Natura 2000, Natura 2000 Action Plan & Biogeographical Process, water challenges

1. Natura 2000, Natura 2000 Action Plan & Biogeographical Process, water challenges Ctibor Kocman ENV D.3 Nature Protection nt Sarród, 15/11/2017nt

2. The Natura 2000 network Cornerstone of EU biodiversity policy >27 000 sites > 1 000 000 km² 18 % EU land ~5 % EU seas Largest co-ordinated network of protected areas Natura 2000 network viewer: http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/#

3. Natura 2000: the EU Nature legislation • 1979: The Birds Directive • Scope → all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild in the EU (i.e. approximately 500 species). • Overall objective → to maintain wild birds in good conservation. • 1992: The Habitats Directive • Scope → More than 1000 threatened plants and animals and approx. 230 habitat types • The Natura 2000 network of protected areas • Overall objective → ensure their favourable conservation status.

4. Birds Directive (2009/147/EC– ex. 79/409) Overall objective is to maintain the populations of all wild bird species in the EU at a level which corresponds to their ecological, scientific and cultural requirements, or to adapt the population of these species to that level. BIRDS DIRECTIVE Species protection Site protection migratory birds Annex I birds All wild birds Exemptions for species on annex II & III Annex II species

5. Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) Overall objective is to ensure that thethreatenedspecies and habitat types are maintained at, or restored to, a ‘favourable conservation status’. HABITATS DIRECTIVE Site protection and management Species protection and management Annex I habitat types Annex II species Annex IV species Annex V species

6. Strict Protection of speciesunder Habitats and Birds Directives BIRDS DIRECTIVE HABITATS DIRECTIVE Establish system of strict protection Art 12 All species Art 5 Annex IV Art 13 Art 11 Regulate the exploitation of certain species Annex III Art 6 Annex II Art 7 Art 14 Annex V Prohibit certain methods of capture/ killing Art 8 Annex IV Art 15 Annex VI Derogations Art 16 Art 9

7. Article 6: Protection of Natura 2000 sites

8. Article 4.4. SAC designation • Within 6 years after adopting the Union Lists (SCIs) the Member State shall designate the sites as special areas of conservation establishing priorities in the light of the importance of the sites for the maintenance or restoration, at a favourable conservation status, of a natural habitat type in Annex I or a species in Annex II and for the coherence of Natura 2000, and in the light of the threats of degradation or destruction to which those sites are exposed.

9. SAC designation – Commission Notes http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm • Designation of Special Areas of Conservation • Setting conservation objectives for Natura 2000 sites • Establishing conservation measures for Natura 2000 sites (Links between the Nature Directives and Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Floods Directive: FAQ, case studies, starter guide)

10. How are Natura 2000 sites chosen?Different process = the same network HABITATS DIRECTIVE BIRDS DIRECTIVE National List of proposed sites (pSCI) Special Protection Areas (SPA) Sites of Community Importance (SCI) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

11. An Action Plan for nature, people and the economyCOM(2017) 198 finalNatura 2000 Biogeographical Process

12. Approach of Action Plan • 4 priority areas of Action • Improving guidance and knowledge and ensuring better coherence with broader socio-economic objectives • Building political ownership and strengthening compliance • Strengthening investment in Natura 2000 and improving synergies with EU funding instruments • Better communication and outreach, engaging citizens, stakeholders and communities • 15 Actions (detailed factsheets in SWD) • Timeframe 2017-2019 (cannot pre-empt next MFF and on-going debate on the future of CAP) • Key Actors: MS, COM, CoR, EIB, EEA, Stakeholders

13. Improve guidance & knowledge and ensure better coherence with broader socio-economic objectives

14. Building political ownership and strengthening compliance

15. Strengthening investment in Natura 2000 and improving synergies with EU funding instruments

16. Better communication & outreach, engaging citizens, stakeholders & communities

17. The Natura 2000 BiogeographicalProcess Relaunched in 2017 At the biogeographical level Aim: to enhance effective implementation, management, monitoring, financing and reporting of the Natura 2000 network

18. Atool to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU • A contribution to the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020: • Target 1: Protect species and habitats Action 1: Complete the Natura 2000 network and ensure its good management. • An integral part of the Action Plan for nature, people and the economy: • Priority B: Building political ownership and strengthening compliance Action 6: Bring together public authorities and stakeholders from different Member States at the biogeographical region level to address common challenges, including on cross-border issues.

19. A stakeholders' co-operation process To help establish coherent, effective and efficient conservation systems for the Natura 2000 network throughout the EU: • improved coherence in evaluating conservation status of protected habitats and species and setting conservation objectives and priorities • identification and promotion of best practices in conservation management approaches • strengthened cooperation and sharing of experience on common challenges and opportunities To agree biogeographical-level roadmaps for cooperative action

20. A stakeholders' co-operation process Seminars, workshops, cooperation activities to help: • Exchange experiences, case studies and best practices • Collect information on threats and conservation needs for species and habitats • Identify common objectives, priorities and management actions • Develop new management insights (cross-border) • Develop stakeholders' cooperation frameworks, networks of specialists and site managers, etc. • Better integrate socio-economic objectives into Natura 2000 management

21. Main steps to achieve specific outcomes

22. Summary of events & indicative scheduling

23. Follow-up/networking events Events of common interest identified during the seminars or through ongoing networking. Technical assistance from the EC's contractor available for 8 thematic networking events per year: • help organise the events, assist chairpersons , prepare and distribute agendas, invitations and meeting documents • help the host with the venue, catering, transport • cover the travel costs of some participants

24. The Natura 2000 Communication Platform http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/index_en.htm Will be further developed to make it more user-friendly and effective: • greater volumes of relevant Natura 2000 information • inter-active web-based tool for networking, dialogue and exchanging information on the management of the Natura 2000 network.

25. Working together in Natura 2000The Natura 2000 Communication Platform

26. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! For more information, please consult: DG Environment Nature & Biodiversity Homepage http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm