (OP)

12. Analysis of Operational Programms • 46 Operational Programmes referring the partner regions analysed • In principle all OPs are structured equally (priorities, objectives, financial overview, etc.) • Analysis based on a common evaluation matrix • Quality ranking in terms of programme design and implementation, score 100 points for quality as well as for implementation

13. Analysis of Operational Programms • Programme implementation • Selection and evaluation comittee • Training activities • Guidelines, Web-support • Time of received payment • Number of approved projects • Total fund allocated up to 31st March 2010 (start of the analysis) • Programme quality • Objectives of the priority axis • Activities of priorities • Direct allocation for Nature conservation (code 51) • Restrictions on funding applicants

14. OP Analysis - Quality • Results • 86% of the OPs include biodiversity in the objectives • 54% of the activities in the OPs are formulated broadly • 33% of the activities in the OPs are clearly defined • 63% of the OPs have dedicated budget to code 51 • Average score 56/100 points

15. OP Analysis - Implementation • Results • 47% of OPs nature conservation experts are represented in the selection committee • None of OPs offers specific training to applicants • 61% provide very good web support • Time period for project approval > 6 months in 35% of the projects • 67% of the OPs don´t provide pre-financing assistance to applicants • Average score 52/100 points

16. OP Analysis – recommendations 1/2 • it should be a principal that biodiversity is included in one of the objectives • nature conservation experts should be sufficiently represented in Evaluation and Selection Committees • nature conservation shouldbea separate activity • keep the activities for nature conservation more open so that the individual needs in the regions and initial situations can be well reflected in the project proposal

17. OP Analysis – recommendations 2/2 • financial support for pre-financing assistance should be provided • professional support in the application phase should be eligible • information should be provided to applicants in a clear and efficient way • common, user-friendly web-site which provides all relevant data • all this should be followed by a simple and straightforward decision process with short time periods between project development, submission, approval and procurement

18. Thematic booklets • Environmental education • Forest biodiversity • Green infrastructure • Natura 2000 management • Sustainable tourism

19. Sustainable Tourism and Nature Conservation An investment in our future

20. Sustainable tourism booklet – content 1/2 • Introduction into the topic • priorities and objectives of sustainable tourism • approaches of the European Union for sustainability in tourism policy • tourism and nature conservation • Financing opportunities • European funds for sustainable tourism and nature conservation • current opportunities of the ERDF for financing sustainable tourism • funds for sustainable tourism and nature conservation in Austria, Greece and Wales

21. Sustainable tourism booklet – content 2/2 • Good practices • Austria - Bog Alliance in the Alps • Greece - Network of Aegean Islands for Sustainability DAFNI • Wales - Wild Fishing • Recommendation for a successful project application • quality of a project • connections between a ‘successful sustainable tourism project’ and a ‘successful application for a sustainable tourism project’ • stakeholder in tourism development

22. Upcomingactivities • 1 Guideline - summarizing and analysing good practice • 1 Handbook - on the new generation of funding • 1 interregional workshops • 13 regional training sessions – to disseminate the gained knowledge to regional and local stakeholders

23. Support local stakeholders by providing information about • Analysis of 46 OPs – overview about different approaches • Wide range of projects with their variety of objectives and approaches • Exchange ideas with colleagues of other regions • Ideas for new projects • training sessions • five thematic booklets • Recommendations for improving the funding possibilities for the next period

24. Contactand Information Klara Brandl phone: +43-1-31304-3310 email: klara.brandl@umweltbundesamt.at Peter Tramberend phone: +43-1-31304-5935 email: peter.tramberend@umweltbundesamt.at Environment Agency Austria - Umweltbundesamtwww.umweltbundesamt.at

25. Sustainable Use of Regional funds - for Nature Thank you for your Attention!