Integrating biodiversity in regional development - Brittany, France

1. Integrating biodiversity in regional development - Brittany, France Julie Verré and Muriel Fagot Conseil Général des Côtes d‘Armor 27 September 2012, Cardiff

2. SURF Nature : an opportunity • The SURF project represented a real opportunity to: • Learn from our EU counterparts • Lead a local “campaign” aimed at financing bodies and project promoters The SURF project gave us a framework and a tight timescale, which allowed us to contribute in a timely manner to the preparation of the new EU programmes.

3. Technical exchanges

4. Local actions supported by SURF Nature Oct 2011 : EU seminar Jan 2012 : wide regional dissemination of the recommendations April – May 2012: one region-wide consultation June 2012: One draft regional report “The use of ERDF funds for biodiversity in Brittany – analysis and recommendations” June 2012: Regional event + training session Sept 2012: wide dissemination of the report, including recommendations for 2014 - 2020

5. Oct 2011: EU workshop Objective: Raise awareness and convince regional stakeholders of the need to maintain EU funding, and ERDF in particular for nature conservation Number of participants: 90 Attendees: Environmental NGOs, small local authorities, technicians and elected representatives from Conseil General, ERDF managing authority: competitiveness + 2 INTERREG programmes, EU funds experts. Outputs: A set of recommendations for managing authorities on how to invest in nature protection

6. Oct 2011: EU workshop in St Brieuc “It was great to mingle with people from different backgrounds and expertise”, “We can only encourage the organisation of another event, where we could learn more about EU programmes and projects and the future”.

7. Oct 2011 : recommendations • Recommendations agreed at the seminar: • Integrate biodiversity in local development • Protect extraordinary and ordinary habitats • Invest in Green Infrastructure • Support environment education • Support small project promoters • Support partnership working • Improve support and information to project promoters • Dissemination: From our President to a) the regional authorities: Regional Council and the representation of the State in the Region (EU funds Managing authority), b) all attendees and key local authorities in Brittany.

8. 2012: The Regional Report Améliorer les politiques pour la préservation de la nature et la biodiversité, en augmentant les opportunités de financement pour la protection de la nature Objective:analyse current use of the ERDF fund for biodiversity, identify the needs of biodiversity stakeholders, and research funding opportunities for the upcoming European programming for the 2014-2020 period • How? • One consultant • 21 interviews : NGOs, Local authorities, managing authorities • Bibliographical work • One regional event • One report • One synthesis in French and English • Dissemination strategy

9. June 2012: Regional event Objective: Inform stakeholders of the new programming framework 2014 -2020, inform managing authorities of the local needs for funding based on the regional report. Number of participants: 60 Attendees: Environmental NGOs, Small local authorities, Technicians and elected representatives from our Council Competitiveness programme authorities INTERREG programmes authorities (IVB and IVA) Association des Départements de France.

10. ERDF Analysis from the regional report • Competitiveness programme for Brittany 2007 -2013: • A programme that is less than encouraging for minor project promoters • Fuzzy articulation between the ERDF-EAFRD-EFF regional programmes • A lack of consistency within ERDF objectives, and a calling into question of the reliability of the indicators • Interpretations in the types of action eligible, which work against leadership and engineering actions • A programme that is incomplete in terms of biodiversity and protection of the natural world • Difficulties relating to the bureaucratic burden of applications and cashflow problems • But: • The 4 INTERREG programmes devote the lion’s share of their budget to biodiversity actions

11. How can biodiversity in Brittany be defended and promoted through the upcoming ERDF programme? • Improve the accessibility of ERDF funds to biodiversity stakeholders, including small organisations • Give more weight to biodiversity in the Operational Programmes funded by ERDF • Improve governance of ERDF funds, in line with other European, national and territorial public policies Complete report and annexes on : www.surf-nature.eu/

12. Dissemination of the report • Regional authorities in charge of ERDF funds: CRB, SGAR, DREAL. • 250 reports sent by direct mail to elected rep + environmental organisations • Members of the Regional Commission for EU programming in Brittany (CRPE) • Articles in various networks, e.g. ARIC (9000 mayors and councillors targeted) • Dissemination to all French Départements through the Association of French Departement • Dissemination to the French section of the regions and communes of Europe • … Complete report and annexes on : www.surf-nature.eu/

13. Influencing regional policy : competitiveness programme • Regional report sent by our President to Region + SGAR • Environmental stakeholders informed about process and encouraged to contribute • Summer 2012: Regional Diagnosis : bibliography based • 26/09/12: Consulation on the diagnosis • By mid-2013: development of OPs • Provision of data and complementary information • Regular liaison with Regional Council and environmental stakeholders Key is to inform environmental stakeholders about the process as they are not well-informed.

14. Influencing regional policy : Co-operation programmes The process is just starting. We are ready to contribute thanks to the SURF projects. INTERREG IVA: The General Council are official partners and can contribute more easily. INTERREG IVB and C: Local authorities of our level (NUTS 3) are not involved directly. We need to identify « friends » that can relay our message: Regional councils, associations of local authorities, major environmental NGOs. Key is to inform environmental stakeholders about the process for them to contribute and lobby.

15. www.surf-nature.eu Let´s make financing biodiversity a success story! Contact en France: Conseil Général des Côtes d’Armor Julie Verré et Muriel Fagot Thanks for your attention!