The principal objective of sites selected as part of Natura 2000 is to achieve or maintain a favourable conservation status of habitats and species named in the EU Birds and Habitats directives. In the German exclusive economic zone, the habitat types protected by this legislation are sandbanks and reefs; protected species include marine mammals, seabirds, and specific migratory fish species. The ICES project Environmentally Sound Fishery Management in Protected Areas (EMPAS) aims to answer two questions: (i) To what extent do specific fishing activities significantly threaten attainment of the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 sites? (ii) What management measures would reduce these conflicts and how effective would they be at helping to ensure the favourable condition of these sites? Assessments of fishing impacts on Natura 2000 sites require basic data on the conservation status of individual habitats and species, as well as data for fine-scale distributions of ongoing fishing activities. This paper describes and discusses the process used by the EMPAS project in developing fishery-management plans for each Natura 2000 site in German offshore waters.
The article presents the main assumptions concerning the functioning of Natura 2000 sites in Europe, with particular emphasis on Polish regulations. These areas of high natural value directly influence the shape of nature conservation and the state of the climate. In this latter context, legal norms and legislators face the challenge of finding such a legal framework to prevent the progressive degradation of the climate. The functioning Natura 2000 sites in Poland as one of the forms of nature protection may be helpful in this respect, provided that the plans of protection tasks are adapted to the changing environmental conditions. ; W artykule przedstawiono główne założenia dotyczące funkcjonowania obszarów Natura 2000 w Europie, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem regulacji polskich. Tereny te, cenne przyrodniczo, bezpośrednio wpływają na kształt ochrony przyrody oraz stan klimatu. W tym ostatnim kontekście przed normami prawnymi i legislatorami stają wyzwania znalezienia takich ram prawnych, aby zapobiec postępującemu degradowaniu klimatu. Funkcjonujące obszary Natura 2000 w Polsce jako jedna z form ochrony przyrody mogą w tym zakresie okazać się pomocne, o ile plany zadań ochronnych zostaną dostosowane do zmieniających się uwarunkowań środowiskowych.
Nell'ambito del progetto TWReferenceNET, si è valutata l'opportunità di proporre quali nuovi siti Natura 2000 le aree di transizione studiate nei nuovi Stati Membri dell'Unione Europea dell'area CADSES e partner del progetto, ossia in Albania, Bulgaria e Romania. Per comprendere al meglio il quadro giuridico di riferimento, si sono distinti gli Stati candidati all'adesione (Bulgaria e Romania) dai Paesi di potenziale adesione (Albania), per i quali sono previsti degli obblighi diversi anche con riferimento alle modalità e ai tempi di adeguamento alla normativa comunitaria. In particolare, le Direttive Habitat ed Uccelli saranno vincolanti: – In Bulgaria e Romania, alla data della loro adesione all'Unione Europea, ossia dal 1 gennaio 2007 (ovvero, se non si atterranno a quanto previsto dall'Accordo di adesione, dal 1 gennaio 2008); – In Albania, dalla data prevista dall'eventuale Accordo di adesione, e fino ad allora avendo cura di predisporre il necessario quadro normativo di riferimento, anche per l'applicazione della rete Natura 2000. In occasione dell'adesione di nuovi Stati Membri, è importante evidenziare due ordini di idee: (a) in primis, l'opportunità offerta agli Stati Membri dell'UE dall'adesione di nuovi Stati al fine di proporre delle modifiche alle liste di habitat e specie previste nelle due Direttive di riferimento, da includere negli Accordi di adesione; modifiche che altrimenti devono essere proposte con la procedura di codecisione; (b) secundis, l'opportunità di proporre nuovi siti alla luce dell'interpretazione delle due Direttive secondo quanto emerso dalle numerose pronunce della Corte di Giustizia delle Comunità europee succedutesi in questi anni, al fine di una loro più corretta applicazione. ; Within the framework of TWReferenceNET project, the opportunity of suggesting new Natura 2000 sites among the transitional areas included in the EU New Member States that are partners of the project – that is Albania, Bulgaria and Rumenia – has been evaluated. In order to better understand the legislation framework, the States that have applied for inclusion in the EU (Bulgaria and Rumenia) have been distinguished by the States of potential inclusion (Albania). Indeed, the latter has different obligations, especially considering modes and times of adoption of the European legislation. In particular, the Habitat and Bird Directives will have the force of law: • In Bulgaria and Rumenia, at the moment of inclusion in the European Union, that is on 1 January 2007 (or, if they will not fulfill the adesion agreement, on 1 January 2008); • In Albania, at the date that is forecasted by the adesion agreement. Until then, the State will prepare the regulation framework that is required also for the inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. When New Member States (NMS) are included in the EU, it is important to point out: (a) in primis, the opportunity offered by the NMS to the EU States with regard to the variation of Habitat and Species lists that are included in the two EU Directives, that can be included in the Adoption Agreements, and that should otherwise be adpoted with a co-decision procedure; (b) secundis, the opportunity to suggest new Natura 2000 sites, taking into consideration all that was decreed by EU Courts of Justice in the last years, in order to better apply the two Directives.
The agricultural and forestry use of land does not only mark large parts of the European Union, but also a significant share of land within the European ecological network Natura 2000. Member States, therefore, try to exempt as far as possible these land uses from the protection regime of Natura 2000-sites. However, at the same time, Member States latest reports on habitats and wild species of Community importance indicate that, in particular, the intensification of agriculture and forestry in recent decades has made it more difficult to improve conservation statuses or even worsened them. Hence, the aim of this article is to examine in detail the extent to which the protection regime of Article 6(2 and 3) Habitats Directive is applicable to land-use in agriculture and forestry. In this context, of particular relevance is the question of when the use of land in agriculture and forestry or individual management measures within and near Natura 2000-sites are projects for which an appropriate assessment is necessary before implementation; and which, in the case that significant adverse effects to a site cannot be ruled out, are permitted only under the reasons for exemption given in Article 6(4) Habitats Directive. The analysis includes the case law of the European Court of Justice, as well as decisions of the German Federal Constitutional Court and the German Federal Administrative Court.
The Natura 2000 network consists of sites designated by the member States of the European Union, under the Habitats and Birds Directives. Setting up that network is one of the biggest challenge in nature conservation in Europe, since habitats and species for which Natura 2000 sites are designated must be maintained in a "favorable conservation status". Little is known so far, however, about how Natura 2000 sites are invaded by exotics species. Xeric habitats of high biological value included in the Natura 2000 network are among the most species-rich in Southern Belgium. They include calcareous grasslands, sandy meadows, dry heathlands, boxwood stands, siliceous rocks and calcareous rocks. We randomly sampled 15% of sites in each of these six categories (with a minimum of five sites per category) , with a total of 86 sites out of 470 existing sites. In each site, we recorded the presence/absence of 63 alien plants know to develop in xeric habitats (species list based on Verloove (2006) and expert's personnal observations.), and estimated species cover. 25 naturalized alien plant species were observed in xeric habitats of the Natura 2000 network in Southern Belgium. Generally, alien species populations were still limited.
Achieving acceptance among local stakeholders is crucial for biodiversity conservation, as their often diverging interests can hamper the success of conservation projects. While research exists on the different narratives and arguments used in the international policy debates, there is not much evidence on how effective alternative arguments are in communicating the value of biodiversity to local stakeholders. This paper used a multiple case study design for sites of the European Union's Natura 2000 network to investigate which arguments have been successfully used to persuade local stakeholders of restoration projects, funded under the EU's LIFE program. Particular focus is given to the role of ecosystem services as arguments for nature conservation and how these relate to other instrumental and non-instrumental arguments. Instrumental arguments appeared particularly effective for commercial users, where economic interests stood against the conservation activities. But also stakeholders without commercial interest tended to be more receptive to arguments that implied a benefit for themselves or their communities, such as recreation or a cultural value. Regarding ecosystem services this study found that they should be understood as an addition to the category of instrumental arguments. Where pure economic factors were not sufficient to create a business case for conservation, ecosystem services were frequently applied to make the case for conservation stronger. Finding consensus among the different stakeholders is a key factor in achieving any conservation at all. The argument strategy should therefore always consist of a mix of instrumental and non-instrumental arguments, as only focusing on instrumental arguments might repel those individuals who seek a strong ethical motivation.
Achieving acceptance among local stakeholders is crucial for biodiversity conservation, as their often diverging interests can hamper the success of conservation projects. While research exists on the different narratives and arguments used in the international policy debates, there is not much evidence on how effective alternative arguments are in communicating the value of biodiversity to local stakeholders. This paper used a multiple case study design for sites of the European Union's Natura 2000 network to investigate which arguments have been successfully used to persuade local stakeholders of restoration projects, funded under the EU's LIFE program. Particular focus is given to the role of ecosystem services as arguments for nature conservation and how these relate to other instrumental and non-instrumental arguments. Instrumental arguments appeared particularly effective for commercial users, where economic interests stood against the conservation activities. But also stakeholders without commercial interest tended to be more receptive to arguments that implied a benefit for themselves or their communities, such as recreation or a cultural value. Regarding ecosystem services this study found that they should be understood as an addition to the category of instrumental arguments. Where pure economic factors were not sufficient to create a business case for conservation, ecosystem services were frequently applied to make the case for conservation stronger. Finding consensus among the different stakeholders is a key factor in achieving any conservation at all. The argument strategy should therefore always consist of a mix of instrumental and non-instrumental arguments, as only focusing on instrumental arguments might repel those individuals who seek a strong ethical motivation.
Dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre de la directive européenne "Habitats" en région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, l'Office national des Forêts s'est vu confier l'élaboration du document d'objectifs du site Natura 2000 Mont Ventoux (Vaucluse). C'est ainsi que, sur cette véritable île biogéographique montagnarde en zone méditerranéenne, ont été menés à bien inventaires et cartographies des habitats ainsi que de quelques éléments de la faune et de la flore. Une attention particulière a été portée sur l'analyse des dynamiques évolutives. Cette approche a été croisée avec une analyse des activités humaines pour déboucher sur une définition concertée des enjeux en matière de "patrimoine biologique" et des objectifs et plan d'actions pour y répondre. L'intérêt et les limites de cette approche de la biodiversité et ses conséquences sur la gestion sont ici évoqués. Ces considérations valent pour nombre d'autres sites Natura 2000 de la région.
International audience ; Dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre de la directive européenne "Habitats" en région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, l'Office national des Forêts s'est vu confier l'élaboration du document d'objectifs du site Natura 2000 Mont Ventoux (Vaucluse). C'est ainsi que, sur cette véritable île biogéographique montagnarde en zone méditerranéenne, ont été menés à bien inventaires et cartographies des habitats ainsi que de quelques éléments de la faune et de la flore. Une attention particulière a été portée sur l'analyse des dynamiques évolutives. Cette approche a été croisée avec une analyse des activités humaines pour déboucher sur une définition concertée des enjeux en matière de "patrimoine biologique" et des objectifs et plan d'actions pour y répondre. L'intérêt et les limites de cette approche de la biodiversité et ses conséquences sur la gestion sont ici évoqués. Ces considérations valent pour nombre d'autres sites Natura 2000 de la région.
Landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation are key challenges for biodiversity conservation. As Earth's landscape is increasingly dominated by anthropogenic land use, it is clear that broad-scale systems of nature reserves connected by corridors are needed to enable the dispersal of flora and fauna. The European Union currently supports a continent-wide network of protected areas, the Natura 2000 program, but this program lacks the necessary connectivity component. To examine whether a comprehensive network could be built in order to protect amphibians and reptiles, two taxonomic groups sensitive to environmental changes due to their physiological constrains and low dispersal capacity, we used species' distribution maps, the sites of community interest (SCIs) in Romania, and landscape resistance rasters. Except Vipera ursinii rakosiensis, all amphibians and reptiles had corridors mapped that, when assembled, provided linkages for up to 27 species. Natura 2000 species were not good candidates for umbrella species as these linkages covered only 17% of the corridors for all species. Important Areas for Connectivity were identified in the Carpathian Mountains and along the Danube River, further confirming these regions as hot spots for biodiversity in Europe, where successful linkages are most likely. In the end, while such corridors may not be created just for amphibians and reptiles, they can easily be incorporated into more complex linkages with corridors for more charismatic species, therefore enhancing the corridors' value in terms of quality and structure.
