Financing Natura 2000
The establishment of Natura 2000 is now at an advanced stage and the upcoming period will be critical to making the network fully operational through the effective management and restoration of the sites. While the main responsibility for financing Natura 2000 lies with the Member States, Article 8 of the Habitats Directive explicitly links delivery of necessary conservation measures to the provision of the EU co-financing. The Council of Ministers has invited the Commission, in collaboration with Member States, to assess whether the current integration approach, that provides for Natura 2000 funding under the different EU sectoral funds, has been adequate for the effective implementation of the network and to explore ways of enhancing the uptake of EU funds for Natura 2000 in the next financial perspective.
The Commission has issued a staff working paper that presents a summary of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current approach to EU co-financing of Natura 2000 as well as an overview of relevant provisions in Commission proposals for the next multi-annual financial framework. In addition to giving an updated estimate of Natura 2000 costs, this paper also underlines the benefits to be gained from effective management of these areas. The paper also explains how the prioritised action frameworks required under the Habitats Directive can serve as strategic planning tools to strengthen the integration of Natura 2000 financing into the use of relevant EU financial instruments for the next programming period.
Investing in Natura 2000: for nature and people - Roundtable
On 16 May 2011 in Brussels, Commissioner Janez Potočnik held a high profile “Roundtable on Natura 2000”, with eminent managers of Natura 2000 sites from around the EU,. This was an opportunity for the press and media to discuss the Natura 2000 network of protected sites and the financing mechanisms for it. Securing investments in Natura 2000 in difficult financial and budgetary times represents a significant challenge. The aim of this Roundtable was to share first hand practical experience with the press, and to discuss with them the future of financing Natura 2000.
A brochure on the issue was launched at this event (only available electronically):
Financing Natura 2000: Public consultation
In addition to the stakeholder conference, the European Commission has launched an online public consultation to gather the views of different stakeholders - as an input to the new Communication, which is aimed to identify ways of enhancing the success of financing Natura 2000.
Financing Natura 2000: Conference
A major stakeholder conference on financing Natura 2000 took place in Brussels on 15 and 16 June 2010. This provided a valuable opportunity to share experiences with and draw lessons from the current integration model.
Cost and Benefits of Effective Management of Natura 2000
Effective management and restoration of sites in the Natura 2000 network requires significant investments. In 2004 the Commission provided a first cost estimate of €6,1 billion per year for EU-25 Natura 2000 financing needs.
An updated and more thorough assessment for EU-27, using common methodologies, broadly supports this earlier figure. Based on data received from 25 Member States it is estimated that a minimum of €5,8 billion per year will be needed for EU-27 to manage and restore the sites in the network.
Specific case-studies have been prepared on successful and innovative approaches to financing Natura 2000 needs.
Natura 2000 is not only about costs and the evidence to date supports the view that benefits far outweigh the costs. In addition to protecting nature's intrinsic value investing in Natura 2000 provides multiple benefits to society. A fully functional Natura 2000 network will deliver many vital ecosystem services, including those directly relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation such as flood conveyance of wetlands, natural coastal protection of dune systems, carbon sequestration of peat lands and the ability of forested mountain areas to prevent erosion and land slides.
The Commission has already addressed the issue of identifying individual benefits associated with individual Natura 2000 sites:
 The tool is designed for wider use by land managers and has been verified on 5 case studies in different biogeographical conditions:
An initial review on the benefits brought by Natura 2000 as they are seen in the Member States have been elaborated Further information on both the costs and the benefits is available in the reports of the Commission's contractors:
Using the methodology that has been developed for the study of the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity (TEEB) the Commission is carrying out further studies to evaluate the socio-economic benefits of Natura 2000
Commission 2004 Communication
The current approach, set out in the 2004 Communication on financing Natura 2000 for the 2007-2013 financing period, is to integrate the financing of Natura 2000 into the funding streams of different EU policy sectors.
Guidance Handbook
The Guidance Handbook presents the EU funding options for Natura 2000 sites in the period 2007-2013 that are, in principle, available at the national and regional level.
IT-tool
By development of an IT-tool the Commission wishes to provide easier access to the information of the Guidance Handbook and create the opportunity to use the information in the framework of management planning. The tool is expected to create/outline "co-financing plans" for individual Natura 2000 sites.
The IT-tool is presented and its use is explained in a Brochure (2,5 MB).
Further information on the Guidance Handbook and the IT-tool is available on a CIRCA-site.
LIFE programme
 LIFE+ is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, as well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring countries. Through the many best practice and demonstration projects this fund continues to be of strategic importance for the financing of Natura 2000.
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