Leping

Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Program me SUPPORT MEASURE AGREEMENT between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the State Shared Service Centre, on the Support Measure Biodiversity Programme The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, acting through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the ‘SDC’) and the State Shared Service Centre (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NCU9, hereinafter collectively referred to as the ‘Parties’, referring to the Framework Agreement, including its Annex 1 (Country-Specific Set-Up) between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the Republic of Estonia concluded on 21 November 2022 as well as to the Regulations on the implementation of the second Swiss Contribution to selected Member States of the European Union to reduce economic and social disparities within the European Union issued by Switzerland and setting out the general rules and procedures on the implementation of the Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Programme (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Framework Agreement’ and ‘Regulations 9, and considering the financing of the Support Measure Biodiversity Programme (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Support Measure 9 in the Republic of Estonia, have agreed as follows: Article 1 — General provisions The legal framework as defined in Article 2 of the Framework Agreement shall apply. Article 2 — Objective and eligibility period 1. The Support Measure is assigned to the following thematic area: Nature conservation and biodiversity. 2. The objective of the Support Measure is Protecting the environment and the climate. 3. The Support Measure starts on 01 .05.2024 and ends on 31 .08.2028. Only expenditures incurred during this period are deemed to be eligible in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Regulations. Article 3 — Obligations of the Parties 1. Switzerland agrees to grant a contribution of up to 6,93 million Swiss francs for the implementation of the Support Measure according to the budget (Annex B). 2. The contribution of Switzerland shall cover a maximum of 85% of the total eligible expenditures of the Support Measure as specified in Chapter 6 of the Regulations. 3. Switzerland’s contribution to the Support Measure is based on: a) the final version of the Support Measure Proposal 7F-10768.01 dated 15.04.2024 attached to this Support Measure Agreement (Annex A); and b) the conditions put forward by Switzerland as part of the final decision to support the Support Measure and communicated to Republic of Estonia by means of the letter 7F-1 0768.01 dated 27.03.2024 appended hereto (Annex D). 2 4. In accordance with Article 7 of the Framework Agreement the responsibility of Switzerland with regard to this Support Measure is limited to providing funds in accordance with Article 3 paragraph 1 of this Support Measure Agreement. 5. The Republic of Estonia shall ensure the timely provision of the co-financing for the total eligible expenditures of the Support Measure, as described in Article 4 paragraph 5 of the Framework Agreement and in Article 3.1 paragraph 1 and Chapter 6 of the Regulations. 6. Costs for staff of the Programme Operator, Programme Component Operators and Partners who are assigned to carry out tasks for the Support Measure, comprising actual salaries plus social security charges and other statutory costs included in the remuneration, are eligible expenditure under this Support Measure, within the limits set in the budget in Annex B of this Support Measure Agreement and in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Regulations. Article 4 — Implementation responsibility 1. The NCU and the Paying and Audit Authorities shall have the roles and responsibilities defined in the Regulations, in particular in Article 3.1 to 3.6, and further specified in the Country Specific Set-up. 2. The Programme Operator of this Support Measure is the Ministry of Climate. It is responsible for preparing and managing the Support Measure and for performing the following tasks: a) preparing the Management and Control system of the Support Measure to ensure the effective implementation of the Support Measure; b) concluding the Support Measure Implementation Agreement with the NCU; c) preparing the Annual Support Measure Reports, the Support Measure Completion Report, Reimbursement Requests and submitting them to the State Shared Service Centre; d) organising meetings of the Support Measure Steering Committee and preparing minutes of the meetings; e) planning and implementing the communication activities of the Support Measure in cooperation with the programme component operators; f) submitting proposal to the Ministry of Finance for the modification of the Country specific set up of the Framework Agreement and to the State Shared Service Centre for the modification of the Support Measure Agreement; g) fulfilling other tasks of the Programme Operator arising from the Regulations. 3. The Programme Components have the following Programme Component Operators: a) Programme Component 1 “Development of innovative monitoring technologies/solutions and improvement of Environmental databases and systems”: Programme Component Operator — the Estonian Environment Agency. b) Programme Component 2 “Implementation of a systematic assessment of the social and conservation outcomes of protected areas”: Programme Component Operator the — Environmental Board of Estonia. Article 5 — Support Measure Steering Committee 1. The Programme Operator shall establish the Support Measure Steering Committee as defined in Article 4.11 of the Regulations. The Support Measure Steering Committee shall assume the following tasks: a) as defined in Article 4.11 of the Regulations. 3 2. The Support Measure Steering Committee shall be composed of the following members: a) The NCU the State Shared Service Centre; - b) The Programme Operator the Ministry of Climate; — c) The Swiss Contribution Office; d) The Programme Component Operator- the Estonian Environment Agency; e) The Programme Component Operator the Environmental Board of Estonia; - 3. By the initiative of the Support Measure Steering Committee members the Chair has the right to invite the representatives of the partners and other organisations to the Support Measure Steering Committee meetings, who will act as observers. 4. The following members shall have a voting right: a) The Programme Operator the Ministry of Climate as Chair; - b) The NCU c) The Swiss Contribution Office. 5. The quorum shall be constituted by the NCU, the Swiss Contribution Office and the Programme Operator. 6. Decision-making in the Support Measure Steering Committee shall be based on consensus by the members with voting rights. 7. The Programme Operator shall act as secretary and shall assume the tasks set forth in the Article 4.11 paragraph 7 of the Regulations. 8. The Steering Committee meeting shall take place at least once a year in line with Article 4.11 paragraph 6 of the Regulations. 9. The Steering Committee may also take decisions through a written procedure at the initiative of any member with voting rights. Article 6 — Programme Operator competences for modifications of the Support Measure 1. The Support Measure may be modified in accordance with the Article 4.12 of the Regulations. 2. In accordance with Article 4.12 paragraph 4.a of the Regulations the Programme Operator is entitled to modify Programme Components (md management expenditures of a Programme Operator), provided the following conditions are cumulatively met: a. the modification shall not contradict with the agreed outputs and outcomes of the Support Measure; b. the modification must not change the duration of the Support Measure; c. the financial consequences of the modification must be within the following limits: i. for reallocations within one Programme component: funds reallocated between different budget items must be less than 20% of the initial budget of the Programme component and less than CHF 100 000 (one hundred thousand Swiss francs); ii. modifications may not be split with the intention of circumventing this restriction. 3. Switzerland shall be informed about the modification by means of the next Reimbursement Request under Article 8.2 paragraph 3 of the Regulations and the next Annual Support Measure Report under Article 4.13 of the Regulations. 4  Article 7— Advance payments 1. In accordance with Article 8.3 of the Regulations no advance payments are foreseen in this Support Measure. Article 8— Policy dialogue 1. A policy dialogue is not foreseen for this Support Measure. Article 9 — Procurement 1. The procurements under this Support Measure Agreement shall be made in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Regulations. 2. The initial procurement plan, including those procurements that are selected by Switzerland in accordance with Article 7.2 of the Regulations, shall be annexed to this Support Measure Agreement (Annex C). 3. This procurement plan shall be updated following the approval of further Programme Components and submitted to Switzerland for selection in accordance with Article 7.2 of the Regulations within 20 working days. The periodically updated procurement plan shall be submitted to Switzerland with the Reimbursement Request. Article 10 — Post-completion obligations and ownership of assets 1. The post-completion obligations related to the assets (operating assets as well as equipment, installations and buildings) financed by the Swiss contribution under this Support Measure as well as their ownership are described in Article 4.15 of the Regulations. 2. For the duration of the Support Measure the assets provided with the Swiss Contribution are in the ownership of the acquirer and shall be used in accordance with Article 4.15 paragraph 6 of the Regulations. 3. The NCU or the Executing Agency shall ensure that the receiving entity agrees under contract to fulfil the obligations set out in Article 4.15 paragraph 2 of the Regulations concerning equipment, installations and buildings financed by the Contribution. 4. In accordance with Article 4.15 paragraph 7 the Parties shall agree in writing following the completion of the Support Measure on the use and ownership of the assets provided with the support of the Swiss Contribution. 5. The ownership of the proprietary rights in and to the results of the activities performed under this Support Measure, any intellectual property rights, including copyright, and the right to any revenues generated by the intellectual property rights shall be agreed in writing by the Parties on completion of the Support Measure. Article 11 — Reimbursement procedures, reporting, audits, compliance Reimbursement procedures, reporting, auditing and compliance rules are set out in the Framework Agreement and the Regulations. 5  Article 12 Annexes - The following Annexes are governed by this Support Measure Agreement: Annex A: Final version of the Support Measure Proposal 15.04.2024 including Logframe Annex B: Budget Annex C: Initial Procurement Plan Annex D: Decision Letter from SDC Article 13— Amendments The Support Measure may be modified in accordance with Article 4.12 of the Regulations. In the cases as described in Article 4.12 paragraph 8 of the Regulations, the modification of the Support Measure shall be formalised by way of an amendment to this Support Measure Agreement. This shall be done by the Parties signing the amendment. Article 14 Suspension and termination - The Support Measure Agreement may be suspended or terminated in accordance with Article 4.16 of the Regulations. Article 15— Entry into force and duration 1. This Support Measure Agreement covers the duration of the Support Measure as stated in Article 2 paragraph 3. 2. This Support Measure Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the last signature of the Parties and remain in force until all obligations under it have been fulfilled. Signed in Tallinn and Riga, in two original copies in the English language. For the Swiss Agency for Development and For the State hared Service Centre ~p~in / C/hj4~oph Liechti Urmo Merila Head of the-swiss Contribution Office Deputy Director General Date Date /fP~1. 2oz~  Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Programme Annex A: Final version of the Support Measure Proposal 15.04.2024 including Logframe on the Support Measure Biodiversity Programme Second Swiss Contribution Estonia Support Measure Proposal 15.04.2024 Title Bio-Diversity Programme Executing Agency Ministry of Climate Partner State Support Measure n/a Code (if any) Support Measure Type Programme Content 1. Basic information 4 2. Strategic Support Measure description 5 2.1 Lead 5 2.2 Context and relevance 5 2.3 Impact hypothesis / Objectives 10 2.4 Intervention Strategy 11 2.5 Beneficiaries 12 2.6 Programme Component Characteristics and regional focus 13 2.7 Overview Swiss Support Measure Partners 13 2.8 Sustainability 14 2.9 Overview tentative budget 14 2.10 Other strategic issues 14 3. Support Measure readiness 15 3.1 Context 15 3.2 Preparation process and documents 15 3.3 Application for funds from Support Measure Preparation Fund 16 4. Operational Support Measure description 16 4.1 Applying organisation (Executing Agency) 16 4.1.1 Financial and personnel information (only to be completed for non-state institutions) 16 4.1.2 Organisation structures of Executing Agency and Support Measure 16 4.1.3 Support Measure management team 18 4.1.4 Programme and project management experience 19 4.2 Detailed intervention strategy and activities 20 4.2.1 Detailed description of activities and intervention strategy 20 4.2.2 Detailed description of selection process for Programme Components 22 4.2.3 Communication activities 22 4.2.4 Detailed implementation schedule 23 4.3 Logframe 25 4.4 Swiss Support Measure Partner(s) 28 4.5 Stakeholder consultations 28 4.6 Tentative Budget 29 4.6.1 Detailed tentative budget 29 4.6.2 Tentative Disbursement Plan 30 4.7 Risk Analysis and Risk Management 31 4.8 Monitoring and Steering 32 4.9 Other operational issues 32 5. Annexes 32 Annex 2: Overview of Implementation locations 34 a 2/50 Basic Programme Component Information 34 6. Programme Component Operator 35 6.1 Basic Information 35 6.2 Programme Component Operator Management 35 6.3 Programme Component Management 36 6.4 Programme and Project Management Experience 37 7. Programme Component Description 38 7.1 Short Summary 38 7.2 Activities and Expected Results 38 7.3 Beneficiaries 40 7.4 Sustainability 40 7.5 Budget 40 7.6 Risk Analysis and Risk Management 40 8. Annexes 41 Basic Programme Component Information 41 9. Programme Component Operator 41 9.1 Basic Information 41 9.2 Programme Component Operator Management 42 9.3 Programme Component Management 43 9.4 Programme and Project Management Experience 45 10. Programme Component Description 46 10.1 Short Summary 46 10.2 Activities and Expected Results 46 10.3 Beneficiaries 48 10.4 Sustainability 49 10.5 Budget 49 10.6 Risk Analysis and Risk Management 50 3/50 1. Basic information Title Bio-Diversity Programme Support Measure Type Programme Objective Protecting the environment and the climate Thematic Area Nature conservation and biodiversity Planned Duration [months] 52 Requested Swiss contribu- 6 930 000 tion (CHF) Requested co-financing 85% rate of Switzerland [%] Name of the Executing Ministry of Climate Agency Type of entity National administration If type of entity is “other”, - describe the type briefly Name of contact person Kairi Toiger Position Senior Officer, Financial Department, Ministry of Climate Correspondence address Suur-Ameerika 1, 10122 Tallinn, Eesti E-Mail Kairi.Toiger@ kliimaministeerium.ee Webpage and social media https://kliimaministeerium .ee/ (if any) https:I/www.facebook.com/kliimaministeerium https:f/twitter.com/MOEestonia https://www.youtube .com/channel/UCfeXqaJwOLCpLx7- Xl 69F6w https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfeXgaJwOLCpLx7- Xl 69F6w Phone +372 6262 931 Mobile  Has the Executing Agency previously received funding from the Yes~ NoD Swiss Contribution? Abbreviations: EELIS — Estonian Nature Information System KAUR — Estonian Environment Agency KeA — Environmental Board of Estonia KeMIT Information Technology Centre of the Ministry of the Envi — ronment KESE — Environmental Monitoring Information System MoC — Ministry of Climate NCU — National Coordination Unit 2. Strategic Support Measure description 2.1 Lead The goal of the Programme is the creation of preconditions for the improvement of conserva tion status of threatened habitats and species through decision making that relies on high- quality data, e. g.: • Implementation of innovative monitoring solutions. • Ensuring operative data transition between different databases. • Making environmental data more accessible for public. • Setting up and validating digital toolset for the governance. • Evaluation of management effectiveness planning of protected areas, revision of site- based conservation objectives and measures for protected species and habitats and additional compilation of site-based management plans. • The evaluation and additional compilation of national action plans for species and hab itats and the revision of protected categories of species (category I, category II and category Ill). The intervention will build on the results of various past and ongoing initiatives, like applied research projects on nature conservation in relation to climate change and on existing state monitoring and planning systems for protected areas. 2.2 Context and relevance Current Situation Estonia’s land area is 45,339 km2, which is slightly larger than Switzerland and the sea area is 36,622 km2. 60% of Estonia is covered with forest and mires and 20.5% of the land is under nature protection. Also, 18.7% of the sea is protected. With a unique location, Estonian nature is very diverse, and it is especially important for migratory birds, who stay here to rest and nest. a 5/50 During the migration period, millions of birds pass through Estonia, and it is the bottleneck for most of the Artic waterbirds. Although in a significant share of Estonia nature values are protected, the status of biodiversity in Estonia is far from being without concern. Of the 15,000 species assessed during 2017- 2021 for the update of the Red List in Estonia, only half are in status “Least Concern”, which means that the other half of the species are ,,Near Threatened”, ,,Vulnerable”, ,,Endangered”, Critically Endangered” or ,,Extinct in the Region”. Unfortunately, the population sizes of mam mals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have seen an alarming average drop of 68% since 1970 in the whole world. According to the EU Habitats Directive reporting (2019) 57% of the habitats and 56% of the species in Estonia are in favourable status, which is better than in most of the EU member states (in EU, only 14.7% of the habitats and 27.5% of the species are in favourable status). But 44% of the species and 43% of the habitats are in unfavourable (inadequate or bad) conservation status in Estonia. We must continue to preserve and improve the status of the species and habitats. To do so, we have created a network of protected areas and system to assess the status of the species and habitats. However, it is not enough and Estonia must contribute to global target to protect at least 30% of land and sea area. At the moment, there are six national parks, 234 nature conservation areas, 148 landscape conservation areas, 312 limited-conservation areas and 1,847 species’ protection sites in Estonia (November 2022) (Looduskaitse statistika I Keskkon naportaal). Approximately 70% of the protected area in Estonia is managed according to man agement plans. However, all protected areas still do not have an appropriate management plan or existing management plans are based on out-of-date data. Only 52% category I (i.e. rare and at risk of disappearence) species, 12% of category II species (i.e. species in danger of disappearance if the existing factors continue operating) and 2% of category Ill species (i.e. species whose population is endangered by the deterioration or damaging of habitats and has been reduced to a point where they are believed to move into the endangered category if the causal factors continue operating) have a national action plan. Relevant and updated site- based management plans and national action plans with specific targets are necessary to as sess the efficiency of the implemented measures. A systematic understanding is needed to understand which of the applied conservation measures are fit for purpose and what needs to be changed. Most management plans lack the level of detail. The compilation of management plans has been a time-consuming process and needs to be revised. To achieve and maintain the good status of protected areas in Estonia, it is crucial to continue the successful interventions and replicate them in areas where the status of habitats and the functioning of ecosystems is still not good. To do so, an appropriate framework in Estonia, including a methodology and an action plan for its implementation, for the assessment of effectiveness of biodiversity conservation measures needs to be established. An effective framework will allow Estonia to understand the main factors hindering the protection of biodi versity and design better targeted conservation and restoration measures. Also, surveys, in ventories and monitoring must be carried out to observe how the conditions change over time. There are more than 50 different types of biodiversity monitoring schemes implemented every year and mostly it is carried out by humans. Also, the status and abundance of game species, including large carnivores is monitored. The volume of the monitoring depends on the available budget and also on the available specialists and developed methodologies. Often, monitoring can be carried out in a specific period (e.g spring, summer, vegetation period, nesting period, etc.) and limited number of specialists are not capable to cover the necessary area in one year. For decades, same methodologies have been used in monitoring, but technology is evolving at a tremendous rate and sometimes more specific data is needed (e.g. DNA data to assess whether the population is strong and genetically diverse and how it changes over time). ~2 6/50 New solutions and technology should be used more in biodiversity monitoring as this can be helpful in the absence of specialists and with the help of technology larger areas could be covered during the short suitable period for monitoring. Also, thanks to the new technology additional valuable information can be collected, which is necessary in decision making (e.g. the size of a specific species’ habitat etc). There are already 3D bird radars, bird sound recog nition applications, artificial intelligence (Al), affordable cameras, remote monitoring solutions, etc., which could be adjusted and tested in the biodiversity monitoring. We have already tested some solutions on a smaller scale like Al in the monitoring of the game species, drones, sen sors, acoustic and telemetry transmitters. Potential of the technology is not sufficiently recog nized and as new methods are costly to test on a large scale and long time period, good solu tions are often discarded (e.g eDNA). It is necessary to implement old and new methods at the same time in a short period in order to allow smooth transition and providing enough time for the new solution to justify itself. Also, one reason for using the same methodologies for dec ades, is the reason of uninterrupted data series that new methodologies could affect. Imple menting old and new at the same time is necessary to understand whether and how much the results differ and this gives the opportunity to continue uninterrupted data series. Nature related data is inserted and processed mainly in two systems in Estonia: Estonian Na ture Information System (EELIS) and Environmental Monitoring Information System (KESE). Both systems need to be improved to make them more user-friendly and easier to use, both for public servants and ordinary citizens. Those systems are not prepared for today’s and f u ture needs. The current system does not provide sufficient information to assess whether the conservation actions are adequate to sustain resilient ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. The present system does not take into account socio-economic impacts. Also, some of the important data is maintained in third-party systems (e.g PlutoF Biodiversity Platform) and ig noring this data in decision making would be a mistake. It is necessary to create connections which would enable data transfer between systems. Authorities lack the tools and sufficient competences to analyse the effectiveness of conservation measures and conduct a multi-pur pose interpretation of large datasets in an interdisciplinary manner. Decisions made using the monitoring results depend on the volume and quality of the data. Among other things, it is necessary to speed up the data flow. For example, information of the protected species must be transformed from one system into another manually (from KESE to EELIS), which is time- consuming and there is always a risk that important data is not taken into account in the plan ning process or while issuing permits. Also, the analytical capacity should be improved, which can be done by improving information systems and creating automatic solutions that can quickly analyse great amount of data in a few moves. This will ensure the quality, transparency and reliability of the data. Nature information must be public, easy to understand and attractive. According to the survey carried out in Estonia in 2020, 21% of Estonians think that environmental data is not accessible and according to the survey carried out in 2022, interest in the environmental issues has de creased compared to 2020. Information systems as important resources were rarely men tioned. It is also necessary to promote citizen science. Citizen science can be defined as the non-professional involvement of volunteers in the scientific process, commonly in data collec tion, but also in other phases such as quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation, prob lem definition and the dissemination of results. Citizen science can play an important role by filling data gaps where conventional data sources may not be sufficient, providing complemen tary temporal and spatial data that supports official monitoring systems. However, and despite its value and potential, it is still underused. Besides collecting additional data, promoting citizen science gives the opportunity to raise environmental awareness, which is one of the keys in the implementation of the Green Deal and moving towards a sustainable economy. We have already developed the Nature Observation application, but at the moment it is not possible to I 1/ 7/50 submit observations via the website. Also, where possible, the volunteers should be integrated into the monitoring schemes. Strategies The Support Measure contributes directly to the implementation of the Estonian Environmental Development Plan until 2030 (draft) According to the draft plan the goal of nature conservation is that the status of native species, ecosystems and landscapes has improved Estonia is nature positive. - The targets to achieve the goal are: 1. We preserve and improve native species and habitats and biodiversity rich key landscape features such as small water bodies and other wetlands, coastal and the condition of coastal areas, semi-natural grasslands and primary and old- growth forests, including forest key habitats. 2. We ensure a timely and relevant overview of the status of wildlife for decision making in the field of nature conservation, among other things, we use innova tive monitoring and inventory solutions and applied research more than before and update and supplement databases and web applications. 3. We will improve the system for evaluating the effectiveness of protection measures to ensure the operational renewal and improvement of current measures. The proposed Support Measure contributes directly to the targets 2 and 3, which are also the basis for achieving the first target. The Support Measure has a clear connection with Estonian Environmental Strategy for 2030 and with requirements and obligations stated in EU directives, regulation and strategies and international conventions: • EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; • EU Nature Restoration Regulation (draft); • Sustainable Development Goals and Development Plan. Especially to following goals: 1. 3. Good Health and Well-being; 2. 6. Clean Water and Sanitation; 3. 7. Affordable and Clean Energy; 4. 12. Responsible Consumption and Production; 5. 13. Climate Action; 6. 14. Life Below Water; 7. 15.Lifeon Land. • Convention on Biological Diversity and its Global Biodiversity Framework; • CITES convention; • Ramsar convention; • Bern Convention; • Bonn convention, including AEWA and Eurobats agreements; • HELCOM; • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris agreement. Complementarity/synergies with funding programmes of other donors • Technical Support Instrument financed by the European Commission. An ongoing pro ject with the objective to develop the relevant assessment methodology for Estonia. This methodology will be implemented under the Swiss Contribution. 8/50  • European Structural Funds 2014-2020. The methodology of the National Assessment and Mapping of Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services was developed. We will continue to improve it and it will be taken into account in the planning and assessment process. Also, development of the Estonian Nature Information System was partly financed from Structural Funds. • European Structural Funds 2021-2027. Development of the Artificial Intelligence for the monitoring of games species is financed under this programme. It is an ongoing project. • State budget. National monitoring is financed from the state budget. Swiss Contribution does not replace it but enhances and helps to further develop existing methodologies and solutions. Also, it helps to speed up and expand the development of IT systems, which are being developed at the moment. • Environmental Investment Fund. Some of the assessments of the protected areas and monitoring of the species are financed from the national fund. Also, the Nature Obser vation Application was financed from the Fund, which is used to involve volunteers in the biodiversity monitoring. • Cohesion Fund 2021 2027. Restoration of habitats to increase preparedness for ad — aptation to climate change. Species and habitats action plans and protected areas management plans prepared by Swiss contribution will be used to select the restoration sites at the end of this financial period and in the following period. First Swiss Contribution With the help of First Swiss Contribution, the capability of environmental (water, air and radia tion) monitoring was increased, but specifically monitoring and protection of the biodiversity was not supported. Social Inclusion and Climate change mitigation and adaptation Structure of the management plans will be improved, and new topics will be covered. Topics that have not been covered or have been covered insufficiently in existing management plans are how to mitigate the impact of climate change on species and habitats, what the social impacts of protected areas are, how protected areas are integrated in the overall green infra structure, how to manage forest habitats in buffer zones, how cumulative impacts on habitats and species need to be analysed. Also, Citizen Science will be improved and volunteers will be involved in the biodiversity mon itoring. Where possible, this will be integrated into the monitoring schemes and necessary solutions will be developed. Developed systems will be helpful in preparation and implemen tation of different nature observation campaigns that would increase citizen awareness about species and nature conservation issues. With that, we will create better conditions for social inclusion and initiatives. New technical solutions will help to speed up the transition towards green energy and climate neutrality. Nature conservation restrictions and the lack of knowledge about species and hab itats are often the reasons behind the pace of developments. Developed IT systems and solutions help to make environmental data easier to access, use and understand for the citizen. It is necessary to make data more visible and attractive, which helps to increase interest in data and environmental awareness and improve behaviour and decision making of the public. Stakeholders Stakeholders of the measure are basically all citizens, who will benefit from the preservation and improvement of the status of species and habitats. Ecosystems provide different services 9/50  from clean air to meditation opportunities. Quality and condition of ecosystems affect the qual ity of people. Also, developed systems and solutions will bring nature conservation and citizens closer together. Citizens will be involved in nature observation campaigns and wildlife moni toring. Developed systems will be used in order to make participation easier and more con venient, which hopefully will increase the number of volunteers. It is necessary to collaborate with environmental experts and scientists. Support Measure will increase the knowledge about the biodiversity and support science and innovation. Also, it gives the opportunity for the scientists to test and implement new methods and ideas in wildlife monitoring. Some of the ideas (e.g. eDNA) have been proposed by the scientists. Their role is also to validate and evaluate the suitability of the new solutions. It is also necessary to create collaboration between scientists of the natural sciences and IT experts, who must find solutions how to use new technologies for biodiversity monitoring. As it is necessary to speed up the transition towards green energy and climate neutrality, wind- farm developers are the important stakeholders. Nature conservation restrictions and the lack of knowledge about species and habitats are often the reasons behind the pace of develop ments. In the design of the wind farms, it is often mandatory to carry out time consuming sur veys and the number of specialists is also limited, which affects the development. Thanks to support measure, necessary studies could be carried out over a shorter period. New tools and solutions are necessary for the public authorities, who are responsible for the biodiversity protection, monitoring and decision making. Better knowledge is needed to make science-based decisions to prevent damage to biodiversity and at the same time contribute to economic activity, including the development of clean energy. The information acquired from the project will help local municipalities in their general planning process. The decisions made in spatial planning will take more nature protection needs into account. The developers and business organisations can refer to the data and when assessing the effect of their activities on habitats and species. The stakeholder consultations was carried out on 5thi of June 2023 to elaborate the support measure proposal for the second loop. 2.3 Impact hypothesis I Objectives The goal of the Programme is to create the precondition for the improvement of conservation status of threatened habitats and species through decision making that relies on high-quality data. Being part of Europe, our environmental decisions and developments affect the ecosystems and species populations more widely. Preserving and improving the quality of the ecosystem services helps to strengthen the socio-economic situation in different fields providing income and jobs, but also decreasing the negative impact of human activity and climate change. As Estonia is small and the planned actions of this intervention cover the whole country, it will affect more or less all people. Better technological tools and hence the overviews of protected sites make understanding the need for habitat and species protection more understandable for the public and accurately described protection measures give the possibility for other institutions to take the initiative and participate in protection activities. High-quality data helps to increase the developments, including the developments of wind farms, which will ensure the necessary energy and security for citizens. Also, developments of t~1 10/50 wind farms would decrease the pressure for forest cutting and wood burning. This has positive effect on habitats and green network. Taking into account that most of the car industries are planning to stop the production of cars with an internal combustion engine by 2030, the need for electricity will increase significantly in the next decades. This is one example of the potential positive impact of the measure, but the main objective is to preserve and restore the natural values through decisions based on high-quality data. If the protection measures are planned using up-to-date data and a reliable assessment pro cedure is carried out, it is easier to explain the need of the measures to the government, min istries and other policy makers, also developers and local people. For example, in Estonia there is some political resistance to restoring river habitats and people do not understand the necessity of restoring peatlands. To achieve the goal of the Programme the existing planning and assessment methodologies and information systems should be improved. It is important to improve the connection of plan ning and assessment with the national monitoring schemes and information systems. With the help of Swiss support, the existing systems and solutions will be taken to the next level. Planned intervention logic is presented in Annex 1 and in log-frame (4.3). In summary, if comprehensive and high-quality information, including in sufficient volume is available, then preconditions for improvement of the conservation status of species and habi tats are created, because planning and decision making is more justified, relevant information is taken into account and assessing the effectiveness of the actions is based on more reliable, qualitative and accurate information. 2.4 Intervention Strategy The Programme Operator is the Ministry of Climate (MoC). The task of the Ministry of Climate is to create conditions that guarantee a species-rich natural environment and a clean-living environment for the people of Estonia today and for future generations and that ensures the sustainable use of natural resources. MoC coordinates the Support Measure Programme prep aration and implementation and is responsible for Programme design and monitoring, also for communication activities at the programme level. The Programme goal will be achieved by implementing two Programme components that are linked by a common theme biodiversity. Programme Components will be implemented by - state authorities under the jurisdiction of the MoC (Administrative area I Ministry of Climate (kliimaministeerium.ee’~). Programme Component 1 “Development of innovative monitoring technologies/solu tions and improvement of Environmental databases and systems” For Programme Component 1 the Programme Component Operator- is Estonian Environ ment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur or abbreviated KAUR). KAUR is a state authority admin istered by the Ministry of Climate. KAUR is responsible for the fulfilment of the national envi ronmental monitoring programme, the preparation of national and international reports in the field of environment, evaluating environmental status, ensuring vital services, including weather forecasts, and the maintenance and renewal of monitoring stations and equipment. The tasks of the KAUR in the field of biodiversity are to collect, process and publish information about nature and nature protection in Estonia, fulfil the national and international reporting obligations and maintain nature protection databases. The information on nature and nature protection collected in databases are the foundation of the preservation of objects under pro tection, species and their habitats. 11/50 The KAUR will be responsible for delivering outputs connected to development of new tech nologies and innovative monitoring solutions and improvement of databases and systems. As a partner organisation the Information Technology Centre of the Ministry of the Envi ronment (KeMIT) will be involved, since KEMIT is responsible for IT tools and services for the employees in the administrative area of the Ministry of Climate and environmental e-services for the public. Programme Component 2 “Implementation of a systematic assessment of the social and conservation outcomes of protected areas” For Programme Component 2 the Programme Component Operator is Environmental Board of Estonia (Keskkonnaamet or abbreviated KeA). KeA is a government agency which oper ates within the area of the Ministry of Climate. The main task of KeA is to implement state policies on environmental use, nature conservation and radiation safety and to monitor the fulfilment of the laws and norms established for the protection of the natural environment. KeA provides services related to nature conservation, for example: planning of activities related to the organisation of nature conservation, management of permits for activities related to nature conservation restrictions, organisation of nature conservation work, organising surveys of bio diversity values and assessing the effectiveness of nature conservation. The KeA will be responsible for delivering outputs connected to the enhancing the process of the effective conservation management planning. As the conservation objectives and measures are revised and they are more specific and goal-oriented, it is easier to plan conser vation activities. The support measure helps to set site-specific, clear, precise and quantifiable conservation objectives, underpinned by scientifically reliable favourable reference values. To fulfil their main .tasks KeA uses the data provided by the KAUR. Also KAUR receives the input into KAUR databases from KeA. Thus, two Programme Components are closely re lated to each other. For example, the use of the output of Programme Component 1 that is up-to-date data and new technological tools that help carrying out assessments of conservation effectiveness and conservation measures~ make conservation management planning in Estonia more effective and less time-consuming and can be used by KeA to update conservation management plans of protected areas and action plans for species and habitats. 2.5 Beneficiaries Direct beneficiaries Direct beneficiaries of the Support Measure are KAUR and KeA who are responsible for the implementation of the monitoring schemes, organization of the protection of protected areas and assessment of the efficiency of protection measures. Also KEMIT as responsible for IT tools and services and development of the databases and systems. Indirect beneficiaries Indirect beneficiaries are the State Forest Management Centre who carry out protection ac tivities on state land according to conservation management plans and also local municipal ities who use the data of habitats and species and also the information provided by conserva tion management plans in their overall planning of green infrastructure. 12/50 As the beneficiaries are public authorities, they work for the public. Decisions and develop ments affect the whole population. it also has a cross-border effect as Estonian protected ar eas are part of the EU Natura 2000 network and only a few species live only in Estonia. So, measures implemented in Estonia affect the populations which are part of much wider popu lations. Most Estonians (1.3 M people) benefit more or less directly from this Measure and more or less indirectly the whole Europe benefits from it. 2.6 Programme Component Characteristics and regional focus Is the benefit of the Project national or regional? NationaliXi Regional D if regional, indicate the benefiting NUTS-2 region(s): 2.7 Overview Swiss Support Measure Partners Is/are a/several Swiss Support Measure Partner(s) foreseen to be YesLi No~ involved in and contributing to the implementation of the Support Measure? Institutional partnership is not planned, however, the Environmental Board will organise two study trips to Switzerland (they have contacted the Swiss National Park): five days for six spe cialists each, the emphasis of one or the study trips is habitat protection and the emphasis of the other study trip is species protection. The aim of the trips is to learn about conservation management planning/strategies, habitat and species data collection, using GIS). Also Envi ronment Agency will have one study trip to Switzerland in late stage of the programme to share the experiences and present the results. Some of the planned public procurements exceed international threshold and Swiss organizations can participate in the process and make their offer. Name of the partner organisation If collaboration foreseen in Pro gramme Component, indicate name of Component Partnership status Choose an &ement, Type of organisation Choose an eiement. Type of support or partnership Choose an e’ement. Name of contact person Position Correspondence address Webpage and social media (if any) 13/50  E-Mail Phone Mobile Has the partner organisation been previously involved in the Swiss Yes LI NoD Contribution 2.8 Sustainability Sustainability in terms of financial viability: National budget is reserved for implementing routine monitoring schemes and maintaining the information systems. Developed methods should be cost-efficient and development of IT sys tems should decrease the human workload. Improvement of the decision making will have a positive effect as well as the decisions will be more science-based and take into account pos sible negative consequences to the ecosystems. Preserving the condition is cheaper than re storing them. After the project, thanks to the monitoring programme, we are able to maintain and further develop the methods and systems. The main result for the KeA is that the protection effectiveness of protected areas will be as sessed and the process of preparing conservation management plans and national action plans for species and habitats is more effective. KeA will be able to carry on conservation management planning using the national budget. The Support Measure will help the KeA to review its current conservation management planning practices in order to match them with contemporary needs. Sustainability in terms of capacity building: One of the challenges for the KeA is the lack of experts in Estonia who can carry out inventories and gather the data of habitats and species. In order to carry out inventories of habitats and species it is necessary to raise the level of expertise among conservation management plan ning and conservation management specialists in the KeA. The competence of the specialists can be improved by organising seminars and study trips in the frames of Programme. It is also possible to use foreign experts (e.g. Swiss experts). Another challenge is the opposition to conservation measures and activities among the repre sentatives of local people and developers. So, it is necessary to involve stakeholders in the conservation planning process and find the solutions that are acceptable to the people living in or near the site. Involving stakeholders to conservation management planning can be time- consuming, so it is necessary to analyse how it should be carried out effectively and plan it regarding the specifics of the area. 2.9 Overview tentative budget Please see 4.6. 2.10 Other strategic issues N/A 14/50 3. Support Measure readiness 3.1 Context Is the Support Measure proposal a continuation of a Project or Pro- YesEl Not~ gramme supported under the Swiss Contribution (I)? Was the Support Measure proposal declined during a funding-application YesEl Not~ process by other donors (e.g. EU, Norway/EEA)? If it was declined, explain why. 3.2 Preparation process and documents Feasibility study None necessary I Not applicable Baseline study, assessment or analysis None necessary I Not applicable Neither a feasibility study nor a baseline study is necessary. Estimated number of tender dossiers to # of dossier not yet prepared 4 be prepared # of dossier provisionally pre- 0 pared # of dossier completely pre- 0 pared Permit(s)/Authorisations required and YesEl N0IXI pending? If permit(s)/authorisation(s) required, specify (e.g. building, environmental, pur chase of land etc.) and note when the cor responding permit(s)/authorisation(s) are expected. Are legislative changes necessary to im- Yes El No~ plement the Support Measure? If legislative changes are necessary, ex plain and note when the corresponding change is expected to have been made. Are other (political) decisions necessary YesEl N0IXI to implement the Support Measure? If other (political) decisions are necessary, explain and note when the corresponding decisions are expected to have been taken. 15/50 Implementation of the Programme can start immediately after the signing of the Support Measure Agreement. 3.3 Application for funds from Support Measure Preparation Fund Is support from the Support Measure Preparation Fund requested? Yesl~ NoLJ Support Measure Preparation Fund was requested by the MoC to cover Programme Opera tor’s costs connected to the preparation of the second-stage Support Measure Proposal. The Preparation Fund was used for Programme Operator’s staff costs assigned to preparation of the second-stage Support Measure Proposal. Also, for stakeholders consultation, signing cer emony and study trip to Switzerland. 4. Operational Support Measure description 4.1 Applying organisation (Executing Agency) 4.1.1 Financial and personnel information (only to be completed for non-state institutions) Date of establishment N/A Tax number (if applicable) N/A Number of employees N/A Financial Turnover for each of the 3 previous years [in Choose.] N/A Ministry of Climate is a governmental authority which performs the functions provided by law and the functions assigned by the Government of the Republic pursuant to law. 4.1.2 Organisation structures of Executing Agency and Support Measure The Programme Operator is the Ministry of Climate (MoC), that was formed on the basis of the Ministry of the Environment on 01.07.2023. By this reorganisation the area of responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment was significantly extended: transport, energy, housing and construction, maritime economy were transferred from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to the formed Ministry of Climate. The main aim of this reorganisation is to implement the green reform more effectively. The structure and responsibilities of the MoC are assigned by the statute of the ministry (htt s://www.rii iteata~a.ee/aktJ108O72023OO5 The management structure of the MoC is presented on the scheme bellow (scheme 1). Min istry is directed by the Minister. The Secretary General of a ministry directs the work of the structural units of the ministry, co-ordinates the activities of state authorities within the area of government of the ministry and manages the operations of the ministry. There are seven Dep uty Secretary Generals and 24 departments in the MoC. The main departments that are directly involved into implementation of the Support Measure are Financial Department and Biodiver sity Protection Department (they are marked with coloured rings on the scheme). The main tasks of the Financial Department are to coordinate and organise the budgeting and financial management of the ministry and the area of government, including monitoring and analysing budget implementation, organising financial reporting, organising the development and use of support programmes and measures financed by external funds and monitoring their use. The 16/50 main tasks of the Biodiversity Protection Department are to design and organise the imple mentation of nature protection policy, including soil protection policy. Other departments (for example Public Relations Department, Legal Department etc) of the MoC will be involved upon need based on the procedures of the MoC. The tasks of the depart ments are fixed internally in the statutes of the departments. Scheme 1: mana ement structure of the MoC Minister EreaitteeAaalstmtt and Internal Audit Adnaees to the Umister Secretary General Human Resources Dept Deputy Deputy Deputy Secretary General OePi.ott’ Secretary General Secretary General Deputy Deputy Deputy on Environmental Secretary General cii Energy and on Living Secretary General Secretary on MaritimeGeneral Affairs Secretary General on Innovation Strategy and Protection and on Green Transition Maneral Resources Envitonment and on Mobility ~ Water Resources BioLogical Diversity Circular Economy Biodinersuty Protection Green TraoaOon Dept. GreW Dept Circular Economy Dept Mainlty Devdopmeot Manse Environment Criti, Management cod Dept aeudhtveattnentsllept Dept tTSecumty Dept SEnsate Dept. Mineral Re000tceo Dept Building and Uting Envitomsental Environment Dept. Road and Railways Dept Mactime Dept Financial Dept Manegement cml latematiroral Attain Ambient ilti Dept Radiation Dept Dept. AviaSan Dept Wasne Dept. Strategy, ktalysis and Digital Ounces Dept Forest Dept Public Relatlono Dept Legal Dept. 7 Deputy SecretatyGenetals 24 depanmenia ( tiative Dept Adnrmiottittve Dept. The jurisdictional structure of the MoC is presented on the scheme 2. Both Programme Component Operators are within the area of government of the ministry and financed from state budget. Estonian Environmental Aciency is the state authority and Environmental Board is governmental authority (they are marked with coloured rings on the scheme). The manage ment structure of Programme Component Operators is presented in 6.2 and 9.2. Scheme 2: jurisdictional structure of the MoC a 17/50  Ministry of Climate State Owned Public Limited State Authorities Governmental Companies and Foundations Authorities • State Forest Management Center • AS Eesti Raudtee Estonian Environment Estonian Transport • Estonian Environmental Research Center • AS Saarte timid Agency Administration • AS~kosil AS Tallinna Lennujaam Estonian Museum of • SA Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus AS Tallinna Sadam Environmental Board Natural History • AS &LA.R.A. • 00 Rail Baltic Estonia • Elering AS • oh Trarispordi Varahaldus IT Centre of the Ministry of • Estonian Air Navigation Services Estonian National Committee of tire the Environment (KEMIT) • AS Nordic Aviation Group World Energy Council • AS Operail Estonian State Fleet Geological survey of Estonia 4.1.3 Support Measure management team Will external management personnel be hired to implement the Support YesE No~ Measure? What personnel capacity will be dedicated Internal resources External resources for the management of the Support Measure implementation (in full-time equivalents 0,3 FTE FTE)? Programme will be managed by the Programme Operator (MoC). 0,3 FTE of the internal re sources will be dedicated for this task: 0,15 FTE in Financial Department and 0,15 FTE in Biodiversity Protection Department. The Financial Department acts as the main managing unit within the Programme Operator. Financial Department will have the coordinating role and will be the main contact point at the Programme level. Biodiversity Protection Department is re sponsible for the Programme’s thematic area. The tasks of the employees and officials of the MoC are regulated with job descriptions and other relevant documents. The Programme Op erator will guide and monitor the implementation of the Programme Components. Annual ac tivities are defined in the annual work plan of the ministry. During year work plan is regularly monitored. Each Programme Component Operator will nominate the Programme Component manager, who will coordinate the implementation of the concrete component. The manage ment team at the Programme Component level is described in 6.3 and 9.3. There will be Task Force for ongoing monitoring, that will meet at least two times per year and will consist of Programme Operator, Programme Component Operators, National Coordination Unit and Partner (KEMIT). As prescribed by the Regulations there will be the Steering Committee established by the National Coordination Unit, that will be composed at least from the NCU, SCO, Programme Operator and Programme Component Operator. The Steering Committee will supervise the progress of implementation and make suggestions for improvements and approve modifica tions to the Support Measure. The Steering Committee will meet at least once per year. ~<1 18/50 The Programme Operator will also participate at Annual Meetings of the Cooperation Pro gramme. The function mentioned in Regulations Article 6.8 p.3 will be implemented by the State Shared Service Centre. In accordance with the Regulations Article 3.4.2. no Intermediate Bodies shall be set up for the implementation of the Support Measure. State Shared Service Centre, which acts as the competence centre for the implementation of structural and other funds in Estonia, carries out the tasks in accordance with Article 6.8 p.3 of the Regulations for the implementa tion of the Support Measure. The activities that are carried out in accordance with Article 6.8 p.3 by the State Shared Service Centre are financed from the Support Measure. The fulfilment of the functions of the National Coordination Unit, which is located in the same organization and is financed from the Technical Assistance Fund, is completely separated from these ac tivities. The implementation scheme of the Programme is attached in Annex 7. Are CVs attached to this documentation? YesLI No~ Are terms of reference for the management functions to be established Yes LI N0IXI attached to this documentation? 4.1.4 Programme and project management experience The ministry has a comprehensive experience on use, management and monitoring of grants allocated by the European Union or other donors, as pursuant to the act of Government of the Republic, the minister monitors the accurate and purposeful implementation of the budget and the purposeful use of funds, aid and grants in the area of government of the ministry. Ministry coordinates and organises the development and use of support programmes and measures financed by external funds (European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund, Just Tran sition Fund, Recovery and Resilience Facility, European Economic Area and Norwegian Fi nancial Mechanisms, Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Programme) and monitors their use. Also, ministry is involved as project leader or partner into implementation of concrete projects. As described in the previous sections the Ministry of Climate was formed on the basis of Min istry of the Environment (MoE). MoE was the intermediate body for the programme “Enhanc ing public environmental monitoring capacities” supported by the previous Swiss Contri bution in amount of 8 426 189,90 CHF. The objective of the programme was to enhance public environmental monitoring capacities for the whole country in order to reduce environmental pollution, to increase the quality of environmental information and living standards and to pro mote sustainable economic development. As clean water resources, high ambient air quality and radiation safety are of vital importance for humans and ecosystems, the programme was focused on development of surveillance capacities in these sectors. The biodiversity monitor ing was not covered by previous contribution. Ministry of Climate acts as lead partner in several LIFE Integrated Projects: • “Comprehensive management of forest and farming landscapes to improve the conservation status of Natura 2000 habitats and species” (LIFE18 IPEIEE/000007, ForEst&FarmLand, 3 FTE). Implementation period 01 .01 .2020 31.12.2029. Total eli - gible budget is 19561 784 EUR, from which EU contribution is 11 611 434 EUR. The main objective of the project is to implement the most critical part of the Estonian Pri oritised Actions Framework (PAF) for Natura 2000 related to forests and agricultural land. The aims are 1) to improve the conservation status of forest and farmland habitats 19/50  and species to achieve results that benefit whole ecosystems; 2) to improve conserva tion practices and collaboration between administrative authorities; and 3) to raise awareness and capacity of main stakeholders and general public, including the use of innovative conservation tools and solutions. “Development of an integrated water management and its modern tools in Esto nia strategic choices for future” (LIFE17IPE/EE/000007, CleanEST). Implementa - tion period 01.01.2019 31.12.2028). Total budget is 16666000 EUR. The main ob - jective of the project is to implement the most critical part of the East Estonian water management plan. The project’s main fields of activity are reducing harmfulness of re sidual pollution, identifying and restoring the goods of ecosystems, developing solu tions to reduce the pressure from agriculture on the environment, identification of the need for reclamation of the local management systems, liquidation of migration barriers to improve the ecological status of the rivers, increasing environmental awareness. There are 4,8 FTE from MoC involved in this project. • “Implementation of national climate change adaptation activities in Esto nia” (LIFE21 -IPC-EE-LIFE-SIP AdaptEstll 01069566). Implementation period 01 .01 .2023 —31 .03.2032. Total eligible budget is 18859 312 EUR, form which EU contribution is 11 294 017 EUR. Climate Change Adaptation Development Plan until 2030 sets eight subgoals based on the priority sectors of the economic and adminis trative structure in the Republic of Estonia (independently and partially combined) from which the implementation of five is supported by the project: (1) health and rescue capacity, (2) land use and planning, (3) natural environment, (4) bioeconomy, (5) so ciety, awareness and cooperation. • “Pursuing Estonian national climate ambition through smart and resilient reno vation” (LIFE2O IPC/EE/000010). Implementation period 01 .11.2021 — 31.12.2028. Total eligible budget is 16 226711 EUR, form which EU contribution is 9 500 000 EUR. The long-term objective of the project is to increase the ambition, and pave the way for reducing CO2 emissions, of Estonia’s existing building stock by up to 100% (—4.5 mil lion tCO2/yr) by 2050. In the short-term, the project aims to pursue the 2030 goal of reducing the C02 emissions by 32% (—1.4 million tCO2/yr). Achieving the objectives will help to mitigate the effect that energy performance of buildings has on climate change. 4.2 Detailed intervention strategy and activities 4.2.1 Detailed description of activities and intervention strategy One of the objectives of the programme is to enhance wildlife monitoring through the testing and implementation of new solutions and technologies. New technology will be integrated into monitoring schemes. For example, 3D bird radars will be used in bird monitoring, which will increase the accuracy of the data and also, it will increase the efficiency and operativeness. There are few programmes that support testing new solutions and tools in wildlife monitoring and this is one of the reason that this field is not developing as fast as it could. It is especially important to implement new and old methods at the same time in order to calibrate the results, so the longtime series of data sets will be continued. Also, eDNA, laser binoculars and other suitable tools and solutions will be tested and integrated into monitoring schemes. Environment Agency is developing Al for the monitoring of game species. According to the existing method, data of the game species is collected in winter and the presence of snow cover is important. Due to the climate change, Estonian winters are smoother and there are fewer days with snow cover, especially in areas that are close to the sea. Developing and using Al is one alternative for the existing method. That also requires great amount of tracking cam eras. Development of the Al and purchasing of the tracking cameras is financed from other 20/50 funds, but additional personnel is necessary in order to speed up the training and using of the Al and implement new Random Encounter Model in game species monitoring. At the moment there are around 100 cameras in use, but by 2024 there will be 700. There are 7 times more work in installing cameras and managing data. After the new system is in place and Al is smart enough to sort empty pictures and recognize different species, this extra person is no longer required. As the main objective of the Swiss Support is to improve decision making through qualitative data, it is important to improve IT systems and databases that would decrease human work, help to analyse great amount of data and make it easier to understand. Data is often scattered in different systems and quality of data varies. It is necessary to bring the data together, de velop analytical tools and make it more attractive, visible, and understandable. Also, it is also necessary to improve citizen science. Citizen science can play an important role by filling data gaps where conventional data sources may not be sufficient, providing complementary tem poral and spatial data that supports official monitoring systems. Besides collecting additional data, promoting citizen science gives the opportunity to raise environmental awareness. The second component of the programme is related to enhancing the protection of natural values in protected areas and endangered species. So far, the effectiveness of protection measures has been evaluated in few protected areas, so it is not clear which protection measures are the most effective for protecting species and habitats. Therefore, an evaluation of effectiveness of protected areas is carried out, and based on these results, it is necessary to update area-based conservation management plans. Management plans must also take into account those aspects that have not been paid attention to, e.g. how to contribute to the survival of species and habitats in changing climate conditions. Also, how to integrate conser vation management plans (the state’s responsibility) into the green networks specified in gen eral plans of municipalities. Improving the effectiveness of the green network is also important for achieving the conservation objectives of the protected area by providing green corridors for the spread of species between the areas. In order to evaluate the effectiveness, it is necessary to carry out additional inventories, otherwise it is not possible to have adequate up-to-date information about the status of species and habitats in protected areas. In order to ensure the uniform quality of the inventories, the inventory methodologies will be updated, and inventory guidelines will be prepared for those habitat groups where they are still missing. Area based conservation objectives are not enough to achieve the favorable status of species and habitats. For this purpose, nationwide objectives will be set, including favorable reference values for each species and habitat, and measures on how to achieve the objectives. For this purpose, national action plans for habitat and species will be prepared for those habitat groups and protected species, where this has not yet been done. In addition to determining the threat- ness of species according to the Red List, species are divided into different protection catego ries, which are subject to different rules. For example, 100% of the localities of species of protection category I must be protected, at least 50% of localities of species of protection cat egory II, and at least 10% of localities of species of protection category Ill. The current distri bution needs to be reassessed because, for various reasons, the status of some species has improved in the meantime and that of other species has deteriorated. Designation of updated protection categories will help to protect more effectively those species that need it most. The inventories made by the Environmental Board are inserted into the database managed by the Environmental Agency, the results of the inventory are the basis for national monitoring, while additional information about the natural values of protected areas can be obtained based on the monitoring results. Creating an automatic transfer between the Estonian nature infor mation system (data on protected areas, protected species, inventories) and the monitoring database enables the use of relevant information, so that there is no need to use different databases. Manual workload will be reduced. The information needed to manage the protected areas will be relevant, and easy to use for both state authorities and the wider public. The 21/50 protection of natural values is more effective, is based on data that is comprehensible to all, and ensures the improvement of the status of species and habitats. Greater involvement of interest groups and voluntary monitoring will help to improve the understanding of the need to protect nature more broadly. These are the basic conditions for the general improvement of the state of nature, which in turn helps to contribute to the fulfillment of the goals and the targets of Global Biodiversity Framework. 4.2.2 Detailed description of selection process for Programme Components Not relevant, as all components have been selected. 4.2.3 Communication activities Programme’s launching and closing event is organized by the Ministry of Climate. We are planning to involve media, stakeholders and competent authorities on both events for the pur pose of increasing awareness of Programme and also environmental awareness. We are planning to send joint press releases and social media posts once a year during the implementation period. Throughout the period, the public will be informed about the progress of the programme through various activities by Programme Component Operators. Also, we are monitoring media (articles, press releases etc) through “Station” (Estonian media monitor ing programme). There will be communication activities (articles, social medias posts, television and/or radio) at the Programme Components level (Annex 1,3.1): Environmental Agency • We will use our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) to post news of the results of the project (at least 20). Our Facebook page has approximately 10 000 fol lowers; • Social media boosts: we will boost important and attractive posts (2) and with that, our posts will reach at least 200 000 social media users; • We will publish at least 4 blog posts, which will be shared in the list of journalists. With that, we can reach biggest Estonian newspapers (Postimees, Delfi, Pãevaleht, Maaleht etc), both paper and web, which are covering most of the population in Estonia; • 8 articles of the new solutions and technologies in the wildlife monitoring (Al, 3D radars, etc), target group wider public; • 2 events where new solutions and technologies will be demonstrated, target group up to 150 persons, experts in the field and data users (scientists, hunters, windfarm de velopers, etc). This will also enhance networking and collaboration among different stakeholders; • Citizen science campaigns (20) to involve volunteers in wildlife monitoring. During the campaigns we aim to reach up to 1000 people; • 2 bigger events for volunteers to present the results of the campaigns, recognize vol unteers, enhance networking and collaboration for the future. This helps to strengthen the network and also this helps to bring the results of the project to more people through dedicated people. Target group up to 150 persons, volunteers, wildlife enthusiasts and specialists, active community members and environmental specialists of the local coun ties; • Television, we will propose our topics at least to 2 national broadcasts and shows like Terevisioon (80 000 viewers) and Osoon (160 000 180 000 viewers); — 22/50  • At least 8 appearances/interviews on radio shows (e.g Vikerraadio, Okoskoop etc). Vikerraadio is the most listened radio (120 000 listeners/day and during a week they can reach up to 228 000 people); • In the final stage of the project, we plan to make a presentation in Switzerland to intro duce the results of the project to interested target groups (wildlife experts and special ists, scientists, officials, financiers of the programme, etc) who could benefit from our experience and who could replicate the results. The Environmental Board • The overall communication and management costs for Programme Component 2 in clude newspaper and social media articles (e.g more than 36,000 print circulation of the national newspaper, more than 12,000 Facebook users) and compilation of the webpage. Examples of management plans and action plans are translated into English. • When assessing the management effectiveness (Activity 1) of larger areas where dif ferent stakeholders are involved, meetings are organised to introduce the results of the assessment and get the input from stakeholders. There is a need to publish newspaper advertisements in local and/or national newspapers, introduce the topic on the webpage. When organising meetings with stakeholders it may be necessary to rent rooms and organise coffee breaks. During hybrid meetings it is necessary to rent extra technical equipment for audio and video solutions. The results of management effec tiveness assessment will be introduced to the public: a digital i~eport/summary will be published in Estonian and English. The report has to be digitally designed. • In the process of preparing of site-based management plans (Activity 2) interest groups are involved. The project will produce a total of 64 management plans. All of them are introduced to the public on the website (www.keskkonnaamet.ee), newspaper adver tisements are published in local or national newspapers, meetings are organised (in- person meetings, hybrid meetings using MS Teams), letters are sent to stakeholders. When organising meetings with stakeholders it is necessary to rent rooms and organise coffee breaks. During hybrid meetings it may be necessary to rent extra technical equipment for audio and video solutions. • In the process of preparing habitat action plans (Activity 2) interest groups are involved. The project will produce at least three habitat plans. They are introduced to the public on the website (www.keskkonnaamet.ee), newspaper advertisements are published in national newspapers, meetings are organised (in-person meetings, using MS Teams), letters are sent to stakeholders. During hybrid meetings it may be necessary to rent extra technical equipment for audio and video solutions. When organising meetings with stakeholders it is necessary to rent rooms and organise coffee breaks. • In the process of proposing the changes in protection categories of species and pre paring action plans for protected species (Activity 3) interest groups (mostly universities and experts) are involved. The project will produce 60 action plans. When preparing the action plans http://www.keskkonnaamet.ee/ meetings with experts/universities are organised (in-person meetings, hybrid meetings using MS Teams). When organising meetings it is necessary to rent rooms and organise coffee breaks. During hybrid meet ings it may be necessary to rent extra technical equipment for audio and video solution. • Communication with local authorities (79 local municipalities): one seminar per year (conservation management and green infrastructure) is organised. The costs include advertisements, room rent, coffee breaks, renting equipment for audio and video solu tions. 4.2.4 Detailed implementation schedule Please see annex 6. 23/50 a 24/50 4.3 Logframe Hierarchy of objectives Key Indicators Sources & Means of Vent i- Assumptions & Risks Strategy of Intervention (mci. target values and baseline) cation (External Factors) Impact Impact Indicators Impact: Sources and Means of Verification Improved conservation status of Proportion of habitat types and species National reports and data- Depends on other measures threatened habitats and species with an improved status, 30% by 2030. bases implemented in Estonia. The baseline is the 2019 assessment of the Habitats Directive Article 17 report. A 30% improvement should be achieved compared to the results of this report (therefore baseline is 0). Outcomes (Support Measure objectives Outcome Indicators Outcome: Sources and Means Outcome /purpose) of Verification Assumptions & Risks 1. The efficiency and reliability of bio- 1. Data collected as part of the biodiver- 1. Estonian Nature Infor- • insufficient financing of diversity monitoring has improved sity monitoring programme reaches the mation system; National Bi- national biodiversity mon databases within one year through auto- odiversity Monitoring Pro- itoring programme and bi 2. The effectiveness of management mated process gramme odiversity protection in planning of protected areas as well as Baseline: no automated process, most of the future due the na protected species and habitats has the date reaches databases within more 2. Support Measure Corn- tionai security and improved than one year pietion Report with exam- changes in priorities and pies of guidelines, manage- that can affect the sus 2. New guidelines for drawing up man- ment and action plans tainability measure of the support agement plans of protected areas have • Institutional reforms been implemented • Changes in legislation Baseline: The previous guidelines are outdated (2012, updated 2018) Outputs: Support Measure deliverables/re- Output Indicators Output: Sources and Means of Verifica- Output suits per outcome tion Assumptions & Risks 1.1. Existing IT systems (databases At least 4 additional connections or tools Support Measure Comple Risks: and portals) and their connectivity is for the exchange of data between the IT tion describing the connec improved • Price of the services and systems have been established tivity of IT systems equipment will increase Baseline: 0 for additional connections • IT developments take and tools (overall, IT systems has already longer than planned many other existing connections and • The number of potential tools) service providers (includ 1 .2. New technologies and novel so- At least 5 new developed and piloted so- National Biodiversity Moni ing experts) is limited that lutions for biodiversity monitoring are lutions (Random Encounter Method, Arti- toring Programme impacts public procure mapped, developed, tested and im- ficial Intelligence, 3D bird radar, eDNA ments and public pro plemented and, other new technical solutions that curements may fail will be worked out in first stage of the pro • The quality of services is ject low Baseline: 0 • Being unable to hire the 2.1. Site-based and national conser • The effectiveness of the management • Support Measure Com personnel for the pro vation objectives and measures for of at least 300 protected objects (dif pletion with examples of g ramme protected species and habitats are ferent types of protected areas) is as guidelines, manage revised sessed ment and action plans Baseline: 0 (using new methodology) • Final report of manage ment effectiveness as • 5 action plans for habitats; 64 conser sessment 2.2. The conservation management vation management plans for pro tected areas using a new format, 5 • Management plans and plans of protected areas, action plans habitats action plans are action plans for habitats and 24% of for species and habitats are revised compiled and are pub all the protected species in Estonia and updated have action plans licly available through the database Baselines: 2 action plans for habitats; 0 • The draft regulation for conservation management plans for pro the change of protection tected areas (using the new format) categories of species is • 16% of all the protected species in prepared. Estonia have action plans. The pro tection categories of all the protected species’ groups (not separate spe cies) are evaluated 26/50  Baseline: 0 • Draft document to change the regu lations of protection categories is pre pared Baseline: 0 • The toolset for conservation manage ment effectiveness assessment is set up and in use in the Environmental Board Baseline: 0 3.Competence of the specialists as • At least 21 trainings/seminars • Annual Support Meas well as public awareness and en • At least 8 study trips ure Reports gagement is improved • A network of volunteers is created • Registration lists • At least 20 campaigns to involve vol • In crosscutting indicator unteers in wildlife monitoring the disaggregation of • 2 bigger events for volunteers training participants • 2 bigger events for stakeholders only by gender, but not along disadvantaged • At least 8 articles of the new solutions and non-disadvantaged in wildlife monitoring groups will be made • At least 8 appearances in radio shows • At least 2 appearances in TV shows • 1 presentation in Switzerland to intro duce the results of the project • CC_Cl_i Number of people benefit ing from training to improve institu tional and professional capacity 27/50 4.4 Swiss Support Measure Partner(s) Institutional partnership is not planned, however, the Environmental Board will organise two study trips to Switzerland (they have contacted the Swiss National Park): five days for six spe cialists each, the emphasis of one of the study trips is habitat protection and the emphasis of the other study trip is species protection. The aim of the trips is to learn about conservation management planning/strategies, habitat and species data collection, using GIS). Also Envi ronment Agency will have one study trip to Switzerland in late stage of the programme to share the experiences and present the results. Some of the planned public procurements exceed international threshold and Swiss organizations can participate in the process and make their offer. 4.5 Stakeholder consultations Stakeholder consultation took place on the 5th of June 2023. The invitation was sent to about 150 persons and institutions: to all local authorities, universities, organisations involved into monitoring or biodiversity protection (please see invitation letter in annex 10). There were 32 participants (please see registration list in annex 10). After the event there was an opportunity for written feedback (please see afteiword and event materials in annex 10). At the beginning of the event the objectives and expected results of the programme were introduced and an overview on the development trends in nature conservation was given. Afterwards each pro gramme component operator introduced main actions to the participants and two different workshops were organized where participants had the chance to point out problems, propose new ideas and actions. Ideas and actions that were described in the proposal and introduced to the stakeholders, were all supported. Those were: 3D bird radar, development and training of the Al, including imple menting the Random Encounter Model more widely in game species monitoring, testing new solutions and technology in wild life monitoring (eDNA, remote monitoring solutions, automa tion, laser binoculars, drones with thermos cameras, telemetry surveys), promoting citizen sci ence and also development of the IT systems. Stakeholders agreed that data should be easier to collect, more accessible and more under standable. The interface of different systems was considered necessary which would make data queries easier and faster. Data up-to-dateness was considered important, especially in decision-making. Stakeholders pointed out that entering data into databases should be simpli fied, including creating solutions for mass-data. If possible, some of the IT systems should be as mobile applications. Testing the capabilities of eDNA was strongly emphasized. The project activities proposed by the Environmental Board, were also supported. The repre sentatives of local municipalities said that they would like to participate more in the process of compiling management plans. They pointed out that updating species data and management plans is crucial in general planning processes and decision making. It is necessary to know which areas are suitable for development and planning the use of mineral resources. The En vironmental Board will organise joint seminars for local municipalities in order to discuss how conservation management and principles of green infrastructure work together. The representatives of universities said that they are ready to carry out necessary inventories, give expert opinions and put together methodologies for habitats inventories. They agreed that protection categories of species need to be updated as well. Expert opinions about species give input to action plans and help decision making and law enforcement. It was pointed out that updated site-based management plans and action plans that describe objectives, pressures, risks and measures are necessary for environmental impact assess ment. In summary, the proposed ideas and activities were supported, no one objected neither con cept nor content of Programme. 4.6 Tentative Budget 4.6.1 Detailed tentative budget The budget is attached in Annex 4. Budget is split between three main parts: 1. ManaQement costs: o This part includes costs only for Programme Management (costs done at the Pro gramme level). Costs connected to the management and implementation (including involvement of partners) of the Programme Components are included into the budget of components. o This part includes also the costs of State Shared Service Centre for the fulfilment of the function in accordance with Regulations Article 6.8 p.3 In accordance with the Regulations Article 3.4.2. no Intermediate Bodies shall be set up for the imple mentation of the Support Measure. State Shared Service Centre, which acts as the competence centre for the implementation of structural and other funds in Estonia, carries out the tasks in accordance with Article 6.8 p.3 of the Regulations for the implementation of the Support Measure. The activities that are carried out in ac cordance with Article 6.8 p.3 by the State Shared Service Centre are financed from the Support Measure. The fulfilment of the functions of the National Coordination Unit, which is located in the same organization and is financed from the Technical Assistance Fund, is completely separated from these activities. 2. Programme Component 1 “Development of innovative monitoring technologies/solutions and improvement of Environmental databases and systems” 3. Programme Component 2 “Implementation of a systematic assessment of the social and conservation outcomes of protected areas” ~I5O  4~6.2 Tentative Disbursement Plan Reimbursement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Period Estimated reim- 926 117,50 926 117,50 843 284,71 843 284,71 854 997,31 854 997,31 836 038,88 836 038,88 9 122,84 bursement of Swiss Contribu tion in CHF  4.7 Risk Analysis and Risk Management Risk Impact Likeli- Risk level Mitigation measure(s) [1—5] hood [1 —5] Institutional reforms 1 3 Low Internal institutional reform is on going in the Environmental Board, but it has low impact on support measure, because the project activities can be adjusted to the new structure of the insti tution. Changes in legislation 3 3 Low-Medium Necessary adjustments in the programme will be made follow ing the legislative changes Price of the services 3 3 Low-Medium To mitigate the risk, we have and equipment will in- taken this into account in the crease preparation of the budget and we have added necessary buffer. In case buffer will be not needed we will make a proposal to transfer it to another budget line. IT developments take 3 4 Medium-High We are already developing pro longer than planned curement documents to save time and start as soon as agree ment is signed. The number of potential 3 3 Low-Medium To mitigate the risks, we have in- service providers (in- volved stakeholder in the prepa cluding experts) is lim- ration of this programme and we ited that impacts public will actively spread the infor procurements and pub- mation of the public procure lic procurements may ments and as the number of po fail tential service providers is limited in Estonia, we will use interna tional public procurements if nec essary and mandatory according to the law. The quality of services 3 3 Low-Medium When ordering services it is nec- is low essary to plan well ahead and provide the quality criteria that need to be followed. The ser vices have to be described in de tail in contracts, if work does not confirm to the contract, a chance to improve the work is given. It is necessary to check the quality services offered regularly. Risk Impact Likeli- Risk level Mitigation measure(s) [1 —5] hood [1 —5] Institutional reforms 1 3 Low Internal institutional reform is on going in the Environmental Board, but it has low impact on support measure, because the project activities can be adjusted to the new structure of the insti tution. Changes in legislation 3 3 Low-Medium Necessary adjustments in the programme will be made follow ing the legislative changes Being unable to hire the 4 2 Low-Medium It is necessary to provide the sal- personnel for the pro- aries that motivate, also, ser gramme vices can be chosen instead. Overall Risk Level Support Measure Medium-low Comments on the overall risk level (if In general we think the risk is low, but there are any) some risk mentioned above that evaluated as low- medium. 4.8 Monitoring and Steering In accordance with Regulations the Support Measure Steering Committee will be established to supervise the progress of implementation of the Programme and make suggestions for im provements, to approve in accordance with Regulations any modifications based on the pro posal by the Programme Operator. There will be Task Force for ongoing monitoring of the Programme and Programme Compo nents. The Task Force will propose any modif ications to the Steering Committee. The resources for Steering Committee and Task Force meetings are foreseen in the Pro gramme Budget. 4.9 Other operational issues N/A 5. Annexes # Annex 1 Intervention logic 2 Overview of Implementation locations 3 Programme Characteristics a 32150  Annex 4 Budget 5 Procurement Plan 6 Implementation schedule 7 Implementation scheme 8 Detailed Information to Programme Component 1 8-1 Environment Agency actions and personnel 9 Detailed Information to Programme Component 2 10 Stakeholder consultation 11 Feedback on the recommendations 33/50  Annex 2: Overview of Implementation locations General (Programme Management) Location name Address Ministry of the Climate (Kllimaministeerium) Suur-Ameerika 1, Tallinn Programme Component 1 “Development of innovative monitoring technologies/solu tions and improvement of Environmental databases and systems” Location name Address Estonian Environment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur) Mustamäe tee 33, Tallinn Programme Component 2 “Implementation of a systematic assessment of the social and conservation outcomes of protected areas” Location name Address Environmental Board of Estonia (Keskkonnaamet) Roheline 64, Pärnu Annex [8] Detailed Information to Programme Component Basic Programme Component Information Title Development of innovative monitoring technologies/so lutions and improvement of Environmental databases and systems Planned Duration [months) 48 Requested Swiss contribu- 2 883 589,89 tion (OH F) Requested co-financing 85% rate of Switzerland [%} ~w1 34/50  6. Programme Component Operator 6.1 Basic Information Name of Programme Corn- Environment Agency ponent Operator Type of entity National administration If type of organization is “other”, describe the type briefly Name of contact person Mr Lauri Klein Position Wildlife monitoring coordinator Correspondence address: Mustamãe tee 33, Tallinn, Estonia E-Mail [email protected] [email protected] Webpage and social media https:I/keskkonnaaqentuur.ee/en (if any) https://www.facebook.com/Keskkonnaaqentuu r Date of establishment 01.06.2013 Tax number (if applicable) EEl 01646790 Number of employees 208 (31.10.2023) Financial Turnover for each of the 3 previous years [in EUR] 2020 — 12 075 890; 2021 —11 873025; 2022—12 0111 311. Has the Programme Component Operator previously received YesLi No~ funding from the Swiss Contribution? 6.2 Programme Component Operator Management Since 1st of April 2022, matrix management is implemented in the Environmental Agency. There are three functional managers who are responsible for different functions and services. As seen in the chart, there are six main departments reporting to the director and functional managers. Wildlife department will be the main department responsible for the management and implementation of the Swiss-Estonian cooperation programme. tOvti 35/50  Director Functional manager o Functional manager o Functional manager Ot developrnentc anti analysis and reporting data rn inagement and servicos monitoring Development and Env*onmnn;ai analysis Data m,nounment and pi~nrvng departmnnt ~ mon znrinR dn~ar1mnnt Cnnerai dopariment Environmental use department Wildlife department Forest department Weather forcast department Meteorological department Hydrology department 6.3 Programme Component Management Will external management personnel be hired to implement the Pro- Yes~ No~1 gramme Component? What personnel capacity will be dedicated Internal resources External resources for the management of the Programme Com ponent implementation (in full-time equiva- 1,0 4,0 FTE lents FTE)? It is necessary to use external resources to implement the actions planned with the Swiss Estonian cooperation programme. All those people will be working in the Wildlife department. Project manager (full-time, period 2024-2027) (hereinafter the term “project” refers to the term “Programme Component’) responsible for the project team management and the implemen — tation of the actions, preparation of the public procurements, documentation and budget, or ganizing study trips, communication and translation of the documents, etc. Potential project manager is already involved in the preparation of the application. Chief specialist (monitoring specialist, full-time, period 2024-2027) additional employee, who — will be responsible for the development, testing and implementation of new monitoring meth odologies, including contribution to the preparation of the acquisition of mobile 3D bird radar and responsible for the implementation and integration of the equipment into the national mon itoring methodologies. In cooperation with scientists and technical experts, map possible novel methodologies, solutions (eDNA) and equipment (night observation equipment, transmitters, remote sensing solutions, etc.) to be used in the wildlife and ecosystem monitoring. Arrange testing of mapped novel monitoring methodologies, equipment, and solutions. Also, monitoring specialist will be responsible for the involvement of volunteers and organization of the cam paigns. Specialist (monitoring assistant, full-time, period 2024-2027) additional employee, who will — help to implement the new REM (Random Encounter Model) methodology, contributes to the collection of data through track cameras, data management and training of the artificial intelli gence (Al) to be created. 49 36/50 Chief specialist (IT specialist in the Environmental Agency, part-time, internal specialist, work load 0.5, period 2024-2027) contributes to the compilation of the initial IT tasks: advises the — IT developer, tests and introduces the results. A person with the same work load (0.5) will start working in the IT Centre of the Ministry of the Climate in the period 2024-2027. He/she will be responsible for the business analyses, organizing IT related public procurements and he/she will be the main contact person for developers. Also, he/she will be responsible for the quality of the services. Specialist (data specialist, full-time, period 2024-2027) organizes the entry and updating of — data in Estonian Nature Information System (EELIS) collected within the framework of inven tories ordered by the Environmental Board. Also contributes to the development of IT systems. It is more cost-effective to hire a person than outsource the service. It also ensures operational efficiency, better control of the work and sustainability of the results as it helps to preserve the institutional memory. At the moment terms of reference for the functions is not yet established, but main tasks and actions have been described in the annex. Are CVs attached to this documentation? YesLi No~ Are terms of reference for the management functions to be established Yes LI No~ attached to this documentation? 6A Programme and Project Management Experience In the last 5 years, Environment Agency has implemented 9 environmental projects (15 addi tional FTE-s) and monitoring programmes (2019-2023). Most programmes are implemented on regular bases and are still ongoing. For example, implementing the national wildlife and landscape monitoring programme, developing the prototype of Al (game species), developing the nature observation mobile application. Wildlife and landscape monitoring programme is mostly financed from national budget. In the past years, the yearly budget has been 455 000 euros (without VAT, personnel costs ex cluded), which is used to outsource services (e.g monitoring of eagles, amphibians, flying squirrels, bats, seals, forest birds, etc.) from wildlife experts. Every year there are around 50 monitoring works. Mostly public procurement is used or simpler procurements which is accord ance with the law and internal procedures of the Agency. Monitoring team consists of 12 per sons and their salary is covered from the state budget. KAUR is the leading partner of the ELME project. The main objective of the project is mapping and assessment of Estonian ecosystems and related ecosystem services. Besides, new meth odologies and technologies were tested in wildlife monitoring, including Random Encounter Methodology (REM), drones and acoustic sensors. Project activities started in 2016 and it will be finished in the end of 2023. Total cost of the project is 1,65 million euros and it is financed from the EU Cohesion Fund. Co-financing comes from the state budget and National Environ mental Programme. Employees responsible for managing the project and implementing the activities are still working in the Agency. Also, an Al prototype was developed in 2020-202 1 (duration 15 months), which was financed from European Regional Development Fund. Total cost of the development was 95 400 euros. The aim of the project was to develop an Al prototype that could recognize species from the tracking camera photos. In the first stage, Al had to recognize pictures with animal and without animal and remove pictures where no animal was recognized. The prototype had to learn two 37/50 species (roe deer and marten), but it was able to learn other species too (accuracy depended on the quality and number of training photos). Public procurement was used to find the best developer. Employees responsiblefor the preparation of the public procurement documents and development of the Al, are still working in the Agency. 7. Programme Component Description 7.1 Short Summary Goal of this Programme Component is to develop and implement new monitoring methods, technical solutions and approaches in wildlife monitoring to improve the quality and volume of the data. Also, cost-efficiency is also taken into account~ Wildlife monitoring has been done for decades using the same methodologies. On the one hand, it is important to use same methodologies so the data would be comparable and long time series would not be interrupted, but on the other hand, with the development of technol ogy, it could be possible to do the same work more efficiently, faster and with higher quality. Taken into account the costs, including salary and travel costs necessary to conduct field works and at the same time, the limited number of specialists, new solutions are essential. But it takes time to test new methods, solutions and approaches and compare the data that was collected with old methodologies. It is also important to validate new solutions and data. With the use of modern technological solutions, we hope to achieve a new and higher level in wildlife monitoring. This will also improve the quality of the environmental decisions as smarter decisions can be made based on higher quality and more data. 7.2 Activities and Expected Results Development and implementation of the new methods, technology and approaches (Annex 1, 1 .2.1). This includes acquisition of mobile 3D bird radar and also other new technologies for wildlife biodiversity monitoring the aim is to map and test new technologies and solutions in — wildlife monitoring to increase the quality and reliability of data. More specifically, the ambition is to create remote sensing solutions for mapping the spread of forest losses and reeds, auto matic renewal of the maps of ecosystem services completed in previous projects, acquiring modern technology and testing them in wildlife monitoring (new night observation equipment for monitoring e.g. Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and Great Snipe (Gallinago media), drones with thermosensors, binoculars measuring height and distance for bird monitoring, etc.). Technologies and solutions must be mapped in cooperation with the experts in the field, which is why the list of activities is left open. Output: 1 mobile 3D bird radar acquired and at least 3 new methodologies/solutions have been tested and integrated into wildlife monitoring programme. Result: These new methodolo gies/solutions can supplement or replace existing ones. Data volume and quality improved. Wider deployment of Random Encounter Methodology (REM) and training of Artificial Intelli gence (Al) (Annex 1, 1.2.1) The Environment Agency has tested the REM method to collect — data in a small area using track cameras and created a prototype of Al that can identify different animal species from track camera photos and assess their abundance. The prototype will be further developed, and 700 track cameras have been procured (financed from the European Union Cohesion Fund), allowing them to be installed all over Estonia. Over the next years, the number of track cameras and photos they take, will increase at least by 7 times, which means 38/50 more workload to install and maintain them and to work through the photos cameras automat ically take. It is temporarily necessary to hire a person to introduce a new methodology and train Al, which would allow replacing the old methodology with a new one. Output: Al trained, REM fully developed and tested. Result: The REM methodology has been applied all over Estonia. Alternative method for monitoring of the game species developed and time-consuming photo-analysis automated with usage of Al. Environmental DNA (eDNA) testing (Annex 1, 1 .2.1) in wildlife biodiversity monitoring use of — eDNA in biodiversity monitoring is a rapidly developing field, but its potential has not yet been tested in Estonian national biodiversity monitoring. Potential species or species groups will be mapped, pilot areas will be selected and eDNA usability will be tested for biodiversity monitor ing. Output: usability potential of eDNA is evaluated, method is tested and where appropriate it is integrated into wildlife monitoring methodologies. Result: Data volume and quality is improved, cost-efficiency is increased. Promoting citizen science and creating network of volunteers (Annex 1, 1.1.2 and 3.1)— use of citizen science and involvement of volunteers in environmental monitoring is an increasingly important topic around the world. It creates new opportunities to engage people, collect more data and improve the quality of data, promote cooperation between different parties, involve civil society organisations in policymaking, prevent and solve problems as well as increase environmental awareness in society. Among other things, it helps to pay greater attention to emerging environmental problems, prevent loopholes both in legislation and monitoring data as well as improve data collection process. Output: a network of volunteers is created. At least 20 campaigns (some campaigns will be repeated every year) have been organised in 4 years: 2 bigger events for volunteers. Voluntary monitoring is integrated into wildlife monitoring methodologies. Result: involvement of volun teers in wildlife monitoring is improved and data volume is increased. Development of IT systems (Annex 1, 1.1.1)— Environmental data is kept in different systems in Estonia and often those systems are not linked to each other which means that data must be transferred manually from one system to another. Also, there is a risk, that relevant and updated information is not used in decision making and analysis. In order to facilitate fieldwork, it is necessary to create a fieldwork tool that allows the field-workers to enter the monitoring and inventory data directly to the system already in the field. This would reduce the workload of officials and ensure a faster data delivery into system. It is also necessary to create a man agement efficiency assessment tool for the Environmental Board into EELIS. It should help officials assess the efficiency of the management of protected areas. Output: the necessary connections and tools for the exchange of data between the IT systems have been established; management efficiency tool in EELIS has been created; fieldwork tool has been created. Results: time-consuming manual human work is decreased, data transfer between different IT systems is improved and quality of the automated analysis is increased. Thanks to this, quality of the environmental decisions is improved. The activities are described in more detail in the annex of the application. 39/50 7.3 Beneficiaries Environment Agency is the main beneficiary, who will benefit directly from this Programme Component. In addition, 0,5 position, is planned for the IT Centre of the Ministry of the Envi ron ment. According to the law, it is mandatory to organize public procurements in order to outsource services and equipment. Indirectly universities (eDNA) and enterprises that provided specific equipment (e.g. 3D bird radar) or service (IT developments) benefit from this programme. After creating better tools (IT systems, Al) and using more efficient equipment in wildlife mon itoring that allows to collect more and improve the quality of the data, different private and public organizations benefit from this programme Environment Board, Ministry of the Climate, — companies that do environmental impact assessments, universities and scientists using wild life data, etc. Is the benefit of the Programme Component a na- Nationals RegionalLi tional or regional benefit? If regional, indicate the benefiting NUTS-2 regions. 7.4 Sustainability After the end of the Swiss-Estonian cooperation programme, Environment Agency will main tain the results and finance the activities necessary to maintain the developed IT systems and implementing new monitoring methods. Aim of the programme is to develop more efficient systems and methods (e.g REM and Al), that would replace the old ones. Thanks to the de velopment of the IT systems, less human work is necessary and saved budget can be used to maintain the systems. Capacity will be increased as the object of the programme is to reduce human work, use new technical solutions and use more automatic solutions that would in crease the quality and volume of the data, make data transfers into the systems more efficient and increase the quality of the analyses. Environment Agency will continue with that also after the programme, but thanks to this cooperation, wildlife monitoring will be taken on to next level. Improved quality of the data improves also the decisions made by policy makers. 7.5 Budget Detailed budget is included in the Annex 4. 7.6 Risk Analysis and Risk Management Main risks for the Environment Agency are: 1. Price of the services and equipment will increase (risk level: low medium). To mitigate the risk, we have taken this into account in the preparation of the budget and we have added necessary buffer. In case buffer will be not needed we will make a proposal to transfer it to another budget line. 2. IT developments take longer than planned (risk level: medium high). We are already developing procurement documents to save time and start as soon as agreement is signed. 3. The number of potential service providers is limited that impacts public procurements and public procurements may fail (risk level: low medium). To mitigate the risks, we 40/50  have involved stakeholder in the preparation of this programme and we will actively spread the information of the public procurements and as the number of potential ser vice providers is limited in Estonia, we will use international public procurements if nec essary and mandatory according to the law. 4. The quality of services is low (risk level: low medium). When ordering services, it is necessary to plan well ahead and provide the quality criteria that need to be followed. The services have to be described in detail in contracts, if work does not confirm to the contract, a chance to improve the work is given. It is necessary to check the quality services offered regularly. 8. Annexes Annex 8-1 Annex 8-1 Environment Agency actions and personnel Annex [9] Detailed Information to Programme Component Basic Programme Component Information Title Implementation of a systematic assessment of the social and conservation outcomes of protected areas Planned Duration [months] 48 Requested Swiss contribu- 3 843 456,11 tion (CHF) Requested co-financing 85% rate of Switzerland [%] 9. Programme Component Operator 91 Basic Information Name of Programme Corn- The Environmental Board ponent Operator Type of entity National administration If type of organization is Government Agency “other”, describe the type briefly a 41/50  Name of contact person Ms Riina Kotter Position Leading specialist Correspondence address: Roheline 64, 80010 Pärnu, Estonia E-Mail [email protected] info @ keskkonnaamet.ee Webpage and social media www.keskkonnaamet.ee; www.keskkonnaamet.ee/en (if any) www.facebook.com/keskkonnaamet Date of establishment 1 January 2021 Tax number (if applica ble): EE101281142 Merging the for mer Environ- Commercial register mental Board code: 70008658 and the Envi ronmental In spectorate Number of employees: 584.05 Financial Turnover for each of the 3 previous years [in EUR] State budget: 2021 20,657,606 2022 20,979,697 2023 23,052,343 Has the Programme Component Operator previously received YesLi No~ funding from the Swiss Contribution? 9.2 Programme Component Operator Management The Environmental Board is a government agency which operates within the area of the Min istry of Climate. The Environmental Board’s task is to implement state policies on environmental use, nature conservation and radiation safety and to monitor the fulfilment of the laws and norms estab lished for the protection of the natural environment. It is also involved in the development and updating of legal acts and other official documents regulating the environmental field. The areas the Environmental Board operates in are wide-ranging: from issuing fishing and waste management permits to placing natural assets under protection, and from publishing environmental fees to offering environmental education programmes. In total, the Environmen tal Board offers 65 public services. The clients include individuals, companies and local au thorities, and it provides a lot of public services for the benefit of the state and society in the broadest sense. The Environmental Board is represented all over Estonia, with 31 offices around the country. 42150 The Swiss Support Measure programme will be managed by the conservation management planning department. ECTOR GENERAL MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL USE WILDLIFE SURVEILLANCE Administrative Depart- Climate and Radiation Conservation Manage ment Department ment Department Surveillance Department Conservation Manage- Circular Economy De- ment Planning Depart- Environmental Compen Service Department partment ment sation Department Natural-Resource Use De- Investigation Depart- Personnel Department Water Department partment ment Public Relations De partment Forest Department Legal Department Strategy and Analysis Environmental Education Department Department Internal Control Adviser 9.3 Programme Component Management Will external management personnel be hired to implement the Pro Yes~ NoEl gramme Component? What personnel capacity will be dedicated Internal resources External resources for the management of the Programme Com ponent implementation (in full-time equiva- 15 FTEs lents FTE)? The General Programme Manager (0.5 FTEs, 2024—2028) will be responsible for the general coordination of the project in the Environmental Board. He/She will coordinate the activities in general, be responsible for the use of the budget and procurements, organise the communi cation, seminars and study trips. She will also supervise and manage the personnel hired for the programme component activities. Activity 1: Conservation Management Effectiveness Assessment Management Effectiveness Assessment Coordinator (1 FTE July 2024 2028) will coordinate — the management effectiveness assessment, supervise the assessors, be responsible for the use of methodology, analysing and summarising the assessment. Management Effectiveness Assessment Experts (2 FTEs, 2025—2028) — carry out the assess- mont, possible splitting (e.g. part-time assessors). 43/50 Data Analyst (0.4 FTEs, Dec 2024 2028) initially coordinates the preparation and evalua — — tion of the assessment tool, later summarises the results and makes proposals for further de velopment of the tool if necessary, analyses the results of assessments, helps to get the nec essary data. Activity 2: Conservation Management Planning Programme Coordinators (1.25 FTEs, 2024—2028, will be split) responsible for the coordina — tion of Activity 2 regionally: methodologies of habitat inventories, instructions for preparing management plans, checking the quality of prepared plans etc. Habitat Action Plan Expert (1 FTE, Sept 2024 2028) prepares national habitat action plans, — — plans habitat inventories, if necessary plans the preparation of basic expertise for drawing up plans, involves stakeholders, analyses the integration of habitat plans in other Estonian stra tegic documents. Conservation Management Planning Experts (3 FTEs, 2024—2028) prepare site-specific — management plans, help coordinate the preparation of habitat inventory methodologies, plan site-specific inventories of habitats and species, plan the preparation of the basic expertise required for the preparation of the management plan, involve interest groups and stakeholders in drawing up plans. Data Analyst (0.3 FTEs, Dec 2024 2028) with a background in statistics and mathematics, — — provides input to habitat protecion necessities by organising and analysing habitat data. Data Specialist (0.5 FTEs, Dec 2024 202)— — helps organise habitat inventory methodologies, manages data entry and verification. Activity 3: Species Protection Programme Coordinator L0.25 FTEs, Dec 2024 2028) — — responsible for the coordination of Activity 3, supervise the preparation of action plans. Species Action Plan Experts (2 FTEs, 2024—2028) — preparation of action plans, organising inventories and studies required for this purpose. Protection Categories Expert (1 FTE, July 2024 2028) coordinating inventories and expert — — assessments in order to propose changes to protection categories, preparing proposals for changes to protection categories to the ministry. Data Analyst (0.3 FTEs, Dec 2025 2028) with a background in statistics and mathematics, — — provides input to species protection necessities by organising and analysing species data. Data Specialist (0.5 FTEs, Dec 2024; 2025—2028) is engaged in updating the data of pro — tected species n the basis of inventories commissioned under the project. Why prefer FTEs to services? - In Estonia, there are not enough competent bidders outside the Environmental Board to carry out planned activities (e.g. drawing up plans); - these are specific activities that are easier to coordinate and guide in a coherent man ner; - when coordinating the activities in the Environmental Board, we can ensure that the expertise will remain within the Environmental Board; 44/50  - the outsourced service is more expensive; - in the case of outsourced services, the quality of the work performed is uneven and the work needs to be improved later; - when ordering the service, the Environmental Board itself also has a heavy workload (preparation of initial tasks, preliminary work, acceptance of work, introduction of cor rections, approval procedure). Are CVs attached to this documentation? YesEl N0LXI Are terms of reference for the management functions to be established Yes El No~1 attached to this documentation? 9.4 Programme and Project Management Experience The Environmental Board is a partner in 25 ongoing similar international projects at the mo ment. The total budget of the projects is about 23 million euros. In recent years the amount of ongoing projects has been approximately the same. Restoring Semi-Natural Habitats 2023—2029 The aim of the project is to restore wet semi-natural habitats (boreal Baltic coastal meadows, Northern boreal alluvial meadows, alkaline fens/wet meadows, molinia meadows on calcare ous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae), hydrophilous tall herb fringe commu nities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels) in order to adapt to the changes of climate. The project partners are the Ministry of Climate, the State Forest Management Centre and the Estonian Seminatural Community Conservation Association. It is an ongoing project and the member team is part of the organisation. The project is funded by EU Cohesion Policy Funding. The project period is 2022—2029, the total amount of the project is 5 million euros, EU funding is 4.25 million euros. Restoring the Baltic coastal habitat networks 201 8—2025 CoastNet LIFE (LIFE17 NAT/Fl/000544) aims to improve the conservation status of Natura 2000 sites along the Baltic coastal zone. To achieve this, it carries out restoration work on four types of habitat: boreal Baltic islets and small, open habitats, mosaics of herb-rich, broad- leaved forests and semi-natural habitats, sun-lit habitats, as well as large coastal meadows and new forests on previously uncolonised land. The project’s work helps to increase the pop ulations of numerous species by giving them new areas to colonise. It also helps to combat the effects of habitat fragmentation and isolation, as well as boosting the populations’ resilience to climate change. Several species covered by the Birds Directive will benefit from improve ments to their nesting habitats and those on their migration routes. In Estonia restoration is carried out on 41 project sites, e.g. in Lahemaa National Park, Kolga Bay and Aegna Landscape Protection Area, Paljassaare Limited-Conservation Area. It is a joint Finnish-Estonian project, the partners in Estonia are the Environmental Board, Tal linn Urban Environment and Public Works Department. The lead partner is Metsähallitus from Finland. The total budget of the project is 8.7 million euros, Estonian budget is 1.1 million euros. It is an ongoing project and the member team is part of the organisation. a 45/50 https:llwebgate.ec.eu rola.eu/Iife/publicWebsite/proiect/LI FE 17-NAT-Fl -000544/restoring-the- baltic-coastal-habitat-networks Restoration of Estonian alvar grasslands 2014—2019 The LIFE to alvars (LIFE13 NAT/EE/000082) project’s main objective was to restore the most valuable, but currently overgrown, alvar grassland areas on 2,500 ha of land and to create the right conditions for local farmers to manage these areas after the restoration. In order to achieve this aim, the project planned to introduce effective large-scale restoration methods and to create the necessary infrastructure for continuous management of the restored sites. The project also aimed to directly involve private land owners and to raise awareness among the local community and the general public of the value of alvar areas and of the importance of managing them effectively. The LIFE to alvars project achieved all its objectives and improved the conservation status of Estonian alvar grasslands at all the project sites. Specifically, the project restored, in total, 2 501.5 ha of alvar grasslands. This included restoration work on 1,000 ha of private land, with the involvement of approximately 600 private landowners. The project won a Natura 2000 award in the socio-economic category in 2018. The total budget of the project was 3.7 million euros. The Environmental Board was the lead partner of the project, other partners were Tartu University, Estonian University of Life Sci ences and the Estonian Seminatural Community Conservation Association. Some people from the member team still work in the organisation. https://webgate.ec.eu ropa .eu/l ife/publicWebsite/projecflLl FE 1 3-NAT-E E-000082/restoration- of-estonian-alvar-grasslands 10. Programme Component Description 10.1 Short Summary One goal of the programme is to evaluate the effectiveness of the management of the pro tected areas with the new methodology created under Technical Support Instrument financed by the European Commission. Also, site-based inventories are carried out and site-based con servation objectives and measures for protected species and habitats are revised. The con servation management plans of protected areas, action plans for species and habitats and protected categories of species (category I, category II and category III) are revised and up dated. The contents of management plans and action plans are revised and this helps priori tising what protection measures are most effective. The effectiveness of management of pro tected areas as well as protected species and habitats is improved because of national and site-based conservation objectives are better targeted and measures fully correspond to con servation objectives. 10.2 Activities and Expected Results Activity 1: Conservation Management Effectiveness Assessment - The operational guidance for the implementation of the TSI project action plan for car rying out the evaluation; - development of the Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (in cooperation with the Environmental Agency) (Annex 1,2.1.1); 46/50  - additional training for the implementation of the Management Effectiveness Assess ment Methodology for the assessors and the staff of the Environmental Board (Annex 1,3.1); - application of the methodology the main assessors are from the project. The assess — ment is carried out for approximately 300 natural objects (Annex 1, 2.1.2) (There are 6 national parks, 241 nature conservation areas, 150 landscape protection areas, 308 conservation areas and 2018 species’ protection sites in Estonia). The assessment provides input for the preparation of management plans and proposes what kind of additional expertise and fundamental research is necessary for the preparation of man agement plans; - analysis of the results, compilation of a summary (digital report in Estonian and English) and its introduction to the public (Annex 1,2.1.1). Activity 2: Conservation Management Planning - Preparation and updating of inventory methodologies for habitats (habitat types listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive protected in Estonia). Inventory methodologies are prepared for lakes, springs, outcrops and caves. For all other habitats, the guidelines will be reviewed and, if necessary, updated. The completed and updated guides will be posted on the ministry’s website under the Natura 2000 network materials. The result is that there is an up-to-date guide for the inventory of all habitats (Annex 1, 2.1.3); - organisation of training for the experts and specialists working in the Environmental Board carrying out inventories following the methodology and guidelines (e.g. a total of two training sessions per year) (Annex 1, 3.1); - ordering habitat inventories and, if necessary, expert assessments for the preparation of habitat action plans (e.g. rivers and streams, lakes, springs, outcrops and caves) (Annex 1,2.1.3); - updating the data in the database (in cooperation with the Environmental Agency); - preparation of habitat action plans (at least three action plans), stakeholder involve ment, introducing to the public (e.g. an action plan for rivers and streams, an action plan for lakes and springs, an action plan for outcrops and caves); - ordering inventories and expert assessments of habitats and protected species for the preparation of management plans (Annex 1,2.1.3); - integrating climate change issues into management plans. Discussions, seminars, training sessions (one training day per year) are organised. The guidance materials on how climate-related issues can be reflected in the management plans is compiled (An nex 1,3.1); - linking the issues of the Green Network to the preparation of management plans. Co operation with local authorities, discussions on how local authorities can integrate man agement plans into general planning (one seminar per year with local authorities, i.e. four seminars). The guidelines for the preparation of management plans are supple mented by a guideline on how to integrate the green network into the management plan, a digital leaflet for local authorities (available on the website) is compiled (Annex 1,3.1); - preparation of site-based management plans, involvement of interest groups, publica tion of plans. The project will produce a total of 64 management plans. Activity 3: Species Protection - Ordering inventories, basic research and expert assessments for the preparation of species action plans (Annex 1, 2.1.3). The need is determined when preparing the compilation of the action plan; - on the basis of inventories, the data is organised and updated (cooperation with the Environmental Agency), the species data is updated before/at the time of preparation of the action plan; a 47/50  - preparation and coordination of species protection action plans, stakeholder involve ment, cooperation with research institutions. 60 action plans for protected species will be completed within the framework of the project; - organising trainings/seminars to the specialist of the Environmental Board in order to explain the principles of the protection of species and discuss and discuss what the fundamental principles of discretionary decision making are (one training/seminar per year) (Annex 1,3.1); - inventories, studies and expert assessments of species’ groups in order to find out what changes in protection categories are necessary (Annex 1,2.1.4); - preparation of proposals for amendment of protection categories to the ministry (Annex 1,2.1.4). Study trips to Switzerland (Annex 1, 3.1) - Organising two study trips to Switzerland (e.g. Swiss National Park): five days for six specialists each, the emphasis of one or the study trips is habitat protection and the emphasis of the other study trip is species protection. The aim of the trips is to learn about conservation management planning/strategies, habitat and species data collec tion, using GIS). Cooperation with other countries (Annex 1, 3.1) - Organising a study trip to Czech national parks in order to get experiences from their project activities of Swiss Support Measure, to study what the principles of habitat and species protection are in the Czech Republic; - Possibility of organising similar trainings to Czech specialists in Estonia. National Procurement (according to Estonian legislation) - The Environmental Board organises two national (Estonian) public procurements with open announcements per year (7 calls per project period, one in May and one in Octo ber, no longer tendered in the second half of 2027) which commission methodologies for habitat inventories; species inventories and surveys; - one national (Estonian) public procurement with an open announcement per year for the preparation of species conservation action plans (four procurements in total); - separate ongoing procurements as small purchases. Procurements are organised on the basis of the Estonian Public Procurement Act and the procedure for conducting procurements of the Environmental Board. 10.3 Beneficiaries The direct beneficiary of the component is the Environmental Board who is responsible for the organization of the protection of protected areas and assessment of the efficiency of pro tection measures. Indirect beneficiaries are: - the Environmental Agency who can update the data of habitats and species in their database as the result of the inventories that are carried out; - the State Forest Management Centre who carries out protection activities on state land according to conservation management plans and action plans of habitats and species; - local municipalities use the data of habitats and species and also the information pro vided by conservation management plans in their overall planning of green infrastruc ture; - the whole population of Estonia as the beneficiaries are public authorities, they work - for the public, the aim of the component is to make conservation management more 48/50  effective at the national level in order to make better environmental decisions in the future. Is the benefit of the Programme Component a na- National~ RegionalD tional or regional benefit? If regional, indicate the benefiting NUTS-2 regions. 1O~4 Sustainability The main result for the Environmental Board is that the protection effectiveness of protected areas will be assessed. The assessment will provide information how the current management planning practices can be made more effective and where the main drawbacks are. Hence, the process of preparing conservation management plans and national action plans for species and habitats will be more effective. The Environmental Board will be able to carry on conser vation management planning using the national budget. The Support Measure will help the Environmental Board to review its current conservation management planning practices in or der to match them with contemporary needs. The expertise will remain within the Environmental Board, as the compilation of management plans and action plans will be part of our overall work. As the positions are open for all the specialists who have the required education and skills, specialists from the Environmental Board can also apply for these positions. The Environmental Board will then hire new special ists to fulfill their positions. As the project ends, the former specialists from the Environmental Board will remain within the Environmental Board. As the work requires special knowledge, the probability that other people who are hired to work in the project will apply for the positions in the Environmental Board or other institutions who deal with similar topics is very high. Estonia will have several skilled environmental experts. All the seminars and trainings are organised for larger audiences, other specialists from the Environmental Board will participate. One of the challenges for the Environmental Board is the lack of experts in Estonia who can carry out inventories and gather the data of habitats and species. In order to carry out inven tories of habitats and species it is necessary to raise the level of expertise among conservation management planning and conservation management specialists in the Environmental Board. The competence of the specialists can be improved by organising seminars and study trips in the frames of Programme. Another challenge is the opposition to conservation measures and activities among the repre sentatives of local people and developers. So, it is necessary to involve stakeholders in the conservation planning process and find the solutions that are acceptable to the people living in or near the site. Involving stakeholders to conservation management planning can be time- consuming, so it is necessary to analyse how it should be carried out effectively and plan it regarding the specifics of the area. In the process of management planning, the Environmental Board proposes changes in the protection rules of sites in order to improve the protection measures. Also, the proposal to change the protection categories of species will be prepared, updating the protection catego ries of species helps to choose better protection measures. 10.5 Budget Detailed budget is included in the Annex 4. 49/50 10.6 Risk Analysis and Risk Management The main risks for the Environmental Board are: - Institutional reforms (risk level: low). Internal institutional reform is ongoing in the Envi ronmental Board, however, the project activities can be adjusted to the new structure of the institution; - changes in legislation (risk level: low-medium). Necessary adjustments in the pro gramme will be made following the legislative changes. - the lack of competent experts to carry out inventories and give expert opinions (risk level: low medium). Accordingly, public procurements may fail. To mitigate the risk it is necessary to plan the procurements well in order to provide possibilities for a wide range of experts. The period of the programme is long enough to carry out new pro curements and change initial plans, the planning of procurements needs to be started right at the beginning of the programme; - being unable to hire the personnel for the programme (risk level: medium low). It is necessary to provide the salaries that motivate, also, services can be chosen instead. - the quality of services is low (risk level: medium low). When ordering services it is nec essary to plan well ahead and provide the criteria that need to be followed. The services have to be described in detail in contracts, if work does not conform to the contract, a chance to improve the work is given. It is necessary to check the quality services of fered regularly. - the price of the services increases (risk level: medium high). The budget can be over viewed, a buffer against it is planned. Annex N/A 50/50  Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Programme Annex B: Budget on the Support Measure Biodiversity Programme ~L4  Date: 0202.2024 Support Measure Name (according to SMP) Budget Instructions EUR EUR EUR % CHF EUR EUR EUR EUR ELJR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR Co-financing Swiss No Budget items Unit costs Quantity rate (CII co- contribution Quantity ~ Quantity Quantity BUd~5t Quantity Quantity Budget financing> (co-financing) Exchange rate CHF/EUR 1.04 Programme Management Costs 247384,00 85.00% 202953.63 71921.00 45211.00 452/1.00 73921.00 — 11120.00 1.1 Personnel 144560.00 16560.0 16560.0 16560.00 16560.00 5520.00 1,1,1 Programme Manager in the Budget and Strategy Department of the MoE 4600.00 0,15 FTE for 52 ItO 1.80 I .80 1.80 0.60 (responsible for general coordination of the implementation of the months Programme according to the Regulations) 35880.00 8280.00 8280.00 8280.00 8280.00 2760.00 1,1,2 Programme Manager in the Biodivernity Protection Department of the MoE 4600.00 0,15 FTE for 52 1.80 1.80 1.80 1.80 0.60 (responsible for the content of the Programme) months 35880.00 8280.00 8280.00 8280.00 8280.00 2760.00 1,2 Expenses of State Shared Service Centre for verification of incurred expenditure (inclUding 0,3 FTE for 52 months, travel costs) 72800.00 16800.00 16800.00 16800.00 16800.00 5600.00 1,3 Information and communication 57420.00 28710.00 0.00 0.00 28710.00 0.00 1,3,1 Communication activities (including launching and a closing evnnt) 28710.00 2.00 57420.00 1.00 28710.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 2871 0.00 0,00 1,4 Miscellanous 45404.00 9851.00 11851.00 11851.00 11851.00 0.00 1,4,1 Meetings (of the Sapport Measure Steering Commitfee, Tank Force etc) 2000.00 11.00 22000.00 2.00 4000.00 3.00 6000.00 3.00 6000.00 3.00 6000.00 1,4,2 Assignment (study trips, site vinits, on-the-spot checks etc( 23404.00 5851.00 5851.00 5851.00 5851.00 2 Programme Component 1 “Development of innovative monitoring technolo-gieslsolutions and improvement of Environmental data bases and systems” (operator Environmental Agency) 3514862.00 85.00% 2883589.89 1 ‘42751 5.00 73521 5.00 732485.00 619647.00 0.00 2.1 Management costs Programme Component 1 301700.00 256445.00 75365.00 75865.00 74335.00 76135.00 2,1,1 Personnel: Project Manager (responsible for the projuct team management and the implementation of the actionu, preparation of the public procurements, documentation and budget, organizing study trips, 1 FTE for 48 communication and translation of thu documents) 3650.00 months 174000.00 147900.00 12.00 43500.00 12.00 43500.00 12.00 43500.00 12.00 43500.00 2,1,2 Overheads” 15% 0 Component 1 pernsnnel costs 107460.00 91341.00 12.00 26865.00 12.00 26865.00 12.00 26865.00 12.00 26865.00 2,1,3 Transport 0,3 ear/km 14000 km 4200.00 3570.00 3500.00 1050.00 3500.00 1050.00 3500.00 1050.00 3500.00 1050.00 2,1,4 Study trips 120 study trip, con perperson 3600.00 3060.00 1.00 1200.00 1.00 1200.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 1200.00 2,1,5 Translation of the documents 30 ear/page 98.00 2940.00 2499,00 25.00 750.00 25.00 750.00 /4,00 420.00 34,00 1020.00 2,1,6 Communication 2375.00 year 9500.00 8075.00 1,00 2000.00 1,00 2500.00 1,00 2500.00 1,00 2500.00 — 2.2 Activity 1: Development of new monitoring methods 1927562.00 1638427.70 — 1180750.00 — 287950.00 — 286750.00 — 172112.00 — 2,2,1 Personnu : Chief specialist (monitoring specialist) (responsible for development, testing and implementation of new monitoring methodologies and equipment, including 3D bird radar, involving volunteers in wildlife 1 FTE for 48 monitoring and creating the network of volunteers) 2850.00 monthu 136800.00 /16280.00 12,00 34200.00 12,00 34200.00 12,00 34200.00 12,00 34200.00 — 2,2,2 Personnel: Specialist (monitoring assistant) in the Environmental Agency (responsible for the training of Artificial Intelligence and field works in 1 FTE for 48 implementation of Random Encounter Model). 2500.00 monfhs 120000.00 102000.00 12.00 30000.00 12.00 30000.00 12,00 30000.00 12,00 30000.00 — 2,2,3 Development of new monitoring mefhodn + technology purchase, including technology for volunteers 609862.00 518382.70 — 200000.00 — 175000.00 — 175000.00 59862.00 2,2,4 Purchasing mobile 3D bird radar 900000.00 1.00 900000.00 765000.00 1,00 900000.00 0,00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 — 2,2,5 Maudatory maintenance of the 3D bird radar 30000.00 3.00 90000.00 76500.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 30000.00 1,00 30000.00 1,00 30000.00 — 2,2,6 Field works (Implementation of new methods in wildlife monitoring, including Random Encounter Method) 0,3 ear/km /4000 km 18300.00 15555.00 11500.00 3450.00 16500.00 4950,00 16500,00 4950.00 16500,00 4950.00 template v13.7.23  2,2,7 Accommodation 70 eur/night 60 nights 4200.00 3570.01) 10.00 700.00 20.00 1400.00 20.00 1400.00 10.00 700.00 2,2,6 Communication costs, including involving citizen in wildlife monitoring, organizing trainings for volunteers and fees tor lecturers, catering and faciltiy renting costs, 10000.00 year 40000.00 34000.00 1.00 10000.00 1.00 10000.00 1.00 10000.00 1.00 10000.00 22,9 Study trips study trip, cost 1200.00 perperson 8400.00 7140.00 2.00 2400.00 2.00 2400.00 1.00 1200.00 2.00 2400.00 2.3 Activity 2: Devetopment ofT systems 1285600.00 I’092’760.00 171400.00 371400.00 371400.00 371400.00 2,3,1 Personnel: Chief Specialist (IT system specialist) in the Environmental 0,5 FTE for 48 Agency (responsible for the input of the IT developments and testing) 3100.00 months 74400.00 63240.00 6.00 18600.00 6.00 18600.00 6.00 18600.00 6.00 18600.00 2,3,2 Personnel: IT project manager in the IT Centre of the Ministry of the 0,5 FTE for 48 Environment )responeible for the developments of IT systeme) 4000.00 months 96000.00 81600.00 6.00 24000.00 6.00 24000.00 6.00 24000.00 6.00 24000,00 2,3,3 Personnel: Specialist (data manager( in the Environmental Agency (responsible for the data managemesl collected by the Environment Board from Programme component 2 and also participates in the development of 1 FTE for 48 IT systems). 2400.00 months 115200.00 97920.00 12.00 28800.00 12.00 28800.00 12.00 28800.00 12.00 28800.00 2,3,4 Development of IT systems (IT Centre of the Ministry of the Environment) 75 eur/hour 13333.00 1000,000.00 850000.00 1333.00 100,000.00 4000.00 300000.00 4000.00 300000.00 4000.00 300000.00 3 Programme Component 2 “tmptementation of a systematic assessment of the soctat and conservation outcomes of protected areas” (operatorEnvironmentat Board) 4’684’861.00 85.00% 3643456.11 758288.11 1275365.21 1306648.63 1344559.06 0.00 3.1 Management costa Programme Component 2 961 ‘111.14 153498.75 261025.88 269096.44 277490.08 3,1,1 Personnel: General Programme Manager (responsible for the general 0,5 FTEs for 48 coordination of Component 2) 2485.34 months 127593.1 1 12.00 29824.08 12.00 31166.16 12.00 32568.64 12.00 34034.23 3,1,2 Overheads21 15% of Component 2 personnel costs 338066.40 59543.67 88785.63 92780.98 96956.12 3,1,3 Transport 5964.00 FTE/year 326951.12 10.25 61131.00 14.00 86000.88 14.00 88580.91 14.00 91238.33 3,1,4 Study trips 51983.21 study trip 155949.63 0.00 0.00 1.00 51983.21 1.00 51983.21 1.00 51983.21 3,1,5 Communication (advertisements, translations, etc) 3000.00 year 12550.88 1.00 3000.00 1.00 3090.00 1.00 3182.70 1.00 3278.18 3.2 Activity 1: Conservation Management Effectiveness Assessment 492515.41 44889.90 144266.01 147403.53 155955.97 3,2,1 Personnel: Programme Coordinator (responsible for the coordination of 1 FTE for 45 Activity 1) 3345.00 months 152660.09 9.00 21073.50 12.00 41946.30 12.00 43833.88 12.00 45806.41 3,2,2 Personnel: Experts (responsible for conducting assessments) 2 FTEs for 39 6154.80 months 260583.73 3.00 18464.40 12.00 77181.19 12.00 80654.35 12.00 84’283.79 3,2,3 Personnel: Analyst )renponsible of the compilation of the aenesement tool 0,4 FTE5 for 40 and statistical analysis, making summaries of the annennement( 1338.00 months 57986.64 4.00 5352.00 12.00 16778.52 12.00 17533.55 12.00 18322.56 3,2,4 Digital Report )design) 2000.00 year 2000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 000 0.00 100 200000 3,2,5 Communication (advertisements, translations, rooms, etc) 5000.00 year 16149.95 0.00 0.00 1.00 5225.00 1.00 5381.75 1.00 5543.20 3,2,6 Seminars, trainings 3000.00 training 3135.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 3135.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.3 Activity 2: Conservation Management Ptanning 1916120.91 344791.02 512093.19 523657.47 535’629.23 3,3,1 Personnel: Analyst )renponsible of habitat data analysis and making 0,3 FTEs for 40 summaries) 1003.50 months 43489.98 4,09 4014.00 12.00 12553.89 12.00 13150.17 12.00 13741.92 3,3,2 Pernonnel: Programme Coordinators )reuponsible for the coordination of 1,25 FTEn for 48 Activity 2 in different regions) 4694.70 months 241017.89 ‘12.00 56336.40 12.00 58871.54 12.00 61520.76 12.00 64289.19 3,3,3 Personnel: Experts of Habitat Action Plans (responsible for compiling habitat 1 FTE for 43 action plans) 321 1.20 months 148801.53 7.00 22478.40 12.00 40268.45 12.00 42080.53 12.00 43974.15 3,3,4 Personnel: Enperts of Conservation Management Plans )responsible for 3 FTE5 for 48 compiling conservation management plans) 9232.20 months 473965.39 12.00 110786.40 12.00 115771.79 12.00 120981.52 12.00 126425.69 3,3,5 Personnel: Data specialist (reeponnibte for habitat data) 0,5 FTE5 for 40 1003.50 months 43489.98 4.00 4014.00 12.00 12553.89 12.00 13150.17 12.00 13741.92 3,3,6 Inventories, research, expert opinions 248323.64 year 869132.73 0.50 124161.82 1.00 248323.64 1.00 248323.64 1.00 248323.64 3,3,7 Commasicahon )advertisements, translations, rooms, etc( ii’ooo.oo year 46019.90 1.00 11000.00 1.00 11330.00 1.00 11669.90 1.00 12020.00 3,3,8 Seminars, trainings 3000.00 training 50203.52 4.00 12000.00 4.00 12360.00 4.00 12730.50 4.00 13112.72 3.4 Activity 3: Species Protection 1315113.54 215108.44 357980.13 366541.19 375483.79 template v13.7.23  3,4,1 Personnel: Analyst (responsible of species data analysis and making 0,3 FTEs for 40 summaries) 1003.50 months 161917,91 4.00 4014.00 12.00 50335.56 12.0C 52600.61 12.00 54967.69 3,4,2 Personnel: Programme Coordinator (responsible for the coordination ot 0,25 FTE5 for 48 Aclivity 3) 1052.00 months 54007.88 12.00 12624.00 12.00 13192.08 12.00 13785.72 12.00 14406.08 3,4,3 Personnel: Eoperts of Species Protection Action Plans (responsible for 2 FTEs for 48 compiling species protection plans) 6154.80 months 315976.93 12.00 73857.60 12.00 77181.19 12.00 80654.35 12.00 84283.79 3,4,4 Personnel: Expert of protection categories of species (responsible for I FTE for 45 analysing the protection categories) 3345.00 months 128794.94 9.00 30105.00 12.00 31459.73 12.00 32875.41 12.00 34354.81 34,5 Personnel: Data specialist (responsible for species data) 0,5 FTEa for 40 1003.50 months 43489.98 4.00 4014.00 12.00 12583.89 12.00 13150.17 12.00 13741.92 3,4,6 Inventories, research, enpert opinions 164987.68 year 577456.88 0.50 82493.84 1.00 164987.68 1.00 164987.68 1.00 164987.68! 3,4,7 Commsnication (advertisements, translations, rooms, newspaper articles, elc( 5000.00 year 20918.14 1.00 5000.00 1.00 5150.00 1.00 5304.50 1.00 5463.64 3,4,8 Seminars, trainiags 3000.00 training 12550.88 1.00 3000.00 1.00 3090.00 tOO 3182.70 1.00 3278.18 TOTAL 8447107.00 85.00% 6929999.64 2257724.11 2055791.21 — 2084344.63 — 2038127.06 11120.001 1) Overheads are calculated according to the internal process in the Environmental Agency and it includes costs related to personnel (general trainings not connected to direct project activities, medicine, working clothes, health inspection and health insurance), rent for the office premises (rent and utilities), administration costs (tools, communication Costs, office supplies, inventory), Cost of support service (personnel service, legal service, financial service, administrative service, document management, customer service, communication, general management) 2) Overheads are calculated according to the policies of the Environmental Board and include the certificate of employment, office supplies, office furniture, mobile service cost and mobile phone compensation, IT equipment, workwear according to the post in the institution, internal business trip costs (transport not included), compulsory medical examination and health improvement cost, general framings, property management costs. template v13.7.23  Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Programme Annex C: Procurement Plan on the Support Measure Biodiversity Programme  Procurement Plan ________ — din by Programme Operas/n I appiroabte, planned Tendar Radon EnailaIr beagrammo Camporrent or Of no) CootraotName deadline for subw~ffing Launch of tender will be eubeeaOed oSSeiss aide oilRaPSIchOR of ~ Porse) launob Confeeot srgnef are Aotual ooeraaot CononOt oomplof/on Actual ooetraot lnilrdhlyesdnraledoosts Aofae) ount, franad an signed 0000ants Conteaotor Eependrlaresmnoojed based tendeednoonrenla Of lander Ref. No onranoer to planned beftse evailabie fa tender notion) on ogned eanoesta Comments pleoned eignafure plenead oooydolion Swisn~noo objeodone pab0eafoo bldd~ status) appeals) cancelling or repel/on of tender quarter) (md. reason)) rumbers of bidders and rejected quarter/year yes/no yes/no dote quarter) date quarter) dote EUrt CHF EUR CHF name EUR Cl/F bids/dskn/ irregularities related to tlnetender/ year year year difficulties er/Ill flee the Conlractor/ suspension of works etc. Orogrammo Management Procurements above 150 000 C/IF are no foreseen Programme Component 1 30evelopment of innovative munit000g technologies/so utloos and improvement of Environmental databases and s/stnrns~ urchasing mobile 3D bird radar 2024 2024 yes yes t0/2025 40/2025 950000 9/5524 Development of the necessary connecfions for the eachaoga of data beiween PlutoF and EEL1S as well Development of necessary connections as 0/SE and DELIS, development of the fieldwork between IT systems and field work tool 202d 2025 no no 40/2024 40/2025 300000 289553 feel Developmenf of management efficiency assesment tool in DELIS and oilier necessary developments as Development of management eftiorency web fonns for Natore Observation /vpplioation, ussesment tool, web fonos and analytics 2025 2526 no no — 10/2026 — 40/2027 — 400000 386070 — — — analyncal solutions etc Development of new monitorng methodo The requirements for the intemational procurement (eDNA) 2024 2024 no no — 40/2024 — 40/2026 — bODES 144776 — will be cia/f led doIng the market research. Programme Component 2 implementation of a systematic assessment 01 the social and conservation ovtcnmes of Procurements above 150600 COP are protected areas~ not foreseen — Q Confederation suisse Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confederazione Svizzera Confederaziun svizra FederalAgency Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs for Development MENA.ELJrOpe Division and FDFA Cooperation SDC CH-3003 Bern. DEZA A Post Mr. Urmo Merila Deputy Director General State Shared Service Centre Lãkke 4 10122 Tallinn Estonia E-mail: Urmo.Merila~rtk.ee Your reference: Our reference: 7F-10768.O1 Bern, 27 March 2024 Subject: Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Programme Decision Letter on 2nd stage Support Measure proposal Support Measure Name: Bio-Diversity Programme Estonia Support Measure N°: 7F-1 0768.01 Swiss Contribution: CHF 6’930’000.- Dear Mr. Merila, We are pleased to inform you that the 2nd stage proposal of the Support Measure mentioned above, which was submitted by the NCU on 09 February 2024, has been approved subject to the following conditions. The proposal was considered as well written, clear and of a good quality. Condition indicator of fulfilment Date!period Since the Programme document Study visit justifications and Ongoing during the proposes study trips outside of rationale are submitted to the Programme Switzerland and the countries receiving SCO for agreement. implementation and funds in the area of cohesion (EU-13), prior to any travel the prior agreement from the Swiss arrangements made. Contribution Office (SCO) for study visits outside of the EU-13 countries or Switzerland is required. Recommendation to further consider the Swiss Partners’ names should be Ideally, before involvement of Swiss partners included in the Support Measure signing the Support Agreement (SMA) and not only in Measure Agreement the SMP as long as it is required to facilitate by the internal procurement rules procurement processes A justification, listing of the costs and The justification should be Revised SMP, before estimation covered under the 15% included in chap. 2.10 of the signing the Support overheads should be delivered. Support Measure Proposal Measure Agreement (SMP) and in the budget Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC Dominik Stillhart Eichenweg 5, 3052 Zollikofen Phone+41 584849278  We recommend to use a core indicator The final logframe may entail the Before signing the from the second Swiss contribution, crosscutting “core indicator” Support Measure namely the crosscutting indicator (revised SMP) Agreement. “CC_Cl_I Number of people benefiting from training to improve institutional and professional capacity” under output 3. Further discussions and clarifications are Estonia and Switzerland agreed Before signing the needed with regard to the composition as on the set-up of the steering Support Measure well as additional voting rights of the committee. Agreement. participants of the steering committees. You are kindly requested to take into account the conditions expressed above when finalising the Support Measure Agreement. We would like to thank you for the excellent cooperation. Yours sincerely, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Middle East and North Africa Europe Division - Stilihart Dominik 3W0Z75 30.03.2024 tnfo: admin,ch/es~gnature I vakdator.ch Dominik Stilihart Deputy Director General, and Head of Division a.i. Copy: SECO Swiss Contribution to EU Member States I Cohesion Division Swiss Contribution Office for Estonia