The working group “Nature and Biodiversity Conservation and Community Funds” of the Network of Environmental Authorities held its first biannual meeting today after its constitution on 28 March. The working group “Nature and Biodiversity Conservation and Community Funds” of the Network of Environmental Authorities held its first biannual meeting today after its constitution on 28 March.
 
Coordinated by the Sub-Directorate General of the European Cohesion and Territorial Cooperation Fund of the Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), through the Biodiversity Foundation, this working group promotes the promotion of coordination and dialogue between the managing authorities of Community Funds, in order to integrate the Priority Action Framework (MAP) into their regional and national programming. The MAP, which has been coordinated by the MAGRAMA and the Biodiversity Foundation within the framework of a LIFE+ project, identifies the strategic conservation priorities of Natura 2000 in Spain, the specific actions needed to achieve them and their potential sources of co-financing, charged to the different Community funds and through innovative financing mechanisms.
 
This working group also seeks to lead the analysis and monitoring of the progress of the programming of the funds in relation to nature conservation and biodiversity, as well as to identify opportunities and point out recommendations for the effective integration of financing needs in this area in the Association Agreement and in the Operational Programmes. It also promotes integrated LIFE projects in the nature and biodiversity component.
 
At the meeting, held at the headquarters of the MAGRAMA, the main developments and status of the programming of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI) 2014-2020 were reviewed.
 
In addition, the strategic document Priority Action Framework for the management of the Natura 2000 Network and LIFE+ for its implementation has been presented and the integration of the priorities of the MAP into the Association Agreement has been discussed.
 
Finally, the recommendations for integrating the financing needs of the Natura 2000 Network into the Operational Programmes of the ERDF, ESF, EAFRD and EMFF Funds have been analysed.
 
The working group “Nature and Biodiversity Conservation and Community Funds” is made up of members of the Network of Environmental Authorities, experts in specific fields, regional and national environmental authorities with competences in nature and biodiversity conservation and fund management.