Brussels, 01/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - €2 million will go to the extremely-remote regions and overseas countries and territories (OCT), to pay for projects for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The decision was announced by the European Commission on Tuesday 1 March, taking up the flag of an initiative originally suggested by the European Parliament.
This funding will pay for pilot projects to designate and manage protected areas, and to refurbish problem ecosystems in these areas in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, which are home to an exceptional biodiversity and a large number of endemic species. As well as their benefit to biodiversity, restoring mangrove swamps and protecting coral reefs will help to fight climate change.
This funding has been channelled through BEST, the name of the voluntary scheme for biodiversity and ecosystem services in the extremely-remote regions and overseas countries and territories, which encourages solutions to ensure the good order and resilience of ecosystems and to reduce pressure brought to bear on diversity. BEST also fosters partnerships between the local administrations, civil society, researchers, landowners and the private sector, in line with the objectives of the “Environment” session of the EU-OCT forum, which opens on Monday in Nouméa (new Caledonia).
In May 2011, the Commission plans to launch a call for proposals for candidate project for BEST co-funding. (A.N./transl.fl)