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

2. Strategic objectives of the Process
To ensure progress towards the EU 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

3. 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'.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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).

10. 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.

11. 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