ON THE ROAD TO R ECO VERY? - BirdLife · percentages of protected areas (including terrestrial...
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The spanish economic interest in investing in the environment While having been an EU member state for more than 20 years, Spain is the 3rd top recipient of EU funds (receiving in 2010 EUR 3.1 billion). 1 However, Spain’s use of EU funds has had no long-term impact on its financial stability and its unemployment rate is at a high (20% in April 2010). In the next financial period (2014-20), Spain is likely to become a net payer. Although Spain has missed almost 20 years of financial gain, it still has an opportunity to ensure its investments and those of the EU are beneficial for the local environment and thus local economies. The potential of European funds to be utilised for nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate action to increase local economies, to comply with the EU requirements and to avoid environmental degradation, will depend on the EU leadership. In prioritising on its local environment as a tool to benefit its local economies and leveraging on European money, Spain would be investing European tax payer’s money in public goods. facts 1 Spain has one of EU's largest percentages of protected areas (including terrestrial Natura 2000) making up 27.7 % of its territory. 2 2 Since 1986, Spain has received from the EU EUR 93 billion net, 3 of which it invested EUR 274.9 million of European funding (LIFE programme) to directly support the environment. 4 This is the same amount of money that Spain has received from the Cohesion Fund to expand 400 hectares of the Port of Barcelona. 5 3 A study in Galicia showed that the willingness to pay for nature is EUR 113 per family per year to increase the coverage of protected areas in the region from 36,000 hectares to 280,000 hectares. 6 member state funding sheet SPAIN | 2012 ON THE ROAD TO R ECO VERY? BIRDLIFE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS ON THE EU 2020 BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY SPAIN Natura 2000 coverage in spain 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 “Andalusia A+” Project, Seville Comparison of costs and benefits of investing in nature conservation in spain and available EU funding for Natura 2000 7,8,9 1 1 Road construction of Cervera to Santa Maria del Cami 2 Galicia 3 National Renewable Energies Centre, Navarra 4 Port of Barcelona 5 Villafafila Lagoons Natura 2000 site 6 2 4 5 6 3 Million EUR/year Available EU funding for Natura 2000 in Spain (2007-2013) Financial needs of Spanish Natura 2000 Net economic benefits of Spanish forest services 109 1,557 3,143
Transcript of ON THE ROAD TO R ECO VERY? - BirdLife · percentages of protected areas (including terrestrial...
The spanish economicinterest in investing in the environment
While having been an EU member statefor more than 20 years, Spain is the 3rdtop recipient of EU funds (receiving in2010 EUR 3.1 billion).1 However, Spain’suse of EU funds has had no long-termimpact on its financial stability and itsunemployment rate is at a high (20% inApril 2010). In the next financial period(2014-20), Spain is likely to become anet payer.
Although Spain has missed almost 20years of financial gain, it still has anopportunity to ensure its investments andthose of the EU are beneficial for the localenvironment and thus local economies.
The potential of European funds to beutilised for nature, biodiversity,ecosystem services and climate action toincrease local economies, to comply withthe EU requirements and to avoidenvironmental degradation, will dependon the EU leadership. In prioritising on itslocal environment as a tool to benefit itslocal economies and leveraging onEuropean money, Spain would beinvesting European tax payer’s money inpublic goods.
facts
1 Spain has one of EU's largestpercentages of protected areas(including terrestrial Natura 2000)making up 27.7 % of its territory.2
2 Since 1986, Spain has received fromthe EU EUR 93 billion net,3 of which itinvested EUR 274.9 million ofEuropean funding (LIFE programme)to directly support the environment.4
This is the same amount of moneythat Spain has received from theCohesion Fund to expand 400hectares of the Port of Barcelona.5
3 A study in Galicia showed that thewillingness to pay for nature is EUR113 per family per year to increasethe coverage of protected areas in theregion from 36,000 hectares to280,000 hectares.6
member state funding sheetSPAIN | 2012
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY? BIRDLIFE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS
ON THE EU 2020 BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
SPAIN
Natura 2000 coverage in spain
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
“Andalusia A+”Project, Seville
Comparison of costs and benefits of investing innature conservation in spainand available EU funding for Natura 20007,8 , 9
1
1 Road construction of Cervera to SantaMaria del Cami
2 Galicia3
National RenewableEnergies Centre, Navarra
4
Port of Barcelona5
Villafafila LagoonsNatura 2000 site
6
2
4
5
6
3
Million EUR/year
Available EU
funding for Natura
2000 in Spain
(2007-2013)
Financial needs
of Spanish
Natura 2000
Net economic
benefits of Spanish
forest services
109
1,557
3,143
HOW EU SUBSIDIES AREWASTED ON ENVIRONMENTALLYHARMFUL ACTIVITIES
The development of the no-toll 21-km A-2 Motorway (which runs parallel to thenational road) from Cervera to SantaMaria del Camí cost the EU EUR 135million through the European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF).10 Not only wasthe road not tolled, it cost as much as thetotal amount the EU gives directly tonature and biodiversity every year for thewhole of the EU. Spain’s national plans(such as its rural development plans and
operational programmes) are essential forsupporting environmental needs.Currently, agriculture funds and structuraland cohesion funds only use 10% of theirpotential to benefit the environment.
HOW EU FUNDS CAN BE INVESTEDINTO FUTURE BENEFITS
With the same amount of funds requiredto build 260 meters of the motorwayCervera – Santa Maria del Camí, Spainhas built its National Renewable EnergiesCentre (also using ERDF), which apartfrom its impact on the local economy ofNavarra (increasing production, incomeand employment thought the attractionof new companies and new economicactivities), hired 120 researchers andadvanced Spain as a global leader inrenewable energies.11 The cost of 15 km
of the same motorway is equivalent to aproject aimed at strengthening energysaving and renewable energy "AndalusiaA +", which has saved 24,000 tons ofCO2 since 2007, making Andalucía theleading region in Spain in terms ofthermal solar energy. Land basedmanagement activities have similarimpacts to the Spanish economy. Since2003, the EU’s agri-environment schemefor the conservation of the Great bustardhas, for example, helped increaseeconomic activity in disadvantaged ruralareas. In the Villafafila Lagoons Natura2000 site, this scheme has helped saveand manage the largest Great bustardpopulation in the EU.
Download the report at: www.birdlife.org/eubiodiversityreport2012
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY? BIRDLIFE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS
ON THE EU 2020 BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
SPAIN
1 In 2010, Spain contributed a total of EUR 10 billion(including customs and farm trade duties collected onbehalf of the EU of which 25% was retained by Spain)and received EUR 13.1 billion. European Commission(2011). EU budget 2010-Financial Report.
2 European Commission (2011). Natura 2000 Barometer.3 http://www.money-go-round.eu/Country.aspx?id=ES4 European Commission (2012). LIFE Country Factsheet: Spain.5 European Commission. Regional Policy – InfoRegio. Project
example: Spain – “Expansion of the Port of Barcelona”.6 Prada Blanco et al. (2005). Beneficios y costes sociales en la
conservación de la RED NATURA 2000. Fundación Caixa Galicia.7 Kettunen, M. et al. (2011). Assessment of the Natura
2000 co‐financing arrangements of the EU financinginstrument. A project for the European Commission –final report. Institute for European Environmental Policy(IEEP), Brussels, Belgium.
8 Gantioler, S., et al. (2010). Costs and Socio-EconomicBenefits associated with the Natura 2000 Network. Finalreport to the European Commission. Institute for EuropeanEnvironmental Policy / GHK / Ecologic. Brussels.
9 The average value for one hectare of northern Mediterraneanforest is EUR 173. The total coverage of Mediterraneanforest in Spain is 18,173,000 hectares according to the2010 Global Forest Resources Assessment. Croitoru, L.,(2007). How much are Mediterranean Forests Worth?. Forestand Policy Economics, 9, 536-545.
10 European Commission. Regional Policy – InfoRegio.Project example: Spain – “A-2 Motorway. Cervera – SantaMaria del Camí section”.
11 European Commission. Regional Policy – InfoRegio. Projectexample: Spain – “The best energy is energy which is not used”.
BIRDLIFE RECOMMENDATIONS - HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
> The EU Budget should redirect funds towards rewarding the delivery of publicgoods. EU funds can be used to support local products and handicrafts thatare linked to Spanish cultural heritage and natural landscape.
> EU investment should be adequately channeled to energy efficiency andimproved water management.
> Sustainable tourism, that respects the natural environment promotestraditional activities, including traditional products, increases productivityand all together preserve the environment and landscape.
> Spain should ensure that EU funding is spent in a quality way that leads to asustainable economy that benefits Spanish society.
EU policy
1 Increase the total budget of the EU’senvironmental fund “LIFE” from 0,23%to 1% of the total EU Budget (circa 1.5billion EUR per year);
2 Balance the two pillars of the CommonAgricultural Policy (CAP) and ensure50% of its total budget delivers towardsthe Rural Development Programme;
3 Ensure the EU Budget delivers 20% ofclimate action, especially throughclimate mitigation under cohesion policy;
4 Establish a tracking system that documentsspecific positive and negative effects of EUfunds for climate and biodiversity.
5 Support the establishment and financingof the Voluntary scheme for Biodiversityand Ecosystem Services in Territories ofthe EU Outermost Regions and OverseasCountries and Territories (BEST).
National planning & programming
1 Establish clear earmarking of EU fundsfor the financing of the Natura 2000network, based on national or regionalpriority action frameworks;
2 Ensure sufficient funding is available forwell targeted and well designed agri-environment schemes and otherenvironmental measures under ruraldevelopment;
3 Finance Green Infrastructure andprojects on energy efficiency underregional development;
4 Involve all relevant actors, includingenvironmental NGOs, during nationalplanning and implementation of Europeanfunds (including partnership contracts).
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