13 June 2007, Frankfurt, Germany

During the LIFESCAPE –YOUR LANDSCAPE Partner Forum in Frankfurt, ECNC organized a seminar on ‘Banking and Sustainable Rural Landscapes’ on 13 June 2007. The main goal of this seminar was to discuss and disseminate LIFESCAPE project results on economic and financial mechanisms to make sustainable policy decisions related to landscape management. The seminar took place at the European Central Bank (ECB).

The seminar was opened by the Director of Administration at the ECB, Mr. Gerhard Grise. He pointed out to the environmental awareness of the ECB and its function as role model in this field. It was not only a formal welcome but also a heartily one, as the ECB underlines the goals of the LIFESCAPE project and the involved partners.

Three outputs of the LIFESCAPE project were presented and discussed:
- the economic value of investments in sustainability projects;
- the development of a model that estimates the impact of projects on he regional economy;
- the Regional Account for sustainable development, a bank account system where the interest is used to support projects that will enhance the quality of the region.

The conclusion of the seminar is that investing in sustainability projects and nature and landscape are very profitable for the rural economy. Also, through an innovative financing instrument, funding streams can be made available for landscape conservation activities while the scheme is also in the interest of the participating bank and the supporting local authorities, companies and private persons. 

For more information, click here or contact Yuca Waarts (waarts@ecnc.org).