The EU INTERREG programme in support of Natura 2000 and biodiversity (2000–2020). (original) (raw)
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The EU Habitats and Birds Directives are at the heart of the EU’s biodiversity policy. They set the standard for nature conservation across all countries of the EU, enabling Member States to work together, towards the same objective, to protect our most threatened and vulnerable species and habitats, irrespective of political or administrative borders. Such transnational cooperation is essential for stemming the loss of biodiversity in Europe as wildlife is governed by the forces of nature and does not recognise national boundaries. Thanks to the two EU nature Directives, an EU wide network of conservation areas – called the Natura 2000 network – has been established. The network currently contains over 27,500 sites which together cover around 18% of the EU territory on land as well as a significant proportion of the surrounding seas., making this the largest coordinated network of protected areas anywhere in the world. The European Territorial Cooperation goal, better known as Interreg, is a key component of the EU Cohesion Policy. In place since 1990, Interreg provides a framework for the implementation of joint actions and policy exchanges between national, regional and local actors from different Member States. Under the current Interreg V programme (2014-2020) funding can be targeted at the protection and restoration of biodiversity and soil, and the promotion of ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure. Around €581 million is foreseen for this, of which €163 million is specifically for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of Natura 2000 sites. According to the EU Keep Database at least 190 projects involving Natura 2000 sites have been funded since 2000 representing a total investment of almost €280 million to which the EU provides funding of €200 million. This report explores how the Interreg Programme has contributed to the management and protection of Natura 2000 sites, species and habitats over the last 20 years. It looks at the type of projects and actions that have been funded and goes on to showcase eighteen individual projects to illustrate the range and diversity of different actions, locations, conservation objectives and socio-economic contexts in which Interreg projects have operated so far. The report clearly illustrates that EU Cohesion policy investments, and in particular Interreg, is a potentially major source of EU Funds for supporting Natura 2000 implementation and management. It also helps link Natura 2000 management with wider socio economic issues by promoting cross border and cross sectoral exchange of experiences and practices. It will be important to further promote the use of Interreg for Natura 2000 and ensure that the many good practices it generates are better communicated outside the Interreg community to a wider audience, and to the conservation and rural development communities in particular.
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