The SURF-Nature project – Let´s improve the use of Regional Funds together!

Peter Torkler, WWF Germany, SURF – nature project coordinator

Cardiff, 27 September, 2012

Content.

1. The SURF Nature Interreg IVc project

2. Environment in the future Cohesion Policy

3. SURF advocacy towards next programming

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

The legal proposals for cohesion policy include biodiversity as an investment priority under the environment objective!

SURF nature, INTERREG IVc

To improve regional policies and practices for nature conservation and biodiversity by increasing the opportunities for financing these measures from the ERDF

SustainableUse of

Regional

Funds

1 Project, 14 Partners, 10 Countries

SURF challenges 2014-2020 programmes

Timing:

Project duration 2010-2013, decisions on future cohesion policy 2012-2014

Target groups:

DG Environment, DG REGIO, European Parliament, Regional representatives

Tools:

Analysis, Presentations, Newsletter, Events

Working with partners

Encouraging the project partners as well as other stakeholders across EU to take part in the post 2013 strategic discussion on the new generation of nature funding from regional funds.

+20.000 people reached through project actions!

500 Participants in project

events and trainings!

Expanding the knowledge

Analyze the current use of the ERDF funds for nature conservation across the regions and gather examples of successful ERDF-funded projects to determine what lessons can be learnt from the various approaches and results

www.surf-nature.euDatabase with more than 40 Projects onGreen Infrastructure, Sustainable -Tourism, Forest Biodiversity, Environmental Education and Natura 2000 Management

Preparing for the next financial period

The handbook on future biodiversity funding from ERDF the final conference in September 2012 kick started the promotion of best practices to ensure biodiversity is included in the partner regions ERDF programmes

Environment in the future Cohesion Policy?

The legal proposal provides some good steps in the right direction trying to mainstream environment and climate action but could provide stronger incentives to concentrate investments towards a green economy taking into account the protection of natural resources and the value of ecosystem services

• Environment as thematic objective

• Invest in protection and restoration of biodiversity and Natura 2000 

• Integrated approach to climate and biodiversity

• Move from a grey to green infrastructure approach

SURF advocacy towards next programming

-Better governance and partnership-Giving force to biodiversity in all Operational Programmes-Greening all investments

Cohesion Policy is next to rural development and LIFE the most important funding source for biodiversity in Europe, we have to assure it has a significant share in funding the 5.8bn Euro needed for Natura 2000 annually

Peter Torkler, EU-Policypeter.torkler@wwf.de

www.wwf.de

Let´s improve the use of Regional Funds together!

Thank you for your attention!

www.surf-nature.eu