Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2021-2027
Project description
Central Europe is affected by a loss of biodiversity caused by unsustainable ecosystem management. Many rural communities lack the support to transition their ecosystems. This gap is addressed by the Central-BIC project, in which partners develop new tools and methodologies for sustainable ecosystem management. The partners will directly involve producers and consumers in testing tailor-made solutions within three different sectors: livestock farming, agriculture, and integrated tourism. Activities include the creation of a network of Biodiversity Stewardship Communities (BSCs) to identify replicable good practices for habitat protection.
Partners: LP Regione Liguria; VeGAL; Langhe Monferrato e Roero Società Consortile a.r.l. – LAMORO; Public Institution Kamenjak (Croatia); Zadar County (Croatia); Institute for Environmental Planning and Spatial Development – Ifuplan (Germany); Hajdú-Bihar County Government (Hungary); Association of Municipalities of Małopolska Region (Poland); Technical University of Kosice (Slovakia); BSC – Business support centre ltd. Kranj (Slovenia); Development agency of Idrija and Cerkno – ICRA (Slovenia); European Centre of Entrepreneurship Competence & Excellence (Austria).
Objectives
The main objective of the project is to contribute to the loss of natural capital through a participatory approach that reconnects local communities with the values of their land, green capital, and ecosystem services, orienting them towards new green opportunities, introducing biodiversity protection actions, achieving collective awareness, and creating biodiversity management communities (BSCs).
- WP1 objective: Develop methods to assess ecosystem services and their benefits for human well-being based on the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
- WP2 objective: Provide an assessment of the economic performance of sustainable uses of ecosystem services and propose models for paying for ES, including through market and supply/demand mechanisms.
- WP3 Objective: Implement the testing of Biodiversity Stewardship Communities (BSCs) and Payments for Ecosystem Services (PESs) models in 14 areas to improve ecosystem services and the value of biodiversity.
Project activities
- Monitoring of habitats, ecosystem services, and benefits
- Socio-economic analysis of the costs and benefits of the provision and use of ecosystem services
- Transnational Action Plan and Strategy, formulated on the basis of local assessments
- Testing of sustainable solutions in companies, markets, and communities
- Pilot actions in the areas of: livestock farming and grazing; agriculture and local products; integrated tourism.
Beneficiary
LP Liguria Region; VeGAL and 10 other partners
Area of intervention
Eastern Venice
Implementation period
01/06/2024-30/11/2026
Total cost
Euro
Contribution
Euro
Thematic areas
- Business and Development
- Environment
- Studies and analysis