Draft revised terms of reference Working Group on estuaries and coastal zones conservation issues

Thematic areas of the guidance document Guidance on technical conservation issues (including issues related to conservation status of species and habitats, conservation objectives and monitoring systems) 2. Guidance on planning and integrated management approaches 3. Guidance on new projects, mitigation and compensation

Technical conservation issues (I) the typology and definitions of estuarine, marine and coastal habitats concerned, location and identification of protected features within the overall designated boundary (mobile species, indirect effects, habitats dynamics and mobility, environmental services, etc), an overview of the different types of estuaries in the EU and their driving forces (assessment of conservation status of protected species and habitat types, importance of ecological, physical and geomorphological processes, e.g. morphology, tidal amplitude…),

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit River mouths Ria following a marine transgression (drowned river valley) Estuary for a few 1000s of years with sedimentation and tidal influence before total filling Delta: filled estuary, tidal influence mainly along the coastline Climatic and global change: next “marine transgression” ?

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Distribution of Estuaries in Europe Biogeographical region: habitat 1130 Nº of sites Estimated surface in Natura 2000 (ha) % of total surface Atlantic 125 377 085 73,32% Mediterranean 43 78 662 15,29% Continental (Baltic) 35 23 870 4,64% Boreal (Baltic) 46 34 691 6,75% TOTAL 249 514 308   In Baltic areas, and above all in Mediterranean areas, we have low or very low tides Consequence: there are only sub-types of estuaries with some interactions between fresh and marine waters linked to wind storm, flood event or very low tides

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Estuaries and coastal zones in the Habitat directive Estuarine habitats (+ fresh water) Marine habitats Coastal habitats 1110 1170 (1120) 1130 1140 1310 1320 1330 (1410) Dunes Marshes Wet meadows… Dynamics and mobility Interpretation manual: An estuary forms an ecological unit with the surrounding terrestrial coastal habitat types. In terms of nature conservation, these different habitat types should not be separated, and this reality must be taken into account during the selection of sites.

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Functional units for birds and other species for both estuaries and coastal zones Each species has some functional needs (resting, feeding, reproduction) which have, all of them, to be taken into consideration

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Natural paradox Deterioration of the estuarine habitats (land reclaimed from the estuary) with the creation of high natural value habitats (Bittern, Corncrake, reed beds, wet meadows...) “Wild” estuary Navigation channel Conservation objective: a choice done by human being based on legislative, social, scientific, economical and ethical parameters Heavily modified estuary

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Reconciliation of conservation and economical objectives Art 2: Measures taken shall take account of economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics  Mainly chapter 2 with integrated management

Technical conservation issues (II) establishment of conservation objectives in Natura 2000 estuaries and coastal zones, with a view to the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network, taking into account regional priorities and the natural variations of the system in a larger spatial and time scale, overview of surveillance and monitoring and other research methods and guidance on how to consider thresholds for the ecological, geomorphological and physical processes (taking into account natural variability, past present and future trends and resilience of protected features), identify gaps of knowledge that should be further addressed in future.

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Conservation objectives in nature directives Art.2.2: Measures taken pursuant to this Directive shall be designed to maintain or restore, at favourable conservation status, natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest. TO BE STUDIED: A common methodology was designed at EC level to characterize conservation status at biogeographical and national levels. This methodology is applied in art.17 reports to determine a basis for future evaluation Some Member States or technical and scientific bodies have proposed deeper analysis At site level, apart of the defensive approach (art. 6.3 & 6.4), Member States, regional and local bodies have sometime proposed site approaches

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Objective: favourable conservation status The conservative status of a natural habitat will be taken as "favourable" when: its natural range and areas it covers within that range are stable or increasing: TO BE MONITORED (art. 11 & 17) the specific structure and functions which are necessary for its long-term maintenance exist and are likely to continue to exist for the foreseeable future: TO BE EXPLAINED AND ANALYSED e.g. with Member states and scientific approaches the conservation status of its typical species is favourable: TO BE CLARIFIED e.g. with Member states and scientific approaches Guidance document is a supportive non legislative tool for these interpretations

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit WFD & Marine strategy: mandatory results Objectives: good ecological conditions in 2015 (WFD), good environmental conditions in 2020 (MS) Two water bodies in the following case, upstream (FRHT03M) and down stream (FRHT3) estuaries : differences to be studied

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit WFD & Nature Directives: synergies Explain synergies between good ecological conditions and favourable conservations status especially for: Transition areas (estuaries) Wetlands (coastal) Fresh water habitats Species Prospective for marine strategy Consequences for conservation objectives

Estuary: a dynamic geographical unit Monitoring estuaries and coastal zones Where do we stand with monitoring: Legal obligations Overviews of Member States proposals Overviews of case studies for estuaries (e.g. GIP Seine-aval, evolution of coastal lines…) Limits of the exercise : qualitative guidance on how to consider thresholds for the ecological, geomorphological and physical processes (taking into account natural variability, past present and future trends and resilience of protected features) identify gaps of knowledge that should be further addressed

The Working Group on estuaries and coastal zones: Methodology The Working Group on estuaries and coastal zones: Contribution (existing or new ones) to be sent to the experts in March-April: position papers, bibliography, case studies, scientific publications... Marc.thauront@ecosphere.fr Internal language skills: EN, FR, DE, more if key document Possible Input and communication through CIRCA platform Meeting of the Working Group on 30 of June