1. The New Biogeographic Process General info – December 2011
Natura 2000 seminars
General info – December 2011
François Kremer

2. What? A new process at the biogeographical level
to exchange and analyse information on measures necessary to achieving favourable conservation status of species and habitats of Community interest,
with special attention to the management and coherence of the Natura 2000network
involving Member States, key user groups, NGOs and independent experts

3. What not?
A process similar to the former biogeographical seminars assessing the sufficiency of Member States proposals of sites of Community importance
A ‘name and shame’ exercise

4. Why?
Need to achieve the 2020 and 2050 EU biodiversity target and vision
Need to achieve (conserve or where necessary restore) favourable conservation status (FCS) of species and habitats of Community interest and to improve status of bird species
Need to enhance cooperation & synergies in the management of Natura 2000, promote the EU added value of Natura 2000, including cross-border issues

5. Why ?
Need to promote coherence of the Natura 2000 network by ensuring coherence in management, monitoring, financing of and reporting on the network
Need to evaluate the actual contribution of the Natura 2000 to achieving the objectives of the Nature directives

6. How?
Identifying the most pressing conservation and restoration needs and agreeing on common priorities
Improving information flows and exchanges on conservation measures in place across the network, the results being achieved and eventually, any possible need for adapting conservation objectives or measures
Creating a feedback loop between conservation measures and conservation status at the biogeographical level
Permanent mechanism for the exchange of information and cooperation involving expert networks and other actors of Natura 2000 (facilitated by Communication platform)

7. How?
Enhancing exchange of information and cooperation on Natura 2000 management and conservation measures
Identifying good practice in management/restoration and monitoring
Recommending adaptation of conservation objectives and measures to changing conditions; including climate change
Contributing to the implementation and the updating of the future prioritised action framework of measures involving Community co-financing

8. What would it entail in practice? (1)
Regular Natura 2000 seminars chaired by the European Commission, hosted and facilitated by ‘Lead Member States’
Preparatory workshops
A first round of seminars including one seminar for each biogeographical regions to be organised between 2011 and 2015 (linked to Article 17 reporting round of 2007)
A second round of seminars to be organised between 2015 and 2020 (linked to the Article 17 reporting round of 2013)
An internet-based Communication Platform facilitating the exchange of information and experience on the management of Natura 2000

9. What would it entail in practice? (2)
Preparation of the seminars by the Commission (with the help of a contractor), the lead Member State(s), the EEA-ETC/BD, with input from all Member States and other actors involved
One preparatory workshop to be held for each seminar about six month before the seminar with the active participation and involvement of all actors
First drafts of seminar documents to be discussed at the preparatory workshops
Second drafts of seminar documents incl. Seminar Conclusions & Recommendations to be discussed and endorsed at the seminars.

10. A Communication Platform for the Natura 2000 seminars
An internet-based instrument for communicating and exchanging information on conservation objectives and measures and their follow-up between all actors involved in the process, also during the period between the seminars.
It will also allow for informing the public on the work and results of the Seminars
It will be established using as a model the communication platform on Natura 2000 which was prepared in 2008 under a preparatory action (see: )

11. Tentative Calendar - First round
Seminar
Preparatory workshop
Boreal
January 2012
May / June 2012
Atlantic
June 2012
Late 2012
Alpine(?)
Spring 2013
Pannonian /Steppic/Black Sea (?)
Late 2013
Continental (?)
Spring 2014
Mediterranean / Macaronesian(?)
Late 2014
Note: Dates for Alpine, Pannonian, Steppic, Black Sea, Mediterranean & Macaronesian are tentative and may still change, as well as the proposed combination of regions

12. Meetings of the Steering Group of the Pilot Natura 2000 Seminar for the Boreal region
4 meetings of the Boreal seminar steering Committee so far:
Helsinki 4 May 2011
Copenhagen 16 June 2011
Helsinki 21 September 2011
Brussels 22 November 2011 in Brussels
Members of the Steering Committee: 5 Boreal Member States involved, Commission, EEA, ETC/BD

13. Pre-scoping document by EEA – ETC/BD
Background & summary biogeographical context
“Audit trail” how data has been used to select habitat types and species for discussion
Information sheets with Art 17 statistics for the selected 18 habitat types & associated species

14. 18 Habitat types selected by the Steering Committee for the Pilot Boreal Natura 2000 Seminar

15. Draft pre-scoping document
The latest version of the draft pre-scoping document prepared by the EEA-ETC/BD can be consulted on the public Natura 2000 CIRCA site:

16. Identification of species linked to selected habitat types (EEA – ETC/BD)
Starting point: 18 habitat types selected by the Steering group
Species considered: Annex II and IV species HD and breeding birds of Annex I BD
Expert judgment to identify species clearly linked to the selected habitat types & Birds in Europe 2004
Species are grouped:
a) species occurring/breeding in 3-5 MS
b) species occurring/breeding in 1-2 MS

17. proposed to be linked to habitat types
Annex II/IV &
Annex I birds
proposed to be linked to habitat types
Table continues…

19. Draft content of the WS document on selected habitat types
General information
Grasslands
Wetlands
Forests
Coastal habitats
Freshwater habitats
Summary
Additional information
2.1 Habitat type 6210
2.1.1 Description
2.1.2 Associated species
2.1.3 Main pressures and threats
2.1.4 Main conservation requirements
2.1.5 Conservation targets
2.1.6 Management measures
2.1.7 Main constraints and actual needs
2.1.8 Recommendations
2.1 Habitat type 6270 ……

20. Communication
The Communication platform will not be available for the pilot Boreal seminar, but should be operational for the second seminar (Atlantic – end of 2012 ?)
In the meanwhile, the Public Natura 2000 CIRCA site will be used for the preparatory workshop and seminar:
A restricted CIRCABC site has also been established for Steering Committee Members only

21. The preparatory workshop (Boreal)
Scheduled for 25 & 26 January 2012 in Helsinki.
Organised in separate working sessions, one for each large group of habitat types with lead countries chairing sessions
Hosted by Finland as the lead country for the pilot Boreal seminar
The lead countries for the different selected habitat type clusters will play a key role in the preparation of the workshop. They will actively contribute to the respective chapters of the WS Document and chair the respective working sessions.

22. Further planning Pilot Boreal seminar
The draft Workshop document will be available on 10 January 2012
Preparatory Workshop: Helsinki, 25 & 26 January 2012 Maximum 80 participants - on invitation only
Pilot Seminar: In Finland, week n° 22 or 23, 2012