The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), in collaboration with the Directorate General for Water, has received 230 proposals for actions to restore river ecosystems and reduce flood risk in Spanish urban environments that are committed to nature-based solutions within the framework of the call for grants published on 16 December 2021.

The objective of these grants is to finance up to 95% of projects for the environmental recovery of the riverbeds, applying hydrological, hydraulic and ecological criteria. Actions are also contemplated to adapt urban environments to flood risk and thus reduce the vulnerability of exposed elements in flood zones, mainly through green infrastructures. All actions must contribute to the improvement of the ecological status of the rivers of Spain.

The good reception of the call translates into the presentation of initiatives that include all the autonomous communities, for a total amount of 492.3 million euros. This line of aid has a total endowment of 75 million and includes aid of between 500,000 and 4 million euros per project, so only around 15% of the amount requested can be met, depending on the amount requested for each selected project.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF THE SPANISH RIVER SYSTEM

The call aims to contribute to the improvement of the ecological status of rivers in Spain. This objective is part of milestone 77 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which calls for the restoration of a minimum of 200 kilometres of riverbeds and riverbanks and the protection of 40,000 inhabitants from the risk of flooding.

The selection of the projects for the granting of the grants will be carried out on a competitive basis, with an assessment system based on the technical quality of the proposals, their environmental and social impact and strategic criteria such as their permanence over time and their replicability. All projects must include plans for governance and participation, measurement and monitoring of indicators, and communication and awareness-raising, and integrate gender equality and opportunities in a cross-cutting way.

The resolution of the call will take place during the month of September of this year and the projects must have concluded by December 31, 2025, extensions included.