DG Environment SADL/K.U.Leuven R&D GIS for NATURA 2000 DG Environment SADL/K.U.Leuven R&D

GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information Using the information system Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data How GIS can help to answer complaints

The NATURA 2000 network Conservation policy Degradation of natural habitats Decrease of biodiversity Conservation policy

Sustainable development The NATURA 2000 network 5th Action Program on Environment and Sustainable development Based on two directives:

(Special Protection Areas) The NATURA 2000 network 78/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds resulting in SPA (Special Protection Areas)

(Sites of Community importance) (Special Areas of Conservation) The NATURA 2000 network 2. 92/43/EEC and 97/62/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora resulting in SCI (Sites of Community importance) Approved by the Commission SAC (Special Areas of Conservation)

→ 10% - 15% of the area of the EU NATURA 2000 network NATURA 2000 network → 12.000 -15.000 sites → 10% - 15% of the area of the EU

Sites influenced by other activities

assessment and simulation NATURA 2000 network Need for ex-ante assessment and simulation of impact Therefore, there is a need for spatial information in a GIS

GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information Using the information system Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data How GIS helps to answer complaints

Delineation of Natura 2000 sites Sweden SPATIAL DATA Delineation of Natura 2000 sites Sweden Polygon features Line features

DESCRIPTIVE DATA

Origin of spatial data : digitizing topographical maps

Different types of attribute information : Hartberger-Gmoos (Austria) Activities Agricultural structures Landfill, land reclamation and drying out Professional fishing Modification of cultivation practices Continuous urbanisation Area = 67 ha Species Falco Subbuteo Rhinolophus Hipposideros Lycaena Dispar Bombina Variegata

Information / data flow MS (N+1) ETC/NPB (N-1) EC (N) Internet/ Intranet N-2

Validation of the data Result by 10/03: 18.700 maps catalogued Data Catalogues Quality Control: fitness for use Reporting to Member States (R1) Validation of Sites: GISVal Reporting to the Member States (R2) Solving remaining problems with MS (if needed mission) Final list basis for publication (R3) Result by 10/03: 18.700 maps catalogued 12.603 sites validated 10.591 sites are correct

GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information Using the information system Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data How GIS helps to answer complaints

“Where do we find species Query the database “Where do we find species ‘Ovis musimon’ ?”

Ovis musimon ?

Ovis musimon ?

Query the database “Is there a spatial pattern for the area of the sites ?”

“What is the distribution Query the database “What is the distribution of the habitat types in Austria ?”

Query the database “What is the effect of activities in the NATURA 2000 sites ?”

Application for the Desk officers to use the data in their daily work

An Intranet system will guide the novice user

GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information Using the information system Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data How GIS helps to answer complaints

Integration with other data GISCO-EUROSTAT data: Administrative data, CORINE Landcover, Roads and railways, Hydrology, etc. Detailed LIFE data: Information within a site on soil, Information on vegetation, Air photographs, etc.

Bardenas Reales : a Natura 2000 site in Spain

Bardenas Reales : integration with GISCO data

Different types of Land cover in Bardena Reales

Integration with other data : another example

GIS for NATURA 2000 The NATURA 2000 network Available information Using the information system Integrating NATURA 2000 with other data How GIS helps to answer complaints or carry out assessments

Assessment of the new TEN projects

GIS and Complaints handling DG Environment receives every year 800 questions and complaints from indivi-duals or organizations with respect to NATURA 2000 sites Let us have a look at the example of the planning of a new road, the A20 in Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany, beginning of ‘90

A20 case Germany A complaint arrives at the Commission stating that the planned road will have a negative impact on at least 7 NATURA 2000 sites On the other hand, it is clear that the proposed construction of the new road, as a part of the Trans European Network, is highly necessary for the social and economic development of the region. In a first step, the Commission tries to understand the problem. Therefore, the Commission uses the information on the NATURA 2000 sites together with information from EUROSTAT.

A20 Case Germany The unemployment rate of the region is very high. (NewCronos, 1995) Hamburg Berlin

A20 Case Germany The GDP (gross domestic product) of the region is far below the average of the country. (NewCronos, 1995) Hamburg The region was declared as Objective 1 area, where infrastructure has to be improved to ameliorate living conditions. Berlin

A20 Case Germany Overlay CORINE Landcover and NATURA 2000 sites in Mecklenburg Vorpommern © map source: GISCO database, NATURA 2000 site proposals Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

A20 Case Germany SCI Peenetal © map source: GISCO database, NATURA 2000 site proposals Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

A20 Case Germany Orange line: originally planned route SCI Peenetal Orange line: originally planned route Blue lines: alternative routes © map source: GISCO database, Natura 2000 site proposals Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

A20 Case Germany In a second step, the Commission will answer the complaint. Therefore, the Commission collaborates with the Member State to obtain more detailed information on the economical, ecological and other aspects of the case. In depth studies are carried out.

A20 Case Germany SCI Peenetal Case study: A 20 The SCI Peenetal is one of last valley bog landscapes in Central Europe, which is not affected by human destruction. It contains an extraordinary rich vegetation and birdlife inventory. SCI Peenetal

A20 Case Germany Project line variations In order to compare various alternatives, probable routes (in orange and purple) were superimposed on a topographic map SCI Peenetal © map: DEGES (1993)

A20 Case Germany Landscape parameters SCI Peenetal Landscape parameters In order to assess the possible effects on landscape quality, a study was made to identify areas not touched by infrastruc-tural effects (light green areas), and the possible route variations (in yellow) were overlayed (brown: existing infrastructure, dark green: Peene valley) © map: DEGES 1995, scale originally 1:10 000

A20 Case Germany Orthophoto overlay SCI Peenetal Orthophoto overlay Two route variations (red and yellow) were compared on an orthophoto to visualise the effects (brown area in the image centre: Peene valley) © image: Smeets + Damaschek 1995

A20 Case Germany Visual simulation on big scale Computer simulation for the visual appearance of the planned valley crossing SCI Peenetal © image: Smeets + Damaschek 1995

A20 Case Germany Compensation concepts After Art.6 of the habitats directive / art. 8 German Nature legislation a concept for compensating the damages caused by the construction of the valley crossing has to be elaborated. Here, some measures are proposed : extensivation of agricultural parcels, deconstruction of dykes, rehumidification, … SCI Peenetal © maps: Smeets + Damaschek 1995

Thank you You can find more information about Natura 2000 network in: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm