Natura 2000Europe’s safety net for nature – and people

Florentina FlorescuNatura 2000 Coordinator, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme

A global crisis

1000 x natural extinction rate

In Europe:

• 42% of mammals endangered, e.g. Iberian lynx

• 80% of Danube wetlands lost

• Collapsing fish stocks

Biodiversity provides crucial…

• Goods (food, wood, fiber…)

• Services (clean water, climate regulation…)

• Genetic reserves – our insurance policy

EU response

• “The Community shall have as its task…to promote throughout the Community…a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment.”

Treaty Establishing the European Community (2002), Article 2:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)

• Gothenburg Summit (2001): “halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010”

• EU 6th Environmental Action Programme (2001)

• Birds Directive (1979) and Habitats Directive (1992)

Legal Instruments for nature

National LegislationProtected species, protected areas, hunting

provisions, ...

European Union

International ConventionsBern, Bonn, Ramsar, Washington (CITES),

Biological Diversity

Europe’s “Safety net for nature”

• Birds + Habitats Directives = Natura 2000 network

• Cornerstone of EU conservation policy

• Maintain species and habitats of European importance

• Does not necessarily restrict socioeconomic activities –in many cases requires them

EU-nature conservation policy

Two main directives:

• “Wild Birds Directive”(79/409/EEC)

bird species

• “Habitats Directive” (92/43/EEC)

other animal and plant species, habitat types

BIRDS DIR. - 1979

� All bird species protected

� No priority bird species (cf. indicative list for Life-Nature)

� EU territory treated as a whole

� Habitat conservation measures (incl. SPAs in NATURA 2000)

� Regulated hunting and trade limited to a few species

HABITATS DIR. - 1992

� Species/habitats of EU interest protected

� Priority Habitats/species

� Biogeographical regions

� Site protection and management measures (SACs) in NATURA 2000

� Species protection and management

PRIORITY EU LEGAL INSTRUMENTS FOR NATURE & BIODIVERSITY

Natura 2000 network

Global aim: Maintain or restore the

favourable conservation status of certain

species and natural habitat types in their

natural range

SPA SCI

What is the target of protection under Natura 2000? - I

• Birds Directive

– 181 vulnerable bird species(Annex I)

+13 species (EU15+10)

– migratory bird species (esp. wetlands)

Implementing the BirdsDirective –

nesting and migratory species

2 of the 13 new bird species in Annex I also proposed by CZ, HU, PL, SK (BG)

Setting up Natura 2000Birds Directive

1) Member States classify (CC: by accession)

2) Commission takes coordinating role

Reference list: Important Bird Areas (IBAs) based on international criteria

What is the target of protection under Natura 2000? - II

Species and habitatsof Community interest

• Habitats Directive (its annexes I-V)

– appr. 200 habitats (EU15)+ 20 habitats (EU15+10)

– appr. 700 species (EU15) + 165 species (EU15+10)

Annex I and Annex II

Annex I Annex IIAnimals 324 Plants 587

The species such as the steppe polecat (Mustelaeversmanii)

or the beetle Carabus hungaricus have been proposed by both the Czech Republic and

Hungary

Not only endemic plants...

Dianthus moravicus Galium sudeticum

but also species which occur in other acceding countries..

e.g. Cirsiumbrachycephalum

Setting up Natura2000

Habitats Directive

1) National lists proposed (CC: by accession)

2) Selection process on biogeographical level (aim: Community list) - MS & EC - max. 3 years

3) Designation by MS max.

6 years after Community list

Site designation

• Scientific assessment at national level

• Selection of sites of Community Importance (20-60% rules)

• Designation as Natura 2000 sites

NATURAL HABITAT TYPES- representativity- relative area of habitat type (in relation to the area co vered by this habitat

type in the country)- conservation of structure and functionSPECIES- relative population (in relation to the national popula tion) - conservation of habitat features essential for the spec ies- isolation of population

GENERAL- priority status of habitat type or species- endangerment of habitat type or species in the country- importance of the area for conservation of habitat type o r species in its

whole geographical range- particular responsibility of the country for conservat ion of habitat type or

species- situation of the area on migration routes or in transbound ary zone- occurrence of greater number of habitat types and/or spec ies

CRITERIA OF SELECTION OF SCI/SACs

- THEY SHOULD COMPRISE SIGNIFICANT AREA OF HABITAT T YPE FROM ANNEX I HD OR SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF SPECIE S FROM ANNEX II HD ON THE SCALE OF THE COUNTRY

- THEY SHOULD GUARANTEE THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE HAB ITAT TYPES AND SPECIES IN FAVOURABLE CONSERVATION STATUS

DESIRED EFFECTS OF SCI/SACs SELECTION :

- THEY SHOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVA TION OF A GIVEN BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION

- THEY SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVEMENT OF ECOLOGICA L COHERENCE OF THE NETWORK

CONTRIBUTION OF A COUNTRY TO THE NETWORK SHOULD BE IN PROPORTION TO NATIONAL RESOURCES OF PARTICULAR HABI TAT TYPES AND SPECIES OF COMMUNITY IMPORTANCE

Methods of site selection

91E06210

9110

91E06210

9110

91E06210

9110

Large sites:a few big sites

buffer zones included

public acceptance

often low

simple management

low administrative

costs

Small sites:many sites

no buffer zones

large edge effects and

impacts

no functional units

impacts from outside not

under control

management difficult

administration costly

Excluding:„holes“ where no habitat

type/ species has been

found

omitting private property

wherever possible

traffic facilities

SpecialProtectionAreas SPAs

CouncilDirective79/409/EEC(BirdsDirective)

Article 4

Council Directive92/43/EEC

(Habitats Directive)Annexes I and II

Sites ofCommunityImportance

(SCIs)

National listof potential

Special Areas ofConservation

Designation by member state

NationalList

Verification by EuropeanCommission

Special Areasof Conservation

(SACs)

BirdLifeInternational

Criteria

Criteria:Annex III HD

BUILDING NATURA 2000 NETWORK

Natura 2000 sites in Romania

What is not true…

• “From Brussels for Brussels”

• Including land in a Natura 2000 site affect the ownership of such land

• All economic activities will be limited

• Properties automatically lose value as a consequence of Natura2000 designation

• Hunting activities are forbidden

• Any new infrastructure is forbidden

• Everyday activities will have to undergo an environmental impact assessment

Natura 2000: Myths

Thank you!!!florescu.florentina@gmail.com

www.natura2000.rowww.wwf.ro