Within the framework of the LIFE+ 2014 Call for Projects, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, is preparing a proposal whose general objective is the innovative, demonstrative and participatory management of the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment under the competence of the General State Administration (AGE), which will be made up of 98 spaces. These include Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs) and Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) in different stages of approval, which represent more than 7% of the national marine area. Likewise, the proposal aims to respond to the objectives and measures provided for in the Priority Action Framework (MAP) in the Natura 2000 Network through the complementary use of different Structural Funds.

The project will thus respond to the planning and management needs derived from the results of the LIFE+ INDEMARES project and previously declared spaces. On the other hand, it will also seek to increase the marine protected area in Spain to reach the 10% committed in the Convention on Biological Diversity. But in addition, this initiative aims to involve organisations and users of the sea, scientific bodies and conservation entities, as well as the general population, in a participatory, innovative and demonstrative initiative throughout the period 2015-2021.

Given the relevance of the proposal, and with the aim of ensuring that social participation is evident from the very gestation of the project, the Foundation and the Ministry have considered it interesting and pioneering to submit the proposal to a process of third-party contributions, with the aim of collecting the largest number of actions of interest for the management of the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment.

In this way, suggestions and contributions can be made, for which the draft project is made available to the public, which includes the general context of the project and the planned actions. Those entities or people who are interested in making suggestions have the following documents at their disposal:

• General Input Form: Through this form, any input to the overall context of the project (objectives, expected results, project contribution to the MAP, etc.) can be made. Only one form can be submitted.
• Share contribution form: through this form, any contribution to the planned shares can be made. You can submit as many forms as actions you wish to comment on.
• Form for the inclusion of new actions: through this form, new actions not contemplated in the project and that are considered of interest for the management of the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment under the competence of the AGE can be proposed. You can submit as many forms as you wish to contribute.

The forms received will be evaluated in detail by the drafting team and, where appropriate, incorporated into the final project that must be submitted to the European Commission before October 10.

Likewise, a model letter of support for the proposal is made available so that those who consider it, can send it signed and scanned.

The final deadline for submitting contributions ends on September 22 and must be sent to the following email address: integrado@fundacion-biodiversidad.es.

The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment would like to thank you in advance for your participation in this process of improving an initiative of great importance for the conservation and sustainable use of our seas.

Note: the intellectual property of the aforementioned documents corresponds to the Biodiversity Foundation and may not be used for any use without the express authorisation of the Foundation itself.