Development of a process for setting Conservation Objectives Dr Rebecca Jeffrey Science and Biodiversity Section National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland

Natura 2000 in Ireland

ECJ Case C-418/04 -driver for setting site-specific conservation objectives ……..regarding the aquaculture programmes...….Ireland has systematically failed to carry out a proper assessment of those projects situated in SPAs or likely to have effects on SPAs, contrary to Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive. In that context, it emphasises the importance of a prior assessment for the purpose of weighing the implications of a project with the conservation objectives fixed for the SPA concerned …..the competent national authorities are to authorise an activity on the protected site only if they have made certain that it will not adversely affect the integrity of that site. That is the case where no reasonable scientific doubt remains as to the absence of such effects

Conservation Objectives Conservation objectives aim to define favourable condition/status using suitable attributes with targets to in line with FCS parameters: Area Range Structure and functions Population Habitat for the species Maintenance at/restoration to favourable condition at a site-level is essential to achieve the above Overall aim is to maintain/restore Favourable Conservation Status at a national and biogeographic level At a site level can be used as a basis for monitoring and reporting as well as for carrying out appropriate assessments and developing management plans Setting national conservation objectives is complementary to the Article 17 reporting process

Conservation Objective System Worst case scenario: Mixture of word documents and spreadsheets Lack of consistency Conflicting targets Poorly managed spatial data No version control

Conservation Objective System MS Access database facilitates: Easy input and update Standard approach for all habitats and species for all sites Consistent report production Supporting documents produced where necessary Version control Potential integration into wider data management framework

Design system for assembling and managing conservation objectives data in conjunction with other staff Produce generic objectives for all Natura 2000 sites Consider and set attributes, measures, targets with relevant NPWS staff Ensure consistency Avoid conflicts Manage spatial data Produce consolidated reports Manage version control Publish reports Conservation Planning Role

Site-specific Conservation Objective Process Quality control Spatial data prepared Consolidated spreadsheet imported into database Report generated Maps added Draft checked Edits made Report published Site code QI code ObjectiveParameterAttributeMeasureTargetNotes Expert completes MS Excel spreadsheet and supporting document if necessary

Site-specific Conservation Objective Output

Site-specific Conservation Objective Supporting Document- SPA

Site-specific data (lack of) Condition and trend data Data collected fit for purpose? timescales? Dynamic nature of systems- quantifying natural change Challenges of defining significance, thresholds, integrity……. Ongoing challenges with setting site-specific conservation objectives

National Conservation Objectives Prepared for national resource of Annex I habitats and Annex II species Complementary to Article 17 reporting process Similar attributes to site-specific objectives Include table of activities that have negative impacts on habitat/species

National Conservation Objectives

Published site-specific and national conservation objectives are available for download from