Further material can be viewed on the BTAU Poland National Website  (in construction)

The Polish Unit is set up within the structures of the OTOP (Polish Society for the Protection of Birds) in Marki, on the outskirts of Warsaw.

A financial sector analysis was undertaken in 2007 of environmental commercial funds. Apart from the Foundation EcoFund, the Bank for Environment Protection (BO??) and - to some extent - the National Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management (which offer grants and some preferential loans for environment oriented infrastructure projects), no one financial institution and/or commercial bank provides credit lines which are specifically dedicated to SMEs in Natura 2000 areas and which are biodiversity focused. The future Biodiversity Financial Facility employed by the BTAU will therefore not face any competition.

The analysis of the new EU financial Framework, apart from LIFE+, does not provide evidence that both structural and cohesion funds will be specifically oriented and dedicated to whatever extent to pro-biodiversity businesses and projects in N2000 sites or areas. The Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme(OP) is dedicated to huge key infrastructure projects, and among others the very controversial Nieszawa Dam. SMEs will not benefit from this OP. The OP Innovative Economy, includes about 40% of funds dedicated to SMEs as for innovation project of European and at least national level innovations. Part of this money will be offered as grants, part as commercial loans. The European innovation criterion practically excludes the majority if not all micro enterprises which compose over 92 % of all biodiversity dependent and relevant SMEs as potential PBBs. The New Financial Perspective funds and OPs are subject to standard EIA procedure and HD Art. 6 if in N2000 areas. There is no evidence of earmarking  for N2000 purposes and no resources available specifically for "pro-biodiversity business" type projects.

Funds available for SMEs within the new perspective will provide some competition to the BFF as a fund, but not in area of biodiversity project neither at N2000 areas.

SMEs compose 99.8 % of all national enterprises. Nearly 10% of them or about 120,000 enterprises are biodiversity dependent and relevant SMEs as potential so called "Pro-Biodiversity Businesses" (PBBs). Statistical figures show that there is a serious market niche and potential demand for the BFF and the BTAU to function. The DOEN project demonstrated that with seven Natura 2000 pilot areas, nearly 6,000 potential PBBs exists. The number of Natura 2000 sites counts for over 200 already (at present 18% of the territory), hence it is easy to imagine what the potential market is in Poland.

National budgets are responsible for covering the maintenance costs of Natura 2000 sites. The EC estimated this costs for over 6,1 billion euros annually for 25 members states. Poland (in a similar fashion to  other countries has big difficulties to assign necessary funds, therefore involving private business into active (management) protection of N2000 by economic activities consistent with N2000 management regime is the reasonable and attractive approach.

Poland is a biodiversity rich country with a need to preserve it rather than to restore it or enhance it, unlike many Western Europe countries. Therefore the priority is the sustainable-use of resources and supporting economic activities within/around Natura 2000 sites which maintain a favorable ecological status of the Natura 2000 areas. The Natura 2000 networks represent a wide array of ecosystems and habitats. Sites are relatively big and all of them require management plans to translate protection prescriptions into management language and a format available for SMEs. This may help to turn the Natura 2000 sites from a "problem” to an “opportunity” both for businesses and for local societies dependent on the areas in which they live.

Zenon Tederko

Project Coordinator
Supporting Business for Biodiversity
Polish Society for Protection of Birds
ul. Odrow?�??a 24
05-270 Marki n/b Warszawa
Tel. mob.: 0 510 275 210
Tel: 0-22 761 82 05
Fax: 0-22 761 90 51
E-mail: zenon.tederko@otop.org.pl