Natura 2000 Biogeographical

Seminar for Continental Region in

the New Member States

Praha - 21 November 2005

Ministry of Environment

Marie-Alice BUDNIOK
ELO - Legal Advisor

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

Designation process &
biogeographical seminars
Phase 1 – MS designate sites:
Bird Directive 1979 = conservation of wild birds =
Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
 Criteria? = MS latitude in determining “appropriate” means
Habitat Directive 1992 = conservation of natural
habitat & wild fauna & flora = Special Areas of
Conservation (SAC)
 Criteria? Coherent network + impact assessment
 procedure: 3 phases

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

Designation process &
biogeographical seminars (Phase 1)
Member States designation of N2K sites:
1- MS responsibility of designation
a) Complete evaluation Habitat + Species
(National or regional agencies)
b) Scientifically based on criteria Annexe III
c) Transmission to EC

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

Designation process &
biogeographical seminars (Phase 1)
2. MS transmission to EC SCI
a) Biogeographical seminar : screening of National lists
b) AIM: Validation / amendment of the list
c) Who?
 Officials : EC + MS + EEA (Topic Centre) + experts
 Observers: NGOs (Green + Natura 2000 Users Forum)
3. EC adoption of lists of SCI MS to designate sites
as SACs within 6 years + FCS obligation

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Biogeographical seminars process
Comments:
 Very technical process (species/species; habitat/habitat)

 EC transparency + faithful cooperation with Users

 Pb in MS procedures little chance for Users to

influence the process : “a posteriori” control

 Advise for Continental Seminar (2006?) : constant

dialogue with your Ministry

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Biogeographical seminars process
Example of special focuses:
 Regional approach = network coherence:
 Rivers (“Stepping stone”, both banks …)
 Boundaries & Mountains (did the neighbour MS
designate?)
 Level of EC expectations derived from Directives
+ Habitat Committee (your Ministry is member)
 Sufficient number of sites?
 Quality of proposed sites? (A/B/C)
 The “20/60% guideline”
 Good geographical distribution of sites (suspicious on
“hole”)
European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium
 Biogeographical seminars process
Level of MS preparation :
 No specific delay agreed = “acquis communautaire” on 1
May 2004 + transposition of Directives = enormous task :
 Civil servants trained on N2K specific issues
 Inventories/researches to undergo (short delays for
specific species…)
 Difference between MS (small/big; +/- diverse
biodiversity…)
 If lack of preparation = lack of designation (volume &
quality)
 Decision of INSUFFICIENCY major/minor/mod …
 Scientific reserve … new Road map for MS!

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Biogeographical seminars process
EC position :

 Good quality of MS designation in terms of volume and

scientific arguments
 Compliance with good governance = participatory
process
 Tool used: balanced “expert group” = MS + independent
experts + NGOs + Users
 Negotiation / arbitration during the seminar

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Biogeographical seminars process
Level of NGOs preparation:
 Particularly well prepared through concrete contacts with
MS ministries & ETC
 Undergone their own scientific researches since several
years (under various research funds & own resources)
 Clear and precise requests based on local knowledge
and high quality scientific arguments
 Often achieve their goals even on non priority
species/habitat

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Biogeographical seminars process
Why a Users participation to the process?
 Fundamental to be part of the discussions
 Show the importance of designation & conservation
issues for users
 Contacts with experts from ministries + universities +
NGOs (users ≠ black sheep!)
 Process not tailored for users but possibilities of
negotiation if counter arguments from national
organizations (≠ research centre + short delay …)
 At the end of the day on Phase 2 : implementation =
users will have to modify their day to day management

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Biogeographical seminars process
Concluding remarks:
Biogeographical process satisfactory for Users?
 Yes IF a faithful collaboration exists between
ministries/users prior to the seminar
 Ministries + NGOs have to understand that Phase 2-
Implementation will mainly be applied by users
 Therefore fundamental to negotiate already during Phase
1- designation process (information flows, contract
management elaboration, sound funding of the
constraints…)

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium

 Thank You
for your attention

European Landowners’ Organization – ELO 67 rue de Trèves, 1040 Brussels - Belgium