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Available resources
| Release date | 15/02/2006 |
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| 12. Are the human, institutional and financial resources available adequate for full implementation of the protected areas network, including for management of individual protected areas? | |
| a) no, they are severely limiting (please provide basic information on needs and shortfalls) | |
| b) no, they are limiting (please provide basic information on needs and shortfalls) | X (Brussels) |
| c) Available resources are adequate (please provide basic information on needs and shortfalls) | X (Wallonia and Flanders) |
| d) yes, good resources are available | X (North Sea) |
In general, more resources (human, institutional, financial) are needed for protected areas. The surface area of the individual protected areas has a tendency to become smaller and smaller, and therefore require intensive management to meet conservation goals. A solid, well-coordinated monitoring system is needed to regularly update information on the state of nature (e.g. far more species need to be monitored). Management planning needs more integrated and participatory approach that implies the need for more time and higher inputs of resources.
Areas under European status. The LIFE-Nature programme provides some financial resources for the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. It must be complemented with national resources. For more information, see: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/life/nature.htm.
Areas under national status. Resources are provided by the Federal government and by the Regional governments. The availability of resources depends on the region. For the North Sea, good resources are available for implementation of the MMM law: there is a specific budget allocated by the Federal Minister for the Environment and several research projects on biodiversity in marine areas are funded by the Federal Science Policy Office.
| 13. Has your country requested/received financial assistance from the Global Environment Facility or other international sources for establishment/management of protected areas? | |
| a) No | X (GEF) |
| b) funding has been requested, but not received | |
| c) funding is currently being requested | |
| d) yes, funding has been received (please provide copies of appropriate documents) | X (EU funds) |
EU funding. As stated above, EU funding for the Natura 2000 network comes through the LIFE-Nature programme. Twenty-one projects from Belgium have received financial support during the 1992-2002 period. See: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/life/nature.htm.
Nature protection initiatives can also be funded under the EU INTERREG and LEADER programmes. The financing of the Natura 2000 network on a long-term basis is currently under evaluation by the European Commission.