Expert Group on Natura 2000 Management 11th meeting – 07/05/2014 Agenda item 4 The new organisation of the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process

Strategic objectives of the Process To ensure progress towards the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy targets To strengthen common understanding of the role of the network in achieving favourable conservation status To develop new management insights and actions To establish a framework for cooperation and networking

The new organization of the Process There will be no more so-called 'seminar cycles', composed by a 'Preparatory workshop' and a 'Natura 2000 Seminar'. In each biogeograhical region the process will start with the organization of a so-called 'kick-off seminar'.

The new organization of the Process There will be an active networking programme, (the 'Natura 2000 Biogeographical Networking Programme'), including ad-hoc expert meetings and thematic workshops There will be so-called 'review seminars' at intervals of three to four years as appropriate

Optimizing the Process To ensure greater focus on strategic priorities and targets To build upon the evidence from Article 17 HD/Article 12 BD reporting to help clarifying favourable reference values, identifying conservation objectives and measures at different levels within a biogeographical region

Optimizing the Process To enable Steering Committees to play a more strategic role To mobilize greater inputs from strategic stakeholders and increased participation from practitioners To increase opportunities for networking and generating recommendations for practical Natura 2000 management

Optimizing the Process To ensure a flexible approach, for example by moving beyond habitats to include flagship species where useful as indicators and in raising public awareness To identify appropriate forms of collaboration on agreed common priorities, including exploring scope for potential initiatives involving EU co-financing

Support for follow-up events (1) Under the existing technical assistance contract (2014 – 2016) the contractor can support 5 events per year. He can: help organising the events, assist chairpersons , prepare and distribute agendas, invitations and meeting documents help the host organisation with the venue, coffee and catering, local transport cover travel costs of max. 10 participants per event

Support for follow-up events (2) (new support contract 2015-2017) In the context of the planned Natura 2000 Biogeographical Networking Programme the future contractor will provide similar assistance for the organisation of six thematic workshops per year. This will be in addition to the support already foreseen under the existing TA contract (2014 – 2016).

The Natura 2000 Platform The Natura 2000 Communication Platform will be the main tool for networking, dialogue and exchanging information on the management of the Natura 2000 network. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/index_en.htm

Tentative planning for up-coming events BioGeo Region Kick-off Seminar Thematic events Review Seminar (indicative dates) Thematic Events BOR 2012 ongoing 2015 Continue After 2015 ATL 2016 After 2016 ALP 2013 MED 2014 As from 2017 After 2017 MAC As from 2015 2018 After 2018 CONT/PAN/ BS/STEPP 2014 /2015 2014/2015 MARINE