10 de May de 2021
10.05.2021. The Natura 2000 Network is a European ecological network of biodiversity conservation areas whose purpose is to ensure the long-term survival of species and habitat types in Europe, helping to halt biodiversity loss. The network is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs). Today, the Natura 2000 Network is the main instrument for nature conservation in the European Union (EU).
- The European Commission has given the green light to the Priority Action Framework (MAP) for the 2021-2027 programming period, which contains the necessary measures for the conservation of the Natura 2000 Network in Spain.
- The Natura 2000 Network depends on European agricultural and structural funds.
However, the Natura 2000 Network does not have its own funding instrument, but instead draws on EU funds, mainly those associated with agricultural funds and structural funds, especially the CAP and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Priority Action Framework (MAP)
Under this funding model, known as integration , the European Union has just approved the Priority Action Framework (MAP) 2021-2027 for Spain's Natura 2000 network. The MAP is a planning instrument that contains the measures necessary for the conservation of the Natura 2000 network, specifying the funding requirements for these measures and linking them to European funds.
The approval of this MAP was one of the necessary requirements to meet the ERDF objective of "Improving biodiversity, green infrastructure in urban environments, and reducing pollution for the period 2021-2027."
Furthermore, the interventions contained in the future National Strategic Plan for the CAP relating to biodiversity must contribute to the national objectives set out in the MAP.
Ecological priorities 2014-2027
The Natura 2000 Network in Spain has identified 100 strategic priorities and 870 conservation measures , grouped into 193. To manage these measures, the "Action Plan for People, Nature, and the Economy" has been developed. It defines four priority action areas , the new feature of which in this programming period is the regionalized approach.
For the period from 2014 until 2027, the estimated cost for the maintenance of the entire Natura 2000 Network in Spain as a whole is 1.408 billion euros per year, of which approximately 1.385 billion correspond to the terrestrial part and about 23 million euros correspond to the marine area.
The final document for the 2021-2027 period can be found here .