- In July, the Biodiversity Foundation closed the deadlines for submitting applications for four calls for grants with a wide response of proposals received, with a total amount requested of more than 260 million euros
- Many of the proposals received for these calls have been made in groups of entities, which reinforces one of the main objectives of these grants, the collaborative nature between sectors
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has closed in July the deadline for submitting applications for the 2025 calls for the Empleaverde+ and Pleamar programs, which have been in great demand. In total, 358 applications have been received aimed at promoting training for green employment and the sustainability of fisheries, through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), respectively. In addition to these two calls, there are two lines of aid financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), aimed at promoting the bioeconomy and promoting research for the conservation and restoration of the marine environment, which have received a total of 127 proposals.
COMMITMENT TO GREEN EMPLOYMENT AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF SKILLS
In the case of the Empleaverde+ Programme, 230 applications have been received for a total amount of 75.8 million euros. Of these, 60 have been presented in groups, which reinforces the collaborative nature of the call. The line aimed at workers has concentrated 99 applications for an amount of 30.1 million euros, while the line aimed at unemployed people has received 131 proposals for a total amount of 45.7 million euros. Of the latter, 54 initiatives also provide for the hiring of participants once the training process has been completed.
The themes of the projects reflect a key connection to environmental and social priorities. A total of 72 initiatives focus on the recovery of municipalities affected by natural disasters, while six are aimed at training pilots for the fight against forest fires. In addition, 33 projects will be developed in the Doñana area, 13 in areas of the Mar Menor and 43 incorporate micro-credentials, in line with the new European training framework. Microcredentials certify learning outcomes obtained in short-term learning experiences, such as a course or short training.
PROMOTION OF MARINE CONSERVATION AND FISHERIES
SUSTAINABILITYFor its part, the 2025 call of the Pleamar Programme, financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPA), has received 128 applications, totalling a requested amount of 46.4 million euros. Of these, 42 are continuation of projects developed in previous calls, and 59 are presented in group format. The participation of the scientific field has been outstanding: 36 projects are led by the Higher Centre for Scientific Research (CSIC) and 37 by universities or centres linked to the university field, which represents 57% of the total applications received, thus reinforcing the role of scientific knowledge as the main axis of the projects.
With this line of aid, the Ministry reinforces the role of support for the conservation of the marine environment through active collaboration with the fishing sector, aligning itself with its problems and seeking solutions.
The integration of the gender approach has also been present, with 124 projects that incorporate specific measures to guarantee equality between women and men. In terms of alignment with priority action frameworks, five proposals declare to contribute directly to the Mar Menor Priority Action Framework and another three do so indirectly. In the case of Doñana, three initiatives declare to be aligned with its framework of action and another two do so in a complementary way.
SUPPORT FOR THE BIOECONOMY AND RESEARCH IN THE MARINE
ENVIRONMENTThe call for the promotion of the bioeconomy, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has received 104 applications for a total amount of more than 127 million euros, compared to a maximum endowment of 42.6 million. In total, 51 groups have been presented, bringing together 224 applicant entities, which reflects a high interest in promoting the ecological transition through the sustainable use of natural resources.
The proposals received address key lines such as sustainable forest management and the diversification of forest uses such as biomass, wood or non-timber resources, many of them with a focus on fire prevention (35 projects), ecological restoration, urban renaturation and the recovery of burned areas (35), as well as the agroecological transition (15) and comprehensive actions on the territory with combinations of several types of previous actions (17). The call has aroused particular interest in transitional and less developed regions, which account for more than 90% of the aid requested, thus strengthening their contribution to territorial cohesion.
For its part, the ERDF call for grants to support the conservation and restoration of marine biodiversity has received 23 proposals for a total amount of 11.4 million euros. Of these, 12 have been presented individually and 11 in groupings, mainly composed of two entities (although groups with three and four members have also been registered). The average amount per project is around 500,000 euros.
The proposals come from a wide territorial diversity: 16 from regions in transition, 12 from less developed regions and three from more developed regions, with 7 initiatives involving more than one autonomous community. The coasts off Andalusia lead the participation with a presence in 11 projects, followed by the Valencian Community, with six. In total, 34 different entities participate, including 12 public universities and 12 non-profit organizations, consolidating the role of the scientific and social field in marine protection.
EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSALS RECEIVED
The selection of the projects of the four calls will be carried out on a competitive basis, with an evaluation system based on the technical quality of the proposals received, their environmental and social impact and strategic criteria such as their permanence over time and their replicability. In addition, the integration of gender equality and opportunities will be taken into account.
