1. GIS for Natura 2000 GIS for NATURA 2000 Stephen Peedell, Alessandro Annoni, Susan Christensen European Commission Directorate General Joint Research Centre Space Applications Institute Agriculture and Regional Information Systems Unit 21020 Ispra (VA), Italy http://www.aris.sai.jrc.it http://gi-gis.aris.sai.jrc.it 6th EC-GIS Workshop Lyon 28-30th June 2000 “GI Everywhere”

2. GIS for Natura 2000  What is Natura2000?  Project Objectives  Participants  Creation of a Spatial Database for Natura2000  A GIS Architecture for Natura2000  Future Activities - Example Applications Presentation Overview

3. GIS for Natura 2000 Natura2000 - European Nature Conservation Policy European network of nature conservation sites designated by Member States under the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive Managed by European Commission Directorate General Environment Specific funding under LIFE (1996-1999 309 Nature Conservation Projects, 200M Euro) 12-15000 Sites EU 15 12% of EU Territory Organised by Biogeographic Zones Site list under review until 2004 Enlargement - LIFE projects already underway in Romania http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm

4. GIS for Natura 2000 Project Objectives  Harmonise the existing Natura2000 data  Acquire additional data  Collect, model and document user requirements  Design and test an integrated spatial data model  Prototype, test and implement GIS applications

5. GIS for Natura 2000 The Biogeographic Zones

6. GIS for Natura 2000 Project Participants Directly involved: JRC - SAI DG Environment Eurostat-GISCO Supporting agencies: European Topic Centre on Nature Conservation (ETC-NC) and European Environment Agency (EEA)Users: DG Regional Policy DG Agriculture DG Transport Member States The Citizen

7. GIS for Natura 2000 Creation of a Spatial Database for Natura2000 Data Integration Data Validation Data Harmonisation Data Acquisition  Every site is mapped on paper  No legal status for digital data  No specifications for digital data Map Archive Natura2000 Database  Two distinct systems - a Map Archive & the Natura2000 Database

8. GIS for Natura 2000 Data Validation & Harmonisation  Quality & Data Integrity  Format  Spatial Reference System  Scale  Semantics  Language  Metadata Development of automated tools to create a validation database - GISVAL

9. GIS for Natura 2000 GISVAL An ArcView application Loads shapefiles of Natura2000 sites Checks integrity of the following with respect to information in the site database: Area Centroid x,y Relationship with administrative areas expressed as a percentage (from GISCO) Relationship with other Natura2000 sites Relationship with CORINE Biotopes & Biogeographic Regions (from GISCO) Mean, minimum and maximum elevations (from best available DEM)

10. GIS for Natura 2000 Data Acquisition Fundamental Datasets at 1:100,000 Scale : Gazeteer Digital Elevation Model Topography

11. GIS for Natura 2000 GIS Prototype Architecture Natura2000 Spatial Database Oracle 8i Natura2000 Spatial Database Oracle 8i Mirrored SunEnterprise450Cluster ArcSDE ArcIMS ArcINFO ArcView Custom Applications Custom Applications Internet

12. GIS for Natura 2000 Conclusions GIS for Natura2000 has, so far, focussed on fundamental database design & harmonisation issues The first phase of applications are mostly driven by administrative requirements There is a vast scope for the development of thematic applications, including indicators, modelling & visualisation Additional data at European level are required - the acquisition of which should be part of a coordinated EC approach Standardisation of approaches will derive maximum benefit from the many national & regional initiatives

13. GIS for Natura 2000 Example Applications & Datasets The following slides illustrate the diversity of GI which is available, in varying degrees, for some of the Natura2000 sites (and some of the areas not designated under Natura2000).

14. GIS for Natura 2000 Heath & scrub (25%) Evergreen woodland (15%) Non-forest areas cultivated with woody plants(10%) Inland rocks, Screes(50%) Milvus migrans (Black Kite) Falco peregrinus(Peregrine) Bubo bubo(Eagle Owl) Circaetus gallicus(Short-toed Eagle) Sylvia nisoria(Barred Warbler) Hunting Theft of & damage to flower species Recreational pressure Lago di Garda

15. GIS for Natura 2000 Regione Toscana

16. GIS for Natura 2000 CORINE Land Cover

17. GIS for Natura 2000 Satellite Imagery - MARS Archive