Draft v 8 October 2014
Third Annual Conference of the
European Learning Network on Regions and Biodiversity
Natura 2000 in action!
Regional cooperation for implementing the Natura 2000 network
Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, Barcelona, Spain
Wednesday 10 – Thursday 11 December 2014
Organized by:
In collaboration with:
With the support of:
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Draft v 8 October 2014
Introduction
This Conference links the European Learning Network for Regions and Biodiversity with the Natura
2000 Biogeographical Process. It aims to bring together key players at local and regional government
level and to showcase some of the best regional cooperation projects. The many practical examples
presented at the knowledge market and during the workshops should provide a good basis and
inspiration for the formulation of useful lessons learned and recommendations.
Local and regional authorities (LRAs) play a key role in the implementation of the Natura 2000
Network (and the Emerald Network in non-EU countries). In many cases they have the task and
responsibility of implementing the national and EU nature legislation and other policies that interact
with the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Berne Convention (such as water, agricultural,
transport policies). LRAs are strategically positioned between the international and national policy
making levels and the local and site implementation level. They often play a crucial role in the
coordination of planning, integrated management and specific site management initiatives in close
cooperation with other stakeholders such as site managers, Natura 2000 user groups (notably
forestry, agriculture, fisheries etc), other sectors whose activities interact with Natura 2000 (notably
industry, transport, housing and energy) and the general public.
Therefore the implementation of Natura 2000, and the regional challenges and opportunities it
provides, are of crucial interest to LRAs. In spite of regional differences in climate, landscape,
biodiversity, economy, culture and governance, many of the challenges LRAs face when
implementing the Natura 2000 and Emerald networks have similar solutions. There is therefore great
scope for regional cooperation and exchange of knowledge and best practice to address these
challenges. Indeed, numerous interregional projects (many of them funded through EU funds, such
as LIFE, INTERREG, IPA, ENPI, LEADER etc) have been successfully developed throughout Europe
addressing the different facets of Natura 2000 implementation, ranging from effective
communication and stakeholder engagement to “Natura 2000-based solutions” for wider problems
such as climate change adaptation and sustainable local livelihoods.
Policy context: Addressing the theme of Natura 2000 implementation at subnational level in Europe,
the conference aims to provide a significant contribution to the ongoing efforts of halting the loss of
biodiversity and increasing the sustainable use of natural resources. Therefore policy frameworks of
this conference are the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Aichi targets (especially targets 11,
14 and 17), the Berne Convention and its Emerald Network, and the EU Biodiversity 2020 Strategy (in
particular Target 1 and the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process to implement it).
Target audience: This conference is primarily targeted at regional level policy and decision makers,
and managers involved in the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Berne
Convention. As subnational governments do not work alone, we also warmly welcome sector
representatives and civil society organisations (conservation NGOs, PA managers), working closely
with subnational governments to achieve common goals in the implementation of the Birds and
Habitats Directives.
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Programme
Day 1 – Wednesday 10 December 2014
12:30 - 14:00
Registration desk and buffet lunch
14:00 – 16:00
OPENING SESSION: SETTING THE SCENE
Welcome addresses


Mr Rob Wolters, Executive Director, ECNC, Chair
Mr Joan Puigdollers i Fargas, Member of the Governing Council of the Province of Barcelona,
Deputy President for Protected Areas and Environment (to be confirmed)
Setting the scene: key note speeches


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Mr Stefan Leiner, Nature Unit, DG Environment, European Commission
Ms Kadri Tilleman, Member of the Committee of the Regions, Estonia
Ms Iva Obretonova, Council of Europe / Berne Convention Secretariat
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee
Setting the scene: key note speeches (continued)
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Limburg Province, The Netherlands (to be invited)
WWF: The Guidance Handbook for Financing NATURA 2000 in 2014-2020 (to be invited)
Ms Florence Clap, Programme manager "Biodiversity policy" IUCN France (invited)
Mr Ed Dammers, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PBL
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16:30 - 17:00
INTRODUCTION TO THE THEMES
Implementing the Natura 2000 in regional planning

Mr Miquel Rafa, or Xavier Escuté, Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera
Promoting the multiple benefits of Natura 2000 in the region

Ms Sophie Bourlon, Parc naturel régional du Luberon
Innovative funding for Natura 2000

Mr Henk-Jan Kievit, Natuurmonumenten, Enterprise and Business Development (The
Netherlands)
Building partnerships for effective Natura 2000 management

Ms Savita Custead, BI, Bristol Natural History Consortium, UK
18:30 – 21:00
KNOWLEDGE MARKET AND BUFFET RECEPTION
18:30 – 18:40 Short opening speech

Mr Neil McIntosh, Deputy Executive Director ECNC
18:40 – 18:45 Natura 2000 song and/or a local music ensemble
The knowledge market combined with a buffet dinner (preferably with local and regional products
linked to Natura 2000) will allow the participants to inform themeselves of projects and to network.
A list of suggested projects / organisations to invite is included as an annex. They can participate by
presenting a poster, a roll up banner, publications, a laptop presentation etc. The regions presented
in the video message will also be represented.
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Day 2 – Thursday 11 December 2014
09:00 – 09:15


OPENING SESSION DAY 2
Mr Rob Wolters, ECNC , Chair
Barcelona Provincial Government (speaker to be confirmed)
09:15 – 09:30 Short film projections
Natura 2000: Quand Biodversité rime avec demarche partagée
Winner Grand Prix Natura 2000
Introduced by Thomas Biéro, DREAL de Basse-Normandie, France (subject to
confirmation)
URBES film: Barcelona – embracing the vision of a greener future (IUCN)
introduced by IUCN)
09:30 – 11:00
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS, part 1
To discuss the themes introduced on Day 1
Implementing Natura 2000 in regional planning
Chair: Mr Miquel Rafa, or Xavier Escuté, Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, Spain
Case study presentations

Approving planning requests in Natura 2000 sites, Greece
Ms Christina Kontaxi, Department of Environment and Spatial Planning, Region of Central
Macedonia, Greece

The Humber port development and Natura 2000, United Kingdom
Mr Bernie Fleming, Fleming Ecology

TIB-Trans Insubria Bionet. Habitat connection and improvement along the Insubria
ecological corridor between the Alps and the Ticino valley
Ms Sara Barbieri, Varese Province, Italy
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Promoting the multiple benefits of Natura 2000 in the region
Chair: Ms Sophie Bourlon, Parc naturel régional du Luberon, France
Case study presentations

Muntanya d’Alinyà , Spain
Mr Xavier Escuté, Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera

BurrenLIFE Project “Farming for Conservation in the Burren”, Ireland
LIFE Nature Award Winner 2011
Mr Brendan Dunford
Innovative funding for Natura 2000
Chair: Mr Henk-Jan Kievit, Natuurmonumenten, Enterprise and Business Development, The
Netherlands
Case study presentations

Fish farming at Veta La Palma, Spain
Mr Miguel Medialdea, Veta La Palma

The LIFE+ 3WATER Project: a model for sustainable cooperation, Belgium
Winner of a Natura 2000 Award
(Speaker to be confirmed)
Building partnerships for effective Natura 2000 management
Chair: Ms Savita Custead, BI, Bristol Natural History Consortium, UK
Case study presentations


Converging partnership approaches for the management of the Plaine du Forez, France
Winner Grand prix Natura 2000
Mr David Marailhac, Conseil général de la Loire
Sighișoara-Târnava Mare: Farmers hold the key to conservation, Romania
Winner of the Natura 2000 Award 2014
Mr Nat Page, ADEPT Foundation
11:00 - 11:30: Coffee break (at the Knowledge Market)
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11:30 – 13:00
PARALLEL BREAKOUT SESSIONS, part 2
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch (at the Knowledge Market)
14:30 – 16:00
THE WAY FORWARD
Reports of the workshops
The results of each workshop will be reported in plenary (10 to 15 minutes each, depending on the
number of workshops). Followed by a questions and answers.
Panel discussion
To discuss “Regional cooperation for implementing the Natura 2000 network: the way forward”
Mr Neil McIntosh, Moderator
Pannelists:
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Ms Kadri Tilleman, Member of the Committee of the Regions, Chair of Keila Rural
Municipality Council, Estonia. Member of Natura 2000 Awards Jury
Ms Florence Clap, Chargée de programme "Politiques de la biodiversité" IUCN France (to be
invited)
Mr Stefan Leiner DG ENV

Red Gobiernos Locales y Biodiversidad (invited)
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