- They are in addition to the 20 million in aid from the NextGenerationEU funds that were allocated in the call for the promotion of the bioeconomy in 2021 and that allowed the implementation of 14 projects
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has published a new call for grants to support transformative projects for the promotion of the bioeconomy linked to the forestry field and the contribution to the ecological transition and the demographic challenge. They are part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, corresponding to 2023.
The 77 million euros available in this new call will allow up to 95% of the best-valued projects to be financed, which can be promoted by entities and organizations individually or by forming groups of up to six entities. The grants, of between €100,000 and €2 million per project, seek to promote initiatives linked to the forest bioeconomy that contribute both to the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, as well as to the generation of capacities and green employment, as well as to face the demographic challenge.
In this call, the role of science is key to the use and generation of the best available knowledge in the field of forest bioeconomy. To this end, it is established as a requirement that the projects have the participation of a scientific entity, either as a member of the group, through the creation of a specific scientific committee or including the advice of representatives of scientific entities.
GENERATING WEALTH BY PROTECTING FORESTS AND FOREST
ENVIRONMENTSThis new call, which is part of investment 4 (sustainable forest management) of component 4 (conservation and restoration of ecosystems and their biodiversity) of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP), seeks to support projects aligned with the new Spanish Forest Strategy Horizon 2050 (EFE) and the Spanish Forest Plan 2022-2032 (PFE), and is included in Strategic Objective 7 “Guarantee territorial cohesion through interventions in special areas vulnerability” of the Strategic Plan of Subsidies of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge for 2022-2024.
This aid seeks to meet the growing demand for forest-based raw materials and renewable energy, making the forest-derived value chain competitive. Therefore, the actions eligible for subsidies include the use of timber and non-timber forest resources and the other products and services characteristic of forests and their associated industry; the creation of new resource and value chains, including the energy use of biomass for thermal use and cogeneration; the promotion of the industry associated with first and second processing wood and other high value-added forest products; the promotion of the forest bioeconomy through innovation, the circular economy and the promotion of the use of sustainable forest products; the promotion and appreciation of other services in relation to tourism, recreational use and ecosystem services such as water regulation, improvement of water quality, soil formation and retention or improvement of air quality.
In addition, initiatives will be committed to promoting more connected and resilient landscapes in the face of phenomena such as fires, droughts, pests and diseases, while generating opportunities for local communities, especially in areas in demographic decline. It also contemplates the development of reactivation work in areas that have suffered forest fires – provided that they are located in areas of special socio-territorial vulnerability and with depopulation problems – that respect the recovery of the ecological integrity of the ecosystem, with adaptation to climate change and capable of generating economic and social benefit for the local population. during the execution of the action and subsequently.
Proposals to apply for these grants can be submitted until June 30, 2023 and the resolution of the call is expected by the end of 2023.
All selected projects must have completed their actions by 31 December 2025, including extensions.
€97 MILLION FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE BIOECONOMY
The 77 million euros of this call are in addition to the 20 million euros allocated in 2021 to the call for grants for the promotion of the bioeconomy and ecological transition published by the Biodiversity Foundation and which have allowed the implementation of 14 projects currently under execution (five for extensive livestock, three for agriculture-agroecological transition, two on habitat restoration, two on forest use and management and two on comprehensive bioeconomy actions on the territory). These are major transformative initiatives that include actions aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural, livestock and forestry systems as well as ecological restoration initiatives.
