Natura 2000 (DK)
Challenge
Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world and covers more than 18% of the EU’s land area and +8% of its marine territory. It stretches across all 27 EU countries. The areas preserve and protect habitat types and wild animals and plants which are rare, endangered, or characteristic for EU countries.
As part of the Danish agricultural policy landowners can receive funds to convert land use from intensive to extensive use to better protect and create joint habitats under Natura 2000.
In order to effectively ensure fulfillment of obligations in relation to Natura 2000, a solution for application, case processing, payout, and reporting of subsidies to joint habitats was needed to reduce case handling time dramatically.
KEYWORDS
Thematic
Wildlife protection, habitats, endangered species
Legal
The EU-Birds Directive, The EU-Habitats Directive
Tech
Grant management, separation of functions, GIS
Solution
The Natura 2000 F2 solution is supported by three fundamental processes: approval, payout, and funds management. When a new application round starts, a master case is created. This is where the agency keeps tracks of prioritization, funds granted and funds paid out. From this case lists can be created to inform executive management or an approval committee.
For an applicant a Natura 2000 grant starts with an application submitted through a self-service solution on the Danish EPA’s website. This can be done by a sole land owner or a group of applicants together and for one or more lots of land.
The project area is marked in the EPA’s GIS and submitted.
At the agency applications are received. Applications go through a number of steps, including screening, sorting, and prioritization, which result in approval or rejection for each case. If approved the applicant requests a payment. Information and data are updated automatically during the process to let the authority maintain an overview of all applications and approvals. When all applications have been sorted for eligibility they have to be prioritized, so that the most relevant applications with the biggest impact receive their part of the limited funds. The funds case is updated simultaneously to provide an overview and status.
An application may therefore be rejected either because of failing eligibility or because of lack of prioritization. And a rejection letter is created and emailed to the applicants accordingly.
When an application is approved, requests and payouts become available for the applicant. These are also accessed through the website, which guides the applicant through the processes and creates a payout case. An EPA case manager receives the application in an F2 case processing module which automatically creates a case that includes the application and the marked area submitted to GIS. The case management entails registration, surveying, and de minimis checks. Another prerequisite for a payout is that landowners have to provide documentation for the land use being re-registered in the National Matricular System. And the caseworker must check that this has been done before the solution lets an approved application be authorized and greenlighted for release. Funds are then transferred to the citizen’s bank account.
Separation of functions means that all payouts are under a four eye principle ensuring proper governance.
Results
The F2 solution for application, case processing, payout, and reporting of subsidies to joint habitats under Natura 2000 reduces the case handling time dramatically.
The funds case entails the accounting of the overall funding and the option of balancing both individual cases and transactions. The funds case also documents any communication with the government accounting system (Navision State).
The solution is presented in a simple manner to help the applicants. Administration is improved, cases are monitored, and the EPA has a general overview (effects, areas, economy). Sorting applications by a points system and automatic funds reservation helps streamline case management. The system also prevents fraud and errors and automatically generates an overview for easy prioritization of applications.
F2 Climate Software Solutions
