Introduction to the Workshop on Target 1 of the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy Stefan Leiner, DG ENV European Commission Nature Directors Meeting Denmark, 22 May 2012

Target 1 - to fully implement the Birds and Habitats Directives To halt the deterioration in the status of all species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status so that, by 2020, compared to current assessments: (i) 100% more habitat assessments and 50% more species assessments under the Habitats Directive show an improved conservation status; and (ii) 50% more species assessments under the Birds Directive show a secure or improved status

Target key actions 1.Completing and managing the network 2.Ensuring adequate financing of Natura 2000 (not subject to this presentation) 3.Increasing public awareness, stakeholder involvement & improving enforcement 4.Improving and streamlining monitoring & reporting

Action 1: Network to be largely completed by 2012 (1) SCI and SPA designation Habitats Directive: 6 new Union Lists* adopted on 18 November 2011 Plus 166 SCI/SAC sites (now sites) Total SCI/SAC area : km² (+ 2,65 %) Most expansion in the marine But: update of “reserves” based on end 2010 list Still 833 reserves left (MAJ, MOD, SR) Of these 712 terrestrial, 121 marine * (Alpine, Atlantic, Boreal, Continental, Mediterranean, Pannonian)

Sufficiency of Natura 2000 network Terrestrial part (species and habitat types) SR: Scientific reserve, further inventories required IN MAJ: Major insufficiency IN MOD: Moderate insufficiency IN MIN: Minor insufficiency SUF: Sufficient designation of sites

Sufficiency of Natura 2000 network Marine part (species and habitat type) SR: Scientific reserve, further inventories required IN MAJ: Major insufficiency IN MOD: Moderate insufficiency IN MIN: Minor insufficiency SUF: Sufficient designation of sites

Q1 Will the SCI and SPA designation process be largely completed by 2012?

Action 1: Completion of the Network (2) SAC designation and management of the sites Natura 2000 Seminars Boreal Natura 2000 seminar: Preparatory Workshop held in Helsinki, 25 & 26 January 2012; Pilot Seminar: Finland, 28 – 29 May 2012 Atlantic Seminar: Preparatory Workshop: 20 – 21 June 2012, ATL Seminar: End 2012 in NL Next: Alpine Seminar: June 2013, Lead: Austria SAC designation Paper on SAC designation finalised Paper on Conservation objectives finalised Experience shared on the establishment conservation measures Many sites are improving and well managed, but many are under pressure and degrading 6 year deadline for SAC designation increasingly overdue

SAC designation deadline situation as of may 2012, based on SDFs

Q2 Is the SAC designation process on track? What are remaining key challenges?

Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (1) Habitats Directive/LIFE 20 Years celebrations Natura 2000 Brochure 5 Natura 2000 LIFE site live events SuperAlp! walk Key celebratory Conference in October in Hohe Kempen Also other events in MS (BE-Flanders, Latvia, Germany (NGOs), Eurosite PL/CZ Transboundary, …) LIFE project events: more than 190 announced so far LIFE brochure: The Voices of LIFE Natura 2000 campaign End phase of Biodiversity Campaign

Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (2) Enforcement Still many complaints and infringements Confidence building initiatives (large carnivores, cormorants) Illegal Killing of Birds: outcome of contract on “stocktaking” discussed with stakeholders, “roadmap” to be prepared for Ornis ctee, activities underway (EU-TWIX, training for judges, web-page) New Commission communication (see presentation by Liam Cashman on day 1)

Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (3) Guidance Already a lot existing (Art 6, Species protection, Hunting, reporting, marine designations, wind energy, ports & estuaries, extractive industries,…) Discussion finalised: soon to be issued: Natura 2000 & Inland water transport Natura 2000 & Climate Change Natura 2000 & Wilderness Natura 2000 & Aquaculture Work ongoing: Art 6 guidance doc update Natura 2000 and agriculture Forestry & Natura 2000 Revision of Bird Species Action Plans and Management Plans Cormorants: guidance on derogations to be published in 2012 Natura 2000 & Energy infrastructure Study on evaluating and improving permitting procedures related to Natura 2000 Key message of many: integrated planning key They need to be better used and applied

Q3 How can implementation, compliance and stakeholder involvement and public awareness be further improved? Is there still guidance missing?

Action 4: Reporting & monitoring Last 2 meetings of Habitats Committee (prepared by Reporting Group and support of EEA/ETC) finalised formats & guidelines for Art.17, Art.12 & SDF data-flows Technical implementation of tools to support MS (helpdesk, training, Reference Portals, etc…) Natura 2000: SDF software is ready for use, transition phase ends September 2012, essential to keep SDF databe up to date Work-plan : Art.17 MS deadline 30/6/2013; Art. 12 MS Deadline 31/12/2012, evaluation od data, peer review, consolidation in 2014, final report early 2015 Ongoing work towards integrated biodiversity monitoring and reporting mechanism (BISE) and more synergies with other env legislation (e.g. WFD, MSFD)  These provide major info on implementation of Biodiversity Strategy  Essential that MS have systems in place to provide good, timely and updated data!

Q4 Are the necessary systems in place in the MS to ensure full and timely delivery of the BD Art 12 and HD Art 17 reports and updated info on Natura 2000 in the SDFs? Target 1 linked to other targets of the BS