The Biodiversity Foundation, the managing body of the European Social Fund, has approved the development of training, awareness-raising and environmental needs analysis projects worth 25,057,000 euros (4,159,462,000 pesetas) co-financed by the European Social Fund. These actions are part of the Operational Programme “Entrepreneurship and Continuous Training of the F.S.E. for Objective 1 and 3 regions during the period 2000-2006.

The amount of co-financing from the European Social Fund for Objective 1 regions (Andalusia, Asturias, Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Murcia, Ceuta and Melilla) is 70%, while in the case of the Objective 3 regions (Aragon, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, the Basque Country and La Rioja) it is 45%. The latter are also co-financed by the Biodiversity Foundation up to 25%, which represents a maximum of 70% of the total cost.

For the development of these actions, the Biodiversity Foundation will initiate and strengthen the lines of action with public and private non-profit entities and organizations concerned with improving knowledge of environmental problems through training. Thus, of the 57 projects to be carried out in 2006, 6 have been awarded to public administrations, 9 to the academic sector, 15 to non-governmental organizations and foundations, 9 to chambers of commerce and 18 to the business and trade union sector.

The beneficiary entities belong to 14 autonomous communities. Thus, 10 of them are from Galicia, 9 from Castilla y León, 9 from Madrid, 8 from Andalusia, 4 from the Valencian Community, 4 from the Basque Country respectively, 3 from Extremadura, 2 from Castilla-La Mancha, 2 from Catalonia, 2 from Aragon, and 1 from Asturias, the Canary Islands, Murcia and Navarre.