Integration approach to financing of biodiversity: evaluation of results and analysis of options for the future.

closed

The overall aim of the study is to assess possible ways to increase the effectiveness of integration approach to biodiversity financing and to explore further avenues for scaling up financial support to EU nature and biodiversity. The study should present options to increase the effectiveness of the current set-up of financing possibilities, including through potential improvements and/or changes in management and governance, as well as complementary approaches (earmarking for nature and biodiversity, upscaling of LIFE programme, additional dedicated fund). The study should also identify economic instruments that could be used in a complimentary way as additions to the existing EU instruments, in particular those economic instruments that have not been explored from the EU perspective so far. On the basis of study findings, it should be possible to identify appropriate policy mixes for more efficient support from diversified sources for EU biodiversity in the future. The study will pay particular attention to the financing of the Natura 2000 network given the EU legally binding nature of these areas. It should explore which financing mechanisms are more appropriate for the Natura 2000 specific needs, and under what conditions they might be most effective.