The Council of Ministers, at its meeting today, has approved the merger of the National Parks Foundation and the Biodiversity Foundation, both dependent on the Ministry of the Environment, through the absorption of the former by the latter. The union of both entities is effective from January 1, 2006, after an agreement between the corresponding boards of trustees.

Both entities are foundations of the state public sector, and in both cases, the Ministry of the Environment exercises the functions of protectorate. In this sense, the presidency and vice-presidency of its boards of trustees are occupied by the same people by reason of their position and it is considered that being a single entity they will be able to carry out more effectively the functions that until now were carried out separately.

Likewise, the national parks and their areas of influence will be another purpose of the Biodiversity Foundation, since the aims and activities of the National Parks Foundation will be included in its objectives and actions.

The Biodiversity Foundation is a state public sector foundation, established by the General State Administration on 22 December 1998. It carries out activities of general interest related to the competences of the Ministry of the Environment in the field of conservation, study and sustainable use of biodiversity and the sustainability of development, mainly in its cultural aspects. These goals are carried out both nationally and internationally.