2.A.2b Justification for the establishment of a priority axis covering more than one thematic objective (where applicable)
(Reference: Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
N/A
ID
Title Environment and Resources
The entire priority axis will be implemented solely through financial instruments
The entire priority axis will be implemented solely though financial instruments set up at Union level
The entire priority axis will be implemented through community-led local development
2.A.3b Fund and calculation basis for Union support
Fund ERDF
Calculation Basis (public or total)
2.A.4ba Investment priority
(Reference: point (b)(i) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment Priority Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage
2.A.5ba Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results
(Reference: points (b)(i) and (ii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
ID
Specific objective Valorisation of the cultural and natural heritage of common region in a sustainable way
The results, which the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
The rich cultural and natural heritage of the region described in the analysis should, in a coordinated way, be protected, made better accessible and be cautiously further developed and promoted in order to maintain this rich diversity for future generations and to valorise their potentials for a diversification of local economies and a sustainable development of the region.
Some of these attractions are not properly preserved and developed, and there are many cases where insufficient infrastructure limits the effective promotion and utilization of these natural and cultural resources.
Cooperation and common approaches in the process of recovery, protection, promotion of natural and cultural heritage and making it accessible both for citizens and guests of the region provide great potential for valorising of these assets and implementing positive synergies.
Common approach to cultural and natural heritage is the way to remembering common history, development and culture of the society on both sides of the border and to contributing to the development of a common identity and ecological
stability. Removal of this kind of barriers, brought along with such aspects, shows itself in a sustainable development of the border area.
The envisaged result is the sustainable protection and
valorisation of the rich natural and cultural heritage potential of the region. This should be manifested in:
- coordinated / common strategic approaches to protection, development and promotion of cultural and natural
heritage,
- better preserved, developed and accessible sites and attractions of common interest in the region
For measuring the results of the planned intervention the indicator “increase of the attractiveness” measured by the change of the overnight stays in a region was chosen.
Table 3: Programme specific result indicators
(Reference: point (b)(ii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
ID Indicator Measureme nt Unit Baseline Value Baseline Year Target Value3 (2023) Source of Data Freque ncy of reporti ng Number of overnight stays in the region number 2012 +....% National statistics Every 3 years
2.A.6ba Actions to be supported under the investment priority
2.A.6.1ba A description of the type and examples of actions to be financed and their expected contribution to the corresponding specific objectives, including, where appropriate identification of the main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment Priority Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage
The supported actions will contribute to protect, promote and develop the rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage in the Czech-Austrian border region in a sustainable and resource efficient way.
Activities are envisaged (also if undertaken on only one side of the border) to improve the status and potential for further sustainable utilization of cultural / natural sights and monuments as long as they are based on national, regional or common strategies. The interventions need to have the potential for triggering a noticeable positive impact for the
local economies and / or the common identity of the regional population. Cross-border cooperation in the field of heritage brings up added value through
supporting a joint view on the common natural and cultural heritage and implementation of measures that are based on jointly agreed strategies and concepts. All the proposed measures are following the principles of sustainable tourism.4. (see selection criteria)
Supported actions within this Investment Priority may target the following areas (types of actions):
a) Systemic measures of common character (e.g. studies, strategies, plans, systematic promotional activities) in the field of preservation, development and utilization of cultural / natural heritage
b) Reconstruction, recovery and promotion of cultural / natural sights and
monuments in the region based on relevant regional, national or commonly agreed strategies / concepts
c) Preservation, development and promotion of the cross-border region´s intangible cultural heritage
d) Support the utilization of the cultural/natural heritage potential by investment in sustainable public touristic infrastructure and information facilities
Main target groups
resident population tourists
enterprises esp. SMEs
non-profit sector (esp. involved in protection, management and promotion of cultural and natural heritage)
public sector (esp. involved in protection, management and promotion of cultural and natural heritage)
Types of beneficiaries
public and private R&I institutions universities and university institutes
public authorities (state, municipalities, regions and their organisations)
non-profit actors involved in protection, management and promotion of cultural and natural heritage
associations involved in protection, management and promotion of cultural and natural heritage
EGTC
4 Following the concept of the World Tourism Organisation Network sustainable tourism means: "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities
Specific territories targeted Programme area
2.A.6.2ba Guiding principles for the selection of operations
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment Priority Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage
I. The following general principles will guide the selection of interventions under the various Investment Priorities:
Cross-reference IP 1.1.
II. Additional specific principles that apply for this Investment Priority are:
- Interventions are based on a national, regional or common strategy or jointly agreed concept
- Supported heritage needs to be open to the public
- Accessibility of supported heritage to people with specific needs will be considered
- The development and utilization of cultural and natural heritage needs to be in an explicitly sustainable and environmentally friendly way and observe state of the art protection standards
- Only those studies, strategies, plans and similar cross-border mechanisms and solutions will be supported which are able to demonstrate evidence or realistic assumption on their real/practical application in sustainable development of common area.
The Monitoring Committee will develop and approve detailed criteria for the selection of projects and interventions within this Programme.
2.A.6.3ba Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment priority Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage Planned use of financial instruments N/A
2.A.6.4ba Planned use of major projects (where appropriate)
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment priority Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage
N/A
2.A.6.5ba Output indicators
(Reference: point (b)(iv) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Table 5: Common and programme specific output indicators ID Indicator (name of indicator) Measurement unit Target value (2023)
Source of data Frequency of reporting Number of cultural/natural heritage elements with improved attractiveness Number of elements 0 Monitoring Number of cross- border mechanisms to ensure joint management of common heritage Number of mechanisms 0 Monitoring Number of newly built/improved elements of public touristic infrastructure Number of elements 0 Monitoring
The term “mechanism” refers to solution or combination of solutions developed and/or implemented by cross-border projects to address common / shared challenges. Solutions can inter alia be concepts; strategies; policy recommendations; policies; political and/or administrative decisions; decision support tools; legislative acts and legal documents; action plans; investment projects prepared; management tools, procedures and methods; knowledge transfer.
2.A.4bb Investment priority
(Reference: point (b)(i) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment Priority Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services including through Natura2000, and green infrastructure
2.A.5bb Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results
(Reference: points (b)(i) and (ii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
ID
Specific objective Increase of ecological stability and improvement of ecosystem services
The results, which the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
Landscape and natural habitats in the programme area have been and are being adversely affected by humans. Every day several hectares of agricultural and forest land in the region are built up for settlements, infrastructure, energy production, disposal or economic reasons. These tendencies have a negative impact on biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems and lead to destabilization and
vulnerability.
The effects of climate change are also being noticed in the region and floods and draughts and other climate effects are increasingly affecting the regional ecosystems, local population and some sectors of the economy.
Landscape and environment are united and inseparable and do not end at administrative borders. It is necessary for the region to look for common solutions that are also cross-border effective.
Thus the expected results of the Investment Priority include:
o increasingly coordinated approaches and common solutions to tackle issues of landscape transformation, mitigation of climate change effects and conservation
of biodiversity,
o measures of Green Infrastructure realized as an instrument helping to maintain biodiversity in common cross-border region and to assist the ecosystems to function properly,
o to have better managed, protected and gradually upgraded natural habitats and vulnerable landscapes,
o to have enhanced knowledge and
awareness of the population and the local communities regarding ecological stability
Table 3: Programme specific result indicators (by Specific Objective)
(Reference: point (b)(ii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
ID Indicator Measureme nt Unit Baseline Value Baseline Year Target Value5 (2023)
Source of Data Frequency of reporting
Landuse – sealed area per year (settlement and infrastructure) km2 2011 Reduction in % or stabilisation National statistics, agencies for environmental affairs Every 3 years Resident population protected by flood protection measures Number of people according to existing flood protection plans 2011 Extension National statistics, agencies for environmental affairs, specialized departments Every 3 years
2.A.6bb Actions to be supported under the investment priority
2.A.6.1bb A description of the type and examples of actions to be financed and their expected contribution to the corresponding specific objectives, including, where appropriate identification of the main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment Priority Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services including through Natura2000, and green infrastructure
To protect and restore the variety of species and to secure the ecosystem in the region is essential for obtaining the living conditions and for sustainable socio-economic
development of the region.
In both countries for the biosphere strategies the Ecosystem approach is the leading principle in ecosystem management. This means an integrated management of land, water and living resources, that promotes their conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
Following the national strategies and goals the interventions of interventions under this IP can be summarized under the following bundles:
Coordination, Management, Public awareness
In the region there is a plurality of different protected areas - nationalparks, nature parks, RAMSAR and NATURA 2000, biosphere reserve areas and others. Only few of them have special management structures, the systems of monitoring are different. On both side of the border there is a need to increase the understanding of the importance of
biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
Ecosystem services and risk prevention
Ecosystem based strategies and measures are the most sustainable and effective instruments against the impacts of the climate change. With new innovative solutions using the components and the natural potential of the green infrastructure the risk for natural disasters can be reduced. The measures of Green infrastructure are planned to be supported as an instrument helping to maintain biodiversity, interlink natural habitats, combat the fragmentation of landscapes and to assist the ecosystems to function properly.
Following types of actions will be promoted :
a) Investments in Green infrastructure, i.e. natural and landscape elements that are contributing to:
- prevention of flooding and/or water retention (such as floodplain restoration, wetlands, re-naturalizing rivers and river banks etc.), - adaptation to climate change or the mitigation of negative effects
(incl. measures dealing with droughts),
- easier migration of species in the joint region (artificial landscape elements etc.)
b) Coordinated preparation and/or implementation of NATURA 2000 and other concepts for protected areas and other measures supporting the preservation of biodiversity
c) Preparation and implementation of joint cross border mechanisms – like researches, studies, strategies, plans, coordinated management approaches, awareness raising and education activities and other structural cooperative measures in the field of nature and landscape protection and utilization Main target groups
resident population tourists
enterprises esp. SMEs non-profit sector public sector Types of beneficiaries
public and private R&I institutions universities and university institutes
public authorities (state, municipalities, regions and their organisations)
non-profit actors involved in protection, management and promotion of environment
chambers and associations involved in protection, management and promotion of environment
EGTC
Specific territories targeted Programme area.
2.A.6.2bb Guiding principles for the selection of operations
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment Priority Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services including through Natura2000, and green infrastructure
I. The following general principles will guide the selection of interventions under the various Investment Priorities:
Cross-reference IP 1.1.
II. Additional specific principles that apply for this Investment Priority are:
- Only those studies, strategies, plans and similar cross-border mechanisms and solutions will be supported which are able to demonstrate evidence or realistic assumption on their real/practical application in sustainable development of common area.
The Monitoring Committee will develop and approve detailed criteria for the selection of projects and interventions within this Programme.
2.A.6.3bb Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment priority Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services including through Natura2000, and green infrastructure
Planned use of financial instruments
N / A
2.A.6.4bb Planned use of major projects (where appropriate)
(Reference: point (b)(iii) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Investment priority Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services including through Natura2000, and green infrastructure
2.A.6.4bb Output indicators
(Reference: point (b)(iv) of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
Table 5: Common and programme specific output indicators
ID Indicator Measurement unit Target value (2023)
Source of data Frequency of reporting
Elements of green
infrastructure realized
number of elements 0 Monitoring
Cross-border mechanisms in the field of nature, landscape and biological species management number of mechanisms 0 Monitoring
The term “mechanism” refers to solution or combination of solutions developed and/or implemented by cross-border projects to address common / shared challenges. Solutions can inter alia be concepts; strategies; policy recommendations; policies; political and/or administrative decisions; decision support tools; legislative acts and legal documents; action plans; investment projects prepared; management tools, procedures and methods; knowledge transfer.