1. DG Environment SADL/K.U.Leuven R&D
GIS for NATURA 2000
DG Environment
SADL/K.U.Leuven R&D

2. GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information
Using the information system
Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data
How GIS can help to answer complaints

3. The NATURA 2000 network Conservation policy Degradation of
natural habitats
Decrease of
biodiversity
Conservation
policy

4. Sustainable development
The NATURA 2000 network
5th Action Program on
Environment and
Sustainable development
Based on two directives:

5. (Special Protection Areas)
The NATURA 2000 network
78/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds
resulting in
SPA
(Special Protection Areas)

6. (Sites of Community importance) (Special Areas of Conservation)
The NATURA 2000 network
2. 92/43/EEC and 97/62/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
resulting in
SCI
(Sites of Community importance)
Approved by the Commission
SAC
(Special Areas of Conservation)

7. → 10% - 15% of the area of the EU
NATURA 2000 network
NATURA 2000 network
→ sites
→ 10% - 15% of the area of the EU

8. Sites influenced by other activities

9. assessment and simulation
NATURA 2000 network
Need for ex-ante
assessment and simulation
of impact
Therefore, there is
a need for spatial
information in a GIS

10. GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information
Using the information system
Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data
How GIS helps to answer complaints

11. Delineation of Natura 2000 sites Sweden
SPATIAL DATA
Delineation of Natura 2000 sites Sweden
Polygon features
Line features

12. DESCRIPTIVE DATA

13. Origin of spatial data :
digitizing topographical maps

14. Different types of attribute information : Hartberger-Gmoos (Austria)
Activities
Agricultural structures
Landfill, land reclamation and drying out
Professional fishing
Modification of cultivation practices
Continuous urbanisation
Area = 67 ha
Species
Falco Subbuteo
Rhinolophus Hipposideros
Lycaena Dispar
Bombina Variegata

15. Information / data flow
MS (N+1)
ETC/NPB
(N-1)
EC (N)
Internet/
Intranet
N-2

16. Validation of the data Result by 10/03: 18.700 maps catalogued
Data Catalogues
Quality Control: fitness for use
Reporting to Member States (R1)
Validation of Sites: GISVal
Reporting to the Member States (R2)
Solving remaining problems with MS (if needed mission)
Final list basis for publication (R3)
Result by 10/03:
maps catalogued
sites validated
sites are correct

17. GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information
Using the information system
Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data
How GIS helps to answer complaints

18. “Where do we find species
Query the database
“Where do we find species
‘Ovis musimon’ ?”

19. Ovis musimon ?

20. Ovis musimon ?

21. Query the database
“Is there a spatial
pattern for the area
of the sites ?”

26. “What is the distribution
Query the database
“What is the distribution
of the habitat types
in Austria ?”

28. Query the database
“What is the effect
of activities in the
NATURA 2000 sites ?”

30. Application for the Desk officers to use the data in their daily work

31. An Intranet system will guide the novice user

32. GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information
Using the information system
Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data
How GIS helps to answer complaints

33. Integration with other data
GISCO-EUROSTAT data:
Administrative data,
CORINE Landcover,
Roads and railways,
Hydrology, etc.
Detailed LIFE data:
Information within a site on soil,
Information on vegetation,
Air photographs, etc.

34. Bardenas Reales : a Natura 2000 site in Spain

35. Bardenas Reales : integration with GISCO data

36. Different types of Land cover in Bardena Reales

37. Integration with other data : another example

38. GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information
Using the information system
Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data
How GIS helps to answer complaints or carry out assessments

39. Assessment of the new TEN projects

40. GIS and Complaints handling
DG Environment receives every year 800 questions and complaints from indivi-duals or organizations with respect to NATURA 2000 sites
Let us have a look at the example of the planning of a new road, the A20 in Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany, beginning of ‘90

41. A20 case Germany
A complaint arrives at the Commission stating that the planned road will have a negative impact on at least 7 NATURA 2000 sites
On the other hand, it is clear that the proposed construction of the new road, as a part of the Trans European Network, is highly necessary for the social and economic development of the region.
In a first step, the Commission tries
to understand the problem.
Therefore, the Commission uses the information on the NATURA 2000 sites together with information from EUROSTAT.

42. A20 Case Germany The unemployment rate of the region is very high.
(NewCronos, 1995)
Hamburg
Berlin

43. A20 Case Germany
The GDP (gross domestic product) of the region is far below the average of the country.
(NewCronos, 1995)
Hamburg
The region was declared as Objective 1 area, where infrastructure has to be improved to ameliorate living conditions.
Berlin

44. A20 Case Germany
Overlay CORINE Landcover and NATURA 2000 sites in Mecklenburg Vorpommern
© map source: GISCO database, NATURA site proposals Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

45. A20 Case Germany SCI Peenetal
© map source: GISCO database, NATURA site proposals Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

46. A20 Case Germany Orange line: originally planned route
SCI Peenetal
Orange line: originally planned route
Blue lines: alternative routes
© map source: GISCO database, Natura 2000 site proposals Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

47. A20 Case Germany
In a second step, the Commission will answer the complaint.
Therefore, the Commission collaborates with the Member State to obtain more detailed information on the economical, ecological and other aspects of the case. In depth studies are carried out.

48. A20 Case Germany SCI Peenetal Case study: A 20
The SCI Peenetal is one of last valley bog landscapes in Central Europe, which is not affected by human destruction.
It contains an extraordinary rich vegetation and birdlife inventory.
SCI Peenetal

49. A20 Case Germany Project line variations
In order to compare various alternatives, probable routes (in orange and purple) were superimposed on a topographic map
SCI Peenetal
© map: DEGES (1993)

50. A20 Case Germany Landscape parameters
SCI Peenetal
Landscape parameters
In order to assess the possible effects on landscape quality, a study was made to identify areas not touched by infrastruc-tural effects (light green areas), and the possible route variations (in yellow) were overlayed (brown: existing infrastructure, dark green: Peene valley)
© map: DEGES 1995, scale originally 1:10 000

51. A20 Case Germany Orthophoto overlay
SCI Peenetal
Orthophoto overlay
Two route variations (red and yellow) were compared on an orthophoto to visualise the effects (brown area in the image centre: Peene valley)
© image: Smeets + Damaschek 1995

52. A20 Case Germany Visual simulation on big scale
Computer simulation for the visual appearance of the planned valley crossing
SCI Peenetal
© image: Smeets + Damaschek 1995

53. A20 Case Germany Compensation concepts
After Art.6 of the habitats directive / art. 8 German Nature legislation a concept for compensating the damages caused by the construction of the valley crossing has to be elaborated.
Here, some measures are proposed : extensivation of agricultural parcels, deconstruction of dykes, rehumidification, …
SCI Peenetal
© maps: Smeets + Damaschek 1995

54. Thank you You can find more information about Natura 2000 network in: