Welcome to the December 2024 issue of the NaturaConnect newsletter! At the recent United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, lack of financing was highlighted as a key challenge for countries embarking on nature protection and recovery efforts. In Europe, major financing challenges include finance access bottlenecks, protected area under-resourcing, and lack of post-project funding opportunities. It is also clear that significant upscaling of financing will be needed, with future funding for biodiversity and the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) requiring a combination of public and private finance mechanisms. In the NaturaConnect project, we have been investigating financing options for the TEN-N, outlined in a series of factsheets detailing public and private funding opportunities for countries. These range from EU funds and programmes (such as LIFE, Interreg, and CAP funds), to private financing mechanisms (such as green and resilience bonds, user-pays principle, and aligning subsidies for nature), and ways to use public funds to leverage private (blended finance).

As countries move forward with designing, funding and implementing the TEN-N, aligning their policy and governance frameworks to serve as enablers of nature protection, connectivity and restoration will be key. A recently launched NaturaConnect report analysed best practices for and challenges to ecological connectivity governance. The report presents recommendations on possible governance actions and interventions for European implementing authorities in the context of their regulatory frameworks, economic development, knowledge and capacity building, and empowerment and conflict management.  

We invite you to explore these resources on policy and finance, as well as other key milestones from the project, all detailed below.  

If you wish to follow up on any of our updates, please reach out to us at [email protected]

We take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful holiday period and a bright start to the New Year.

Evelyn Underwood, Institute for European Environmental Policy.

Co-lead: Governance, Policy, and Financing TEN-N

Thinking Beyond Borders: A Trans-European Nature Network for Europe

Protecting nature means thinking beyond borders.  

That’s why the NaturaConnect project is here – to support countries in designing and developing a truly coherent Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) of conserved areas that protect at least 30% of land in the European Union, with at least one third of it under strict protection.  

The project unites universities and research institutes, government bodies and non-governmental organisations.  

We are working together with key stakeholders to create targeted data, knowledge and tools, and build the capacity needed to support European Union Member States in realising an ecologically representative, resilient and well-connected network of conserved areas across Europe.

Watch the video to discover how NaturaConnect is helping countries put biodiversity on the path to recovery, for the benefit of nature and people!

Advancing Support to Countries on Strict Protection Aspect of TEN-N

Strictly protected areas in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Photo: Henrique Miguel Pereira

Strict protection was introduced as a new measure in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Guidance on the definition of strict protection from the European Commission sparked discussions among EU Member States and stakeholders due to different understandings of conservation priorities and gaps, and likely trade-offs with responsibilities and objectives under the Birds and Habitats Directives. A core issue is the need to come to a shared understanding of what strict protection means in terms of protected area management, and how this new protection category would create novel benefits for conservation.

NaturaConnect will be undertaking exploratory analysis to apply strict protection in line with various conservation objectives, among others, the protection and restoration of the ecological integrity of ecosystems, or the conservation of species and habitats particularly sensitive to human activities.

NaturaConnect contributed to the recent Strictly protected areas in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 event organised by the EU Commission to further the discussion with Member States and other relevant groups during two days in Brussels. We contributed with a presentation on the added value that strict protection may bring to biodiversity conservation beyond the already existing EU legal instruments. The event served as an opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives with individual countries’ representatives, environmental NGOs, hunters, anglers, forestry and owner associations, etc, which we aim to consider in designing and planning the TEN-N.  

Exploring the Role of Biosphere Reserves in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

EuroMAB panel, Photo: Katie Darr – CABN

NaturaConnect was represented at this year’s EuroMAB 2024 conference in Wittenberg, Germany, where over 200 participants gathered to discuss the future of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The conference allowed practitioners, policymakers, administrators and scientists from across the European Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) network to meet, exchange ideas and promote the conservation and sustainability mission of biosphere reserves.

Our team participated in a workshop on ecological connectivity and the crucial role of biosphere reserves in achieving the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.  The project was also represented in a plenary panel discussion on climate change and biosphere reserves. The panel provided a good opportunity to discuss the social and ecological challenges ahead as well as give examples of projects, such as NaturaConnect, that offer hope and solutions for the future. Read more in our article.

Latest Project Highlights: Dive into Our Recent Reports

We’re happy to share our latest project developments, packed with insights and resources:

Spotlight on Stakeholder Engagement: Key Insights from NaturaConnect

In the latest update from the NaturaConnect project, we’re pleased to share a comprehensive report on stakeholder engagement, and capacity building efforts under the project.

What’s inside:  

• Stakeholder Engagement: This section highlights the project’s collaborative efforts across Europe, as NaturaConnect works with stakeholders to co-develop essential tools for a resilient, well-connected network of protected areas. The report includes a detailed stakeholder mapping, and a review of engagement activities conducted so far, with a focus on lessons learned and successes. 

• Capacity Building: A key component of the project, this section explores how we’re equipping stakeholders with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources. Our NaturaConnect Learning Platform and the Training Needs Assessment are central to this effort, providing tailored support for users of the project’s frameworks and tools. 

• Evaluation of Engagement: The mid-term report assesses progress to date, identifying challenges and highlighting opportunities for future improvements in stakeholder engagement and capacity development. 

Read more to explore how these insights are driving NaturaConnect’s mission to enhance Europe’s nature protection strategies!

Exploring Best Practices for TEN-N Governance and Land-Use Policies

This new report delves into the governance frameworks and land-use policies supporting the design and implementation of the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N). The detailed synthesis is a valuable resource for policymakers and stakeholders alike, offering clear pathways for strengthening the TEN-N and advancing Europe’s biodiversity conservation agenda.

Key Highlights:

• Governance & Policy Review: This report evaluates the political, economic, and social factors influencing ecological connectivity governance across EU Member States, using the Political Economy Analysis (PEA) framework. The findings reveal significant gaps in regulations, land use practices, and conflict management, all of which are slowing progress.

• Success Stories & Governance Models: While many countries have strategies for ecological connectivity, implementation remains inconsistent. The report highlights successful governance practices across Europe providing models for others to follow.

• Opportunities for Financing the TEN-N: From improving public funding mechanisms to promoting private financing and regulatory reforms, the report outlines practical interventions that could boost ecological connectivity and support sustainable land-use practices across Europe.

• Green & Blue Infrastructure: The findings stress the importance of Green and Blue Infrastructure in achieving biodiversity goals, offering actionable recommendations for enhancing ecological connectivity through integrated policy measures and stakeholder engagement.

Read more to discover how we can overcome challenges and accelerate progress towards a more connected and resilient natural landscape.

Financing Options for the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) 

Following a review of public and private financial mechanisms for the TEN-N, we are pleased to share a series of newly released finance factsheets to support practitioners in better understanding the financial landscape and identifying potential funding opportunities for the TEN-N.  

Each factsheet presents the funding instrument and its eligibility criteria (for EU funds) and explains the important elements that applicants for public funding or users of private finance instruments should consider, including strengths and limitations of the funding instrument in question. In addition, examples of protected areas and connectivity projects that the instrument has funded are presented, as well as useful resources to consult for more information.  

The public funds factsheets focus on the principal EU funds that include ecological connectivity in their scope.

The following funds are covered:

• LIFE programme

• Cohesion policy funds:

  • Interreg (European Territorial Cooperation) programme,

  • Other European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund opportunities

• Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds

• European Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

The private finance factsheets look at both novel and established private finance instruments and approaches:

• User pays-principle for protected areas

• Green bonds

• Resilience bonds

• Debt for nature swaps

• Aligning subsidies for nature

• Blended finance approaches

Click here to access the Factsheets!

Shaping the Future of TEN-N: Network Design and Conservation Targets

We present a new report on network problem formulations, conservation targets, and design criteria for the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N). This report offers guiding principles on how to strategically expand conservation areas across Europe to halt biodiversity decline.

Key Highlights:  

• Strategic Conservation Planning: With Europe’s long history of biodiversity protection, there are still significant gaps in effectively conserving biodiversity across species, ecosystems, and essential services. This report leverages Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) methods to identify the most crucial areas for protection, restoration, and management, ensuring these efforts contribute meaningfully to biodiversity conservation.  

• Favourable Reference Values (FRVs): A new methodology is outlined to quantify conservation ambitions, ensuring the long-term persistence of priority species and maintaining ecosystem functions, even in the face of future climate change.

• Building Resilience for the Future: The report emphasises the importance of ensuring that conservation areas are resilient to future climate conditions, allowing protected areas to remain effective over time.

• Integrating Data for Optimal Network Design: Using robust data integration, the report provides a comprehensive framework for identifying the best locations for conservation, restoration, and management across Europe. This includes considering cross-border collaboration and the allocation of future funding for restoration efforts.

• Informing Policy and Feasibility Assessments: The TEN-N variants developed in this report are directly aligned with European policy targets, offering a valuable tool for assessing the feasibility of current biodiversity policies under different future scenarios.

Read the full report to explore how this methodology will be applie