Financing Nature Protection in Slovakia 2021-2027: Opportunities and Measures

Possibilities of financing nature protection from the Program Slovakia 2021 - 2027 HUNGARIAN-SLOVAK JOINT COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND NATURE CONSERVATION Working Group on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection June 12th, 2024, Bratislava

Program Slovakia 2021 Program Slovakia 2021 - - 2027 2027 Approved by the European Commission on 22 November 2022; In the programming period 2021 2027, the Managing Authority is Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI SR). Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (MoE SR) fulfills the function of an Intermediary body for the Programme Slovakia and is responsible for measures within the 4 specific objectives of Priority 2 Environment : 2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches; 2.5. Promoting access to water and sustainable water management; 2.6. Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy; 2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution.

RSO 2.7. RSO 2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution In specific objective RSO 2.7 will MoE SR support these measures in nature protection: 2.7.1. Elaboration and implementation of approved documents for the management of specially protected parts of nature and landscape; 2.7.2. Mapping and monitoring of habitats and species and monitoring of nature protection and biodiversity targets; 2.7.3. Promoting biological and landscape diversity and the quality of ecosystem services by maintaining and building green and blue infrastructure and prevention and management of invasive alien species; 2.7.5. Ensuring the continuity of watercourses and their revitalisation in order to support biodiversity; 2.7.6. Promoting environmental awareness, also through environmental centres.

Measure Measure 2.7.1 management of specially protected parts of nature and landscape management of specially protected parts of nature and landscape 2.7.1. Elaboration and implementation of approved documents for the . Elaboration and implementation of approved documents for the Elaboration and implementation of measures resulting from approved management plans, as well as from other approved documents for the management of protected areas or species; Reconstruction and construction of infrastructure and provision of services for visitors of protected areas, especially with the aim of protecting biodiversity and guiding visitors; Ensuring the material and technical equipment of the nature guards for the purpose of fulfilling the tasks of the nature guards as part of the activities of the approved projects, while these tasks must result from the approved management plans; Completion and expansion of rescue stations for protected animal species; Purchase and reconstruction of objects intended for the performance of State Nature Conservation functions, including documentation and museum activities; Projects must comply with the Priority Action Framework for Natura 2000; A state aid/de minimis scheme will be developed; Total alocation: 248 mil. fromERDF and CF.

Measure Measure 2.7.2 nature protection and biodiversity targets nature protection and biodiversity targets 2.7.2. Mapping and monitoring of habitats and species and monitoring of . Mapping and monitoring of habitats and species and monitoring of Mapping and monitoring of habitats and species of European interest for the purpose of regular reporting for the European Commission; Mapping and monitoring of habitats and species of national interest; Full-scale monitoring of species and habitats listed in the list of habitats and species for which Slovakia must ensure mapping and monitoring for the European Commission; Projects must comply with the Habitats Directive, the Bird Directive and the Nature and Landscape Protection Act, the list of species of national interest; Total allocation: 20,1 mil. fromCF.

Measure Measure 2.7.3 ecosystem services by maintaining and building green and blue infrastructure and ecosystem services by maintaining and building green and blue infrastructure and prevention and management of invasive alien species prevention and management of invasive alien species 2.7.3. Promoting biological and landscape diversity and the quality of . Promoting biological and landscape diversity and the quality of Measures to improve the condition of habitats and species outside protected areas and watercourses, on agricultural and forest land, along transport corridors as well as in settlements; Processing of documents for preservation and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems and evaluation of their services; Support for the implementation of elements of green and blue infrastructure at the local level, especially as part of common facilities and measures in land development projects; Processing of documents for building a landscape planning system and maintaining landscape structures and restoring ecosystems and evaluating their services; Processing of documents and implementation of eradication measures of invasive alien species, including their mapping and monitoring, or the construction of detention stations for invasive species; Total allocation: 18,7 mil. fromERDF (11,25 mil. ITI integrated territorial investments).

Measure Measure 2.7.5. Ensuring the continuity of watercourses and their 2.7.5. Ensuring the continuity of watercourses and their revitalisation order to support biodiversity order to support biodiversity revitalisationin in Originally in OP QE 2014 - 2020 under water management, within specific objective 1.2.3, activity B; Measures to ensure the revitalization of streams; Removal of barriers on watercourses; Elimination of disruption of the longitudinal continuity of streams and habitats, ensuring the lateral continuity of wetlands/floods with the stream; Removal of selected stream embankments, taking into account the management needs of invasive alien species. Total allocation: 13,4 mil. fromERDF a CF.

Measure Measure 2.7.6 centres centres 2.7.6. Promoting environmental awareness, also through environmental . Promoting environmental awareness, also through environmental Support of environmental centers also in protected areas for the purpose of increasing environmental knowledge, education and awareness; Support of small environmental infrastructure for the public; Implementation through the National project managed by the Slovak Environment Agency; Total allocation: 10,1 mil. fromCF.

Thank you for paying attention For more information please contact: peter.jany@enviro.gov.sk