The „Favourable Conservation Status“ Of Annex I-Habitats (Habitats-Directive)

1. The „Favourable Conservation Status“ Of Annex I-Habitats(Habitats-Directive) Report About The Handling of the Directive In Germany Albert Lang Twinning SK2002/IB/EN/03 Bratislava, 20.01.04

2. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang Content 1. The Term „Favourable Conservation Status“ 1.1. In The Habitats Directive 1.2. In The Document „Standard Data Form - Explanatory Notes“ = „Notes“ 2. Handling of the Directive In Germany 3. Two Examples: Habitat types 6520 and 9160

3. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 1. The Term Favourable Conservation Status1.1. In The Habitats-Directive 1.1.1. Intension of the Directive: Prologue, Art. 2 (2) 1.1.2. Definition of the term: Art. 1 (e)  Annex III A(c)  Explanatory Notes, 1 (i)  Annex III B (b)  Explanatory Notes, 1 (k) 1.1.3. Proposition for protection and site selection: Art. 3 (1), Art. 4 (4), Art. 14 (1)Art. 11  Art. 17 1.1.4. Financial matters: Art. 8 (2) 1.1.5. Re-introduction of Annex IV-species: Art. 22

4. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 1.2. In The Document „Standard Data Form - Explanatory Notes“ = „Notes“ The value of a given Habitat Type in a site depends on three criteria • Representativity = Annex III A (a) • Relative Surface = Annex III A (b) • Conservation Status = Annex III A (c)

5. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 1.2. In The Document „Standard Data Form - Explanatory Notes“ = „Notes“ The criterion Conservation Status is summed up to the grades • A = excellent • B = good • C = average or reduced

6. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 1.2. In The Document „Standard Data Form - Explanatory Notes“ = „Notes“ The criterion Conservation Status consists of three sub-criteria • Degree of conservation of the structure • Degree of conservation of the functions • Restoration possibilities The first and the last sub-criteria demand „best expert judgement“

7. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 2. Handling of the Directive in Germany In Germany the three sub-criteria of the „Notes“ are implemented to • Completeness of the typical habitat structures • Completeness of the typical species of the habitat • Degradations

8. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 2. Handling of the Directive in Germany Grades of Conservation Status

9. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang „Notes“ Germany 2. Handling of the Directive in Germany Some additions of the sub-criteria of Conservation Status

10. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 2. Handling of the Directive in Germany Recommendations of the Working Group Grassland • Mapping of the habiatat types: building complexes • Mapping of fauna not obligatory • Degradations´ reasons: reference list • Survey of habitat types within and beyond the SCI • Surveillance at least all 6 years • The surface of the habitat type is not part of the conservation status

11. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 2. Handling of the Directive in Germany Recommendations of the Working Group Grassland • In some cases (i.e. habitat type 6210) the contact-biotopes are integrated into the assessment • For each habitat type structures have to be listed. The grades have to be described as exact as possible • For each habitat type the typical plant-species (animals if possible) a regional list has to be worked out • The worst of several grade parameters predominates

12. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 1992 1996 2000 2001 2001 2003 Directive 92/43/EEC „Notes“ 97/266/EEC First National Working Group LANA German State Agencies Various National Working Groups       Conservation Status 3 sub-criteria 3 German sub-criteria as basis for all habitat types Acception of the basis by the States Ministries Implementation of specific German States´ standards Recommendations for the specific standards  The Conservation Status - A Short Overview

13. Favourable Conservation Status Of Annex I-Habitats, 20.01.04, Albert Lang 3. Two Exemples: Habitat Types 6520 & 91603.1. Habitat Type 6520 Mountain hay meadow • Various examples of the grading-system have been worked out by the German States • Range between expert judgement and fixed criteria-lists in manuals (Example: typical species)