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    Natura 2000

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    elplasti
    The Natura 2000 network was established by the EU to protect endangered habitats and species. It requires EU member states to designate protected areas for conservation. Around 20,000 sites across 25 countries are now part of the Natura 2000 network, covering almost 20% of the EU territory. The goal is to preserve biodiversity while allowing sustainable human activities through management plans developed in consultation with local stakeholders. Funding remains a challenge to fully achieving conservation and socioeconomic objectives.

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    Natura 2000

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    elplasti
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    The Natura 2000 network was established by the EU to protect endangered habitats and species. It requires EU member states to designate protected areas for conservation. Around 20,000 sites across 25 countries are now part of the Natura 2000 network, covering almost 20% of the EU territory. The goal is to preserve biodiversity while allowing sustainable human activities through management plans developed in consultation with local stakeholders. Funding remains a challenge to fully achieving conservation and socioeconomic objectives.

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    The Natura 2000 network was established by the EU to protect endangered habitats and species. It requires EU member states to designate protected areas for conservation. Around 20,000 sites across 25 countries are now part of the Natura 2000 network, covering almost 20% of the EU territory. The goal is to preserve biodiversity while allowing sustainable human activities through management plans developed in consultation with local stakeholders. Funding remains a challenge to fully achieving conservation and socioeconomic objectives.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    54 views3 pages

    Natura 2000

    Uploaded by

    elplasti
    The Natura 2000 network was established by the EU to protect endangered habitats and species. It requires EU member states to designate protected areas for conservation. Around 20,000 sites across 25 countries are now part of the Natura 2000 network, covering almost 20% of the EU territory. The goal is to preserve biodiversity while allowing sustainable human activities through management plans developed in consultation with local stakeholders. Funding remains a challenge to fully achieving conservation and socioeconomic objectives.

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    NATURA 2000

    N2K - Why?

    In the 70’, Member states agreed to do a better job addressing environmental issues at EU level to
    comply with their obligations derived from International Conventions, and to find solutions to specific
    ecological problems, including cross border issues. In 1979, the Birds Directive was adopted to protect
    migratory species, complemented in 1992, by the Habitats Directive, which protects their habitats and
    those of other endangered species of community interest.

    What is N2K network?

    The Birds and Habitats Directives require Member


    States, and eventually their regions, to create a coherent
    ecological network of areas designed to protect specific
    fauna and flora. This interconnected network of sites is
    called the “Natura 2000 Network.” Not only the ecological
    quality of each protected site but also its direct
    contribution to the global coherence of the network at the
    local, regional and EU level is analysed. Therefore,
    similar protection measures are implemented in each of
    the 25 EU Member States, from Spain to Finland and
    Ireland to the Czech Republic.
    Around 20,000 sites have already been included in the N2K network. Maritime sites are even now
    being designated. Natura 2000 already covers almost 20% of the EU territory, and soon a majority of
    EU citizens will live near or in N2K sites.

    N2K objective

    ELO recalls that the N2K objective is the


    preservation of most endangered habitats and
    species of community interest, not the
    creation of strict natural reserves where
    human activities would be systematically
    banned. On the contrary, this is a conception
    where man has an active role to play, where
    man contributes to biodiversity enhancement.
    N2K – Which are the tools?
    N2K includes the sustainable development
    Under the two Directives Member states have to
    principle. Its objective is clearly not to get rid
    ensure that in Natura 2000 sites, appropriate
    of existing socio-economic activities, but to
    measures are taken to :
    combine biodiversity and socio-economic
    • avoid any activity significantly disturbing species
    aspects, pillars of sustainable development.
    or damaging habitats for which the site was
    designated
    • preserve, maintain or restore habitats and species in favourable conservation status (FCS)

    Within the limits of EU legislation, each Member state decides on the method to use to achieve the
    goals. Methods have to take into account ecological needs and socio-economic, cultural, regional
    characteristics requirements of the concerned area.

    ELO Asbl • Rue de Trèves 67 • B-1040 Bruxelles • Tel +32 (0)2 234 30 00 • Fax +32 (0)2 234 30 09 • Email: elo@elo.org • www.elo.org
    N2K – participation process

    N2K recognizes that man and biodiversity are


    interdependent. Human activities contribute to the
    richness of EU biodiversity. Although site designation
    should consider scientific criteria, management plans
    also require a close partnership with rural actors,
    resource holders such as owners, managers, occupiers
    and users. Because of their know-how, experience and
    knowledge, they are essential partners for the concrete
    and successful implementation of N2K.

    EU legislation welcomes the development of management plans that aim to bring species and
    habitats conservation objectives into line with existing socio-economic activities through
    appropriate means (e.g. management contracts, incentives, LIFE projects).
    N2K – Are new activities possible?

    New plans and projects that entail important modifications to


    land use in or near a N2K site are also not systematically
    banned. Nevertheless, they have to comply with the
    procedure set up in the Directive for evaluation of their impact.

    The first step is to determine if the project is likely to have


    significant impact on species and habitats for which the site
    was designated. If the impact is not considered significant, the
    project will be pursued. If on the contrary the evaluation
    demonstrates foreseeable negative effects, an alternative, a
    less detrimental option will be favoured. Some projects
    detrimental to N2K sites may be pursued for imperative
    reasons of major public interest. In this circumstance,
    compensatory measures will be taken in order not to
    jeopardize the N2K network and its global coherence.
    N2K financing

    The importance of maintenance of EU biodiversity is recognized at the highest political level.


    Following the recent changes introduced by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), single farm
    payments are dependant on maintenance of a farm in good agricultural and environmental condition.

    One of the Rural Development Regulation’s (2007-2013) aims is to improve the rural environment
    and the quality of life. Farmers and foresters could benefit from related financial support
    compensating additional constraints linked to N2K designation. Specific management initiatives
    going beyond N2K requests could be subsidized under national and EU co-financing. A series of
    questions on financing N2K remain unanswered and should be resolved after adoption of the EU
    global budget, the CAP budget, the LIFE section and the various structural funds. N2K success will
    be highly dependant upon the financing which is really allocated.

    Natura 2000 has laudable objectives in N2K sites and even outside of these protected areas for
    migratory species. These objectives need adequate funding and support from everyone, including
    rural actors, local and regional authorities, associations and EU citizens.

    ELO Asbl • Rue de Trèves 67 • B-1040 Bruxelles • Tel +32 (0)2 234 30 00 • Fax +32 (0)2 234 30 09 • Email: elo@elo.org • www.elo.org
    N2K – Impact on ongoing activities?

    Most N2K sites are privately owned and are host to numerous socio-economic activities that often
    contribute to biodiversity (agriculture, forestry, fish farming, tourism, leisure, fishing, hunting,
    recreational activities).

    Obviously these activities are possible in or near N2K sites. If adaptations or modifications to
    these uses are necessary, the feasibility of these proposals have to be negotiated with rural
    actors and financed.

    N2K – ELO involvement and action

    ELO is closely following N2K as the management of assets


    and their value is closely dependant on the interpretation of
    these Directives and their implementation in the field. As
    has been stated, ELO clearly advocates for a balanced
    implementation of N2K and sound financing at the EU,
    national and local level. Clearly in some case N2K has not
    been adequately financed or implement in the field, notably
    during the designation process or on occasions where there
    has been a ban or limitation of specific uses without
    compensation.
    Therefore ELO actively participates in EU
    consultation processes aimed at interpreting specific
    articles of the Directives, such as the Article 8
    Working Group (co-financing, stand still), the
    Steering Group on N2K financing, the Article 12-16
    Working Group (strict liability, ecological and legal
    definitions), Biogeographical seminars, and other
    discussions focused on Article 17 (monitoring,
    annexes). ELO is also working on the interpretation
    of N2K, which has also been increasing the
    In the meantime, ELO also launched constraints outside of N2K sites, as supported by
    actions promoting N2K awareness among the species protection approach of the Habitats
    rural actors and demonstrating their Directive. ELO is also leading a dedicated forum of
    positive contribution to N2K, such as the EU federations of users also involved in N2K
    Natura 2000 Networking initiative - NNi (in implementation and management, the Natura 2000
    collaboration with Eurosite-Europarc), the Users’ Forum.
    “From Belgium to Europe with Natura 2000”
    campaign, and dedicated actions towards
    new Member states (CZ, POL…).

    ELO also punctually provides support to its


    members throughout the EU on N2K
    implementation, when it can lead to
    repeatable solutions across EU member
    states. ELO also promotes good
    implementation and management of sites
    through its Awards programme.

    Birds Directive 79/409/EEC; Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC Commission dedicated “Nature” webpage:
    www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm

    ELO Asbl • Rue de Trèves 67 • B-1040 Bruxelles • Tel +32 (0)2 234 30 00 • Fax +32 (0)2 234 30 09 • Email: elo@elo.org • www.elo.org

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