EU Birds and Habitats Directives
The Fitness Check
&
Natura 2000 and Forests
François Kremer
Nature Unit, DG Environment
UEF Round Table Meeting
Forestry House, Brussels, 23 March 2015
The Fitness Check
• Part of Commission REFIT programme
(Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme)
• A comprehensive policy evaluation to assess
whether EU nature legislation is “fit for purpose”
• Focus on Birds & Habitats Directive
• 25 Key questions to be addressed
• Effectiveness (Have the objectives been met?)
• Efficiency (Were the costs involved reasonable?)
• Coherence (Does the policy complement other actions or are
there contradictions?)
• Relevance (Is EU action still necessary?)
• EU added value (Can or could similar changes have been
achieved at national/regional level, or did EU action provide clear
added value?)
• Mandate published on web site of Commission:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/index_en.htm
The Natura 2000 network
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>27 000 sites
> 1 000 000 km²
18 % of EU land
21 % of EU forests
~4 % EU seas
Largest co-ordinated PA
network in the World
Percentage forest under Natura 2000
according to Member States (2012)
Are the Directives effective?
 «State of Nature in
the EU» report in
April 2015
 Based on MS
reporting (Art 17 HD
& 12 BD)
 EU analysis
underway
Are the Directives effective?
Conservation status of forest habitats 20072012
Are the Directives Efficient?
• Costs & benefits (monetary / nonmonetary) of compliance in MS/EU?
• Are availability and access to funding
a constraint or support?
• Significant cost differences between
MS and if so why?
• Likely costs of non-implementation?
• Unnecessary administrative burden?
• Is knowledge base sufficient to allow
for efficient implementation?
Are Directives Coherent with other EU
legislation and policies?
• Between Birds and Habitats Directives?
• EU environment law/policy (eg EIA/SEA)?
• EU sectoral policies (e.g. agriculture,
energy)
• Internal market / level playing field?
• EU Sectoral funds (Natura 2000 funding)?
• Other EU biodiversity objectives?
• International/global biodiversity
commitments?
• Overlaps, gaps and/or inconsistencies that
significantly hamper achievements of
objectives?
Are the Directives still relevant and what
is EU added value?
• Are key problems addressed by Directives?
• Are they adapted to technical scientific progress?
• How relevant are Directives to achieving
sustainable development?
• How relevant is EU nature legislation to EU citizens
& what is their level of support?
• What are citizens‘expectations for EU in nature
protection?
• What would be the likely situation in case of there
having been no EU nature legislation?
• Is EU action still required?
Milestones for the Fitness Check (1)
• February 2014: publication of the mandate for
the Fitness Check
• End October 2014: launch of a contract to
assist the Commission in the gathering and
assessment of relevant information and evidence
for the Fitness Check by a consortium, led by
MILIEU Legal and Policy Consultant in partnership
with the Institute of European Environment Policy
(IEEP), ICF International and ECOSYSTEMS Ltd.
Milestones for the Fitness Check (2)
• From January 2015: consultation on the draft
list of key documents that are relevant to the
Fitness Check.
• January 2015: start of a structured evidence
gathering consultation with all Member States
and key stakeholder groups
• April 2015: launch of a 12 week public internet
consultation.
Milestones for the Fitness Check (3)
• April 2015 publication of the 'State of Nature in
the EU' report
• June 2015: Green Week 2015, in Brussels
• Late September 2015: Conference on the
Fitness Check in Brussels, where draft results of
the evaluation will be shared and discussed
• Early 2016: publication of Commission report on
the results of the Fitness Check.
EU-level bodies consulted (forestry sector)
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Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF)
European Landowners Organisation (ELO)
EUSTAFOR, European State Forest Association
FECOF – European Federation of Municipal and Local
Community Forests
Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of
the EU (FACE)
USSE (Union of Forester Owners from Southern Europe)
Reindeer Herding
COPA COGECA
Natura 2000 and Forests
The 'new dialogue' and
guidance document
Picture: Peter Löffler
A 'new dialogue' on Natura 2000 and Forests
• to clarify the provisions of EU nature legislation in forests
• to address potential challenges and conflicts
• to improve mutual understanding and cooperation
between forestry and nature conservation communities
• to identify and promote synergies & best practice
• to answer frequently asked questions on forest
management in Natura 2000
• to promote the integration of Natura 2000 conservation
objectives into forest management
A new guide addressing…
• concerns raised by both forest owners and
managers, and nature conservationists, over the
management of forests in Natura 2000 sites
• false perceptions and ‘myths’ on legitimate
concerns on both sides, and
• benefitting from a frank discussion on the aims
of Natura 2000 and its implications for forest
owners and managers (Bottom-up approach)
Preparation of the guide
• Two workshops (13/12/2012 and 23/05/13)
• Four meetings of an ad-hoc working group
(14/10/13; 17/12/13; 11/03/14 and 26/06/14)
• Participation of > 50 experts from different
Member States and organisations
• Close cooperation between DG ENV and DG AGRI
The Guide's intent and target groups
• The guide is not be prescriptive in its intent,
but offers a useful source of information and
advice for a better understanding and
implementation of the provisions of the Habitats
and Birds Directives.
• It is addressed to the nature and forest
authorities, the site managers and the interested
civil society
The guide's content
• I. Overview of Natura 2000 in the context of
forests, incl. conservation status, EU Forest
Strategy, etc.
• II. Frequently asked questions about the
protection and the management of forests in
Natura 2000
• III. Case studies on managing forests in Natura
2000 across the EU
• Annexes: Glossary, references, etc;
Issues covered by FAQs
Site designation - Setting conservation objectives Implementing conservation measures - Ensuring
non-deterioration - Forest management
requirements - Financing conservation management
– Planning new activities - Monitoring Communication - Co-operation - Involvement of
stakeholders - Species and habitats protection
outside Natura 2000 sites
What next ?
• 28 April 2015: Presentation to the Expert Group
on the Birds and Habitats Directives (Habitats
Committee)
• Before summer 2015: Publication of the Guide
• After summer 2015: Translations available
• 1 October 2015: Meeting of the ad-hoc Working
Group: Presentation of the Guide and
continuation of the 'dialogue'
• Later on: Possibly revised /extended edition(s) of
the Guide (according to needs, t.b.c.)
Other publications
of interest
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2
000/financing/index_en.htm#guidancehandbook
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publ
ications/lifepublications/generalpublication
s/generalpub.htm
For more information, please consult:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm
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