88336 - Conservation Finance

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will have the theoretical and practical knowledge of the funding tools that can be used to support projects for the protection of nature and the environment, as well as their methods of application. In particular, the student will: - understand the main financing instruments and be familiar with successful examples of their application in the field of nature conservation; -be able to identify the most suitable financial instrument for the specific environmental problem to be treated; - know how to develop funding applications for nature conservation initiatives in response to public and private opportunities through the most successful methodologies; - understand best approach for funding proposals to public and private bodies involved in the management of nature (parks, municipalities, associations, etc.); - be able to participate in calls for tenders or funding initiatives to support pilot nature conservation projects.

Course contents

The course aims to provide students with a methodological background for the design and management of projects financed with European funds, with specific attention to the field of environment and nature conservation.

The first part of the course will introduce the most important EU programs on interregional cooperation: Interreg Europe, MED - Mediterranean Area Development Program, EC - Central European Cooperation Program, Adrion - Cooperation in the Adriatic and Ionian area. Opportunities for developing environmental projects within these programs will be explored.

A specific part of the course will be devoted to presenting the most significant programs for European urban cooperation and possible urban environmental design activities: Urbact and UIA Urban Innovative Actions.

The most significant European strategic programs in the field of environmental research (Horizon Europe) and environmental protection and enhancement (Life) will be examined.

In these cases, too, design opportunities in the environmental field will be examined in depth.

The second part of the course will introduce the main tools and procedures for designing, developing and managing European and transnational nature conservation projects. Students will thus become familiar with the main tools for defining and submitting a project proposal to be implemented with financial support from the European Union.The following documents will be examined:

- European calls for proposals

- Program manuals

- Local action plans

- Communication plans
- Guidelines for involving skakeholders and strategic actors for nature conservation actions.

During the course, students will prepare, individually or in small groups, the outline of a European project in the environmental field to be submitted for funding (aims, objectives, work phases, main outputs and materials, tools for evaluating the results achieved, activity budget).

By the end of the course, students will know:

- the main design methodologies,
- the types of European programs with the greatest potential for funding nature conservation activities,
- the processes of managing and implementing a European project.
In this way, participants will acquire skills useful for building a European partnership and effectively implementing the actions and operational activities planned at the project level.

Readings/Bibliography

Eu programs

https://www.interregeurope.eu/

https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/home.html

https://interreg-med.eu/

http://www.adrioninterreg.eu/

http://urbact.eu/

http://www.iuc.eu/

http://www.uia-initiative.eu/en

https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/

Territorial development

http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

https://www.oecd.org/

Institutional websites

https://cor.europa.eu/en

https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-semester/framework/europe-2020-strategy_en

EU Handbook

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2023/747110/EPRS_STU(2023)747110_EN.pdf

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/33b54f0d-0251-11ed-acce-01aa75ed71a1#

 

Teaching methods

Discussion, case presentations, exercises and simulations. Online platforms and technical documentation for the implementation and management of European projects to finance nature conservation will be used.

Assessment methods

Production and presentation of a European project outline or paper (deliverable) on an environmental topic to be agreed upon. Oral verification of achievement of learning objectives. Bibliographic guidance and technical documentation useful for project preparation and final examination will be provided during the lectures.

The final exam will be divided into two parts. The first part will focus on the presentation of a project/deliverable made in groups by the students and will require the preparation of 10-15 slides. A 10-15 page report will also be produced to develop and elaborate on the topics touched upon in the project presentation (weight 50%).

The second part of the exam will be based:

- on the knowledge of the topics illustrated during the course (mainly using power point presentations);

- on the technical documentation provided during the lectures (weight 50%). A short European project concept or management document (2-3 pp.) will be produced individually.

The outcome of the final exam will be the result of the evaluation of the contribution made to the group project and the individually developed project concept.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PCs, ICT Platforms, E-Learning Platforms, Electronic Management Systems.

Office hours

See the website of Marino Cavallo