The Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, and managing entity of the European Social Fund (ESF), will allocate 14,870,837.51 euros to finance 32 projects aimed at improving employment and the environment, through the Empleaverde Programme.

Within the framework of this programme, the Foundation manages the funds allocated to it by the Adaptability and Employment Operational Programme of the European Social Fund (ESF) for the period 2007-2013.

The empleaverde programme has set goals for the period 2007-2013 to support more than 50,000 people and promote the creation of 1,000 companies in the environmental sector. To this end, it has a total endowment of 44.1 million euros, of which the European Social Fund co-finances between 50% and 80% of the projects, depending on the regions in which they are developed. In 2008, projects with an amount of 14,870,837.51 euros have been approved.

The objectives of the selected initiatives are to promote and improve employment; increase the skills and qualifications of workers; to promote the creation and modernization of companies; adapting economic activities to environmental regulations, and promoting sustainability in economic activities.

Of the 32 projects to be carried out in 2008, 10 have been awarded to public administrations, 8 to the business, professional and trade union sectors, 12 to foundations, NGOs and associations and 2 to the academic sector.

The beneficiary entities belong to 14 autonomous communities. Thus, 5 of them are from Galicia, 4 from Castilla y León, 4 from the Valencian Community, 4 from Madrid, 3 from Andalusia, 3 from Catalonia, 2 from Extremadura, and 1 in Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Navarre, the Basque Country and La Rioja.

The projects are aimed at different economic sectors: 4 to the agricultural sector (production and processing), 3 to the livestock and grazing sector, 3 to the forestry sector, 1 to the fishing sector, 3 to the energy sector, 2 to the logistics sector and 8 to the environmental sector. Likewise, 8 projects will have an impact on rural development and protected areas and biosphere reserves.