- The selected initiatives will receive grants of between 100,000 and 2 million euros per project.
- 37 of the selected projects are located in municipalities with population densities of 30 inhabitants/km2 or less.
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), in collaboration with the General Secretariat for the Demographic Challenge, has resolved the call for grants for the promotion of the bioeconomy linked to forestry and the contribution to the ecological transition for 2023, with the selection of 56 projects from among the 163 applications that had been submitted. The initiatives selected in a call for proposals with a budget of 77 million euros will receive grants of between 100,000 and 2 million euros per project, with a maximum co-financing rate of 95%. All these projects must be completed by December 31, 2025, including extensions.
95% of the selected projects have been presented in groups (with a maximum of six entities), being the leading entities of the groups the local administrations, as well as other public sector entities and non-profit organizations mainly.
56 PROJECTS IN 47 PROVINCES
The 56 projects selected will have their scope of action in 47 provinces. In addition, some of the projects address challenges at the national level, such as the creation of a State Network of Public Forests (REMP) and the identification and communication with forest owners for the sharing of forest management.
In terms of demographic challenges, almost two thirds of the selected projects (37) are located in municipalities or provinces with population densities equal to or less than 30 inhabitants/km2. Small municipalities also play an important role, being beneficiaries of 14 of the 56 projects.
Of the 56 projects, 35 are focused on the development and diversification of forest harvests and uses, 14 are integrated projects that promote multifunctionality and more resilient landscapes, 6 focus on sustainable forest management and 1 on ecological restoration.
For example, projects will be financed to promote the industry associated with primary and secondary processing wood through management, sustainable forest management and certification, the characterization of new products and prototypes, such as cross-laminated timber, the optimization of the value chain, as well as the start-up and creation of local enterprises. Other high value-added forest products such as resin, cork, fruits, mushrooms, biochar or essential oils will also be promoted, studying their uses and launching workshops or new products, promoting marketing, identifying new markets and creating quality seals.
97 MILLION EUROS TO BOOST THE BIOECONOMY
The 77 million euros of this call are in addition to the 20 million euros allocated in 2021 to the call for grants for the promotion of the bioeconomy and ecological transition published by the Biodiversity Foundation, which have allowed the implementation of 14 projects, currently underway (five of extensive livestock, three of agroecological agriculture-transition, two of habitat restoration, two of forest use and management and two of integrated actions of bioeconomy on the territory).
This new call, which is part of investment 4 (sustainable forest management) of component 4 (conservation and restoration of ecosystems and their biodiversity) of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, seeks to support projects aligned with the new Spanish Forestry Strategy horizon 2050 (EFE) and the Spanish Forestry Plan 2022-2032 (PFE).
