1. CGBN
Co-ordination Group
for Biodiversity and Nature
14th meeting – 21/03/13
Agenda item 2.1 Progress on Target 1 Developments since CGBN of 6th September 2012

2. Action 1: Completion of the Network (1) Site Designations
New Union Lists for all 9 Biogeographic Regions were adopted by Habitats Committee on 4 October 2012
Marine N2000 designations: 2012 milestone (Target1-Biod strategy), to be reviewed in 2013
Transition to new Standard Data Form (SDF):
Change reports and QA/QC under development
New EU-database to be published soon
SAC Barometer in preparation
SAC designation: information on state of progress received from most MS – PILOTs will be sent

3. Action 1: Completion of the Network (2) Management
Natura 2000 Seminars
Boreal Natura 2000 Seminar held in January 2012 in Hämeenlinna (Finland)
Follow-up meeting of the Boreal Seminar Steering Committee held in Tallin (Estonia) in November 2012
Atlantic Natura 2000 Seminar held in December 2012 in Bergen (The Netherlands)
Follow-up meeting of the Atlantic Seminar Steering Committee held in Brussels in February 2013

4. Action 1: Completion of the Network (2) Management
Natura 2000 Seminars - Continued
Preparatory Workshop for the Alpine Natura 2000 Seminar to be held June 2013 in Graz (Austria)
Alpine Seminar planned for November 2013 in Graz
1st meeting of the Steering Committee of the Mediterranean & Macaronesian (MED/MAC) Natura 2000 Seminar held in February 2013 (Lead MS still need to be designated!)
MED/MAC Preparatory Workshop planned for December 2013 or January 2014
MED/MAC Seminar planned for June 2014

5. Draft

6. Natura 2000 Seminars planning First round
BioGeo region
Preparatory workshop
Seminar
Boreal
25/26 Jan. 2012
28/29 May 2012
Atlantic
20/21 June 2012
3/5 Dec. 2012
Alpine
12/14 June 2013
25/26 Nov. 2013
Mediterranean / Macaronesian
December 2013 / January 2014
June 2014 (?)
Continental / Pannonian / Steppic / Black Sea
Autumn 2014
Spring 2015

7. Action 1: Completion of the Network (3) Management - continued
Expert Group on Natura 2000 management
8th meeting of the expert group: 27 November th meeting of the expert group: 22 March 2013
Main issues:
Final draft guidance on conservation measures in Natura 2000, draft short 'concept note' with key elements & commendations on conservation measures,
final draft guidance on farming in Natura 2000,
work on financing Natura 2000,
progress on SAC designation in MS,
New Biogeographical process.

8. Action 1: Completion of the Network (4) Management –marine issues
Synergies with MSFD:
FAQ doc. on "links between Birds/Hab Dir and MSFD" finalised, posted on Web
Marine expert group meeting held November (back-to-back with MSFD workshop) – MPA reporting also addressed
Fisheries issues:
"Common methodology for assessing fisheries impacts on marine Natura 2000 sites" finalised, posted on Web
Possible follow-up: sensitivity analysis (fishing gear vs. marine habitats) to support future fisheries measures
Commission monitoring/supporting MS efforts to introduce fisheries measures under the CFP (eg. Doggerbank)
EU action plan on reducing seabirds by-catch adopted
New Biogegraphical process: Marine habitats & species to be addressed across regions – Marine expert group main forum

9. Action 2: Financing of Natura 2000
Final Format and Note on PAFs sent to MS, deadline end 2012
Internal Discussion in Commission re. Strategic Frameworks and Partnership Contracts
Commission MFF proposals discussed in Council and EP
Dedicated workshop on LIFE-PAF projects to take place on 3 October in Brussels
New support contract to update Handbook on Financing Natura 2000, provide seminars in some MS and develop methodology for PAF-OP consistency evaluation

10. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (1)
Guidance docs
Inland waterway transport: Guidelines completed, posted on Web, translations and leaflet planned.
Aquaculture: Document finalised, posted on Web, translations and leaflet planned.
Guidance on Climate Change and Natura & Guidance on Wilderness and Natura – final drafts subject to internal COM consultations
Art 6 guidance doc update: Draft to be available by mid Based on Court rulings and taking into account work under N2000 man. group re. SAC designation, cons. objectives and management planning.
Guidance on Natura 2000 and farmland: 2nd workshop on 25 September rd meeting of the working group on 6 November Final draft guidance will be presented to expert group on N2000 management on 22/3/13 and Habitats Committee on 25/4/2013
Guidance on Forestry and Natura 2000: First workshop held on 13 December Second workshop planned for 23 May First meeting of working group planned for autumn 2013

11. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (2)
ORNIS committee on 5/10: Key items: Roadmap on Illegal Killing of Birds, Recovery Plans, marine SPA designations, CMS Raptor MoU, Revision of Bird Species Action Plans and Management Plans, Cormorants, EU action plan for Seabirds
Roadmap against illegal bird killing followed up. IMPEL project set up, contacts continued with EU-TWIX.
Commission working on follow-up to implementation Communication / 7th EAP
Energy infrastructure:
- Guidance on N2000 & electricity/gas/oil transmission facilities- draft to be sent to MS in April 2013, followed by ISC and adoption.
- Work ongoing to follow-up new TEN-E Regulation, to develop guidance on streamlining environment assessment procedures.

12. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (3) Public Awareness
20 years celebrations finalised: 5th Natura 2000 LIFE site live event (in Spain) and Europarc / Eurosite celebratory Conference successfully took place
Natura 2000 Newsletter N° 33 out
Economic Benefits of
Natura 2000 report out

13. Action 4: Reporting nature directives
Last meeting of Reporting Group: 20 March 2013: Focus now on the analysis of the next round ( )
MS reports expected by 30th June 2013 (Art.17) and 31st December 2013 (Art.12) – respect the deadlines!! Scoreboard in preparation!
Target 1: methodology on how to calculate progress close to finalisation
Conservation status & Natura 2000: EEA organised sub-group meeting in early March, good progress made
Target 2(restoration) & "nature pilot" was discussed
Streamlining with MSFD
Use of marine habitats and species data from nature directives for MSFD reporting agreed for this round
Reporting requirements on Marine Protected Areas under MSFD based on Natura 2000 db & CDDA