1. The new biogeographical process An initial evaluation
François Kremer (ENV.B.3)
Habitats Committee Meeting
Brussels, 4th October 2012

2. Things to remember… Natura 2000:
Is more than a network of protected areas !
It is also a network of
people and sectors working together,
experts exchanging knowledge,
practitioners sharing experience and best practice.

3. The state of play so far
Seminar cycles have been launched for the Boreal, the Atlantic and the Alpine biogeographical regions
There has been active input and support from the Member States involved, in particular from the respective lead countries Finland, the Netherlands and Austria
One pilot seminar and two preparatory workshops have been successfully organised

4. Elements of initial evaluation (1)
The process has been successfully launched for three biogeographical regions
The involvement of and support by Member States and stakeholder organisations (incl. NGOs) was strong (and on a voluntary basis)
The contribution from ETC/BD was very important and highly appreciated
There was a clear interest from experts for more networking and cooperation

5. Elements of initial evaluation (2)
Working with habitat clusters and dedicated working groups chaired by lead countries was effctive
Input and assistance from the contractor was effective and much appreciated
Time for preparing the seminars was probably too short (also because the process is new and networking is only starting)
The background document was sometimes felt as being too heavy and should maybe be replaced by a database structure

6. Elements of initial evaluation (3)
The communication platform still needs to be established and become operational as a key instrument for communication, networking and cooperation
The Boreal Workshop and Seminar, as well as the Atlantic Workshop were very well organized by the lead countries, field trips were very useful and the hospitality of the lead countries was exemplary
The process illustrated a huge potential for further developing cooperation and networking on conservation management in Natura 2000

7. Some issues to be considered for the way ahead (1)
Member States' and stakeholder engagement
Availability of resources
Prioritization / Focusing the scope of process
Focusing on evidence from management experience, rather than on policy recomendations
Identifying research neeeds, rather than trying to solve them

8. Some issues to be considered for the way ahead (2)
Cooperation & networking on species action plans
Sharing experience on conservation status assessment
Assuring continuity of cooperation and networking also between the events (role of node persons/organisations)
Engaging existing networks (LIFE, Interreg, specialist networks, etc.)

9. Some issues to be considered for the way ahead (2)
A new biogeographical process also for the marine areas?
Planning of the seminar cyles for the remaining biogeographical regions
Structure and use of the Communication Platform (e.g. Portal based, partly decentralized approach)

10. Comments made by the CGBN Meeting of 6 September 2012
CGBN members
welcomed the process and the reviewed planning for its continuation
stressed its voluntary character and the great benefit from sharing experience
Underlined the importance of maintaining the continuity of the process with its activities also between the workshops and seminars

11. Comments made by the CGBN (2) Meeting of 6 September 2012
CGBN members
count on assistance from the Commission for future networking activities
stressed the need to more actively involve multiple actors
wanted more time at the seminars to focus on proposed solutions, rather than on identifying problems
recommended that repetitions between workshop and seminar should be avoided

12. Comments made by the CGBN (3) Meeting of 6 September 2012
CGBN members
were concerned as regard to limited resources at the EEA and the ETC/BD, some Member states and stakeholders
Wanted processes such as the Article 17 reporting cycles to be linked into the new biogeographical process wherever possible
Wanted the process to remain practical with 'the feet on the ground' and remain focused on providing evidence based recommendations from the practical level.
agreed to focus on habitat types and less on species and that therefore this approach should probably be maintained

13. Comments from the CGBN (4) Meeting of 6 September 2012
CGBN members
Were of the opinion that the approach to focus on habitat types and less on species should probably be maintained
Called for a seminar cycle on the Marine
Generally agreed on the usefulness of the process to improve the management of Natura 2000 and so to contribute to achieving targets 1 & 2 of the biodiversity strategy.

14. New planning

15. Recent/upcoming Steering Committee meetings
Meeting of the Atlantic Steering Committee: 2 October 2012
Meeting of the Alpine Steering Committee: 3 October 2012
Meeting of the Boreal Steering Committee: 13 November 2012, Tallinn
First meeting of the Mediterranean Steering Committee: January/early February 2013

16. The Alpine biogeographical region

17. Selected 20 habitat types & associated species
(proposed by ETC)
Freshwater

18. Grasslands:
Forests:
Sparsely vegetated land (rocks):

19. Wetlands:

20. Last minute changes to the list of selected habitat types Alpine Steering Committee meeting of 3 October 2012
Remove HT 7220 from the list (Petrifying springs)
Remove HT 8340 from the list (Permanent glaciers)
Add HT 9410 to the list (Acidophilous Picea forests…)
Add HT 9130 (Asperulo-Fagetum Beech forests) to the list (this HT will be dealt with as an example also for other mountain beech HTs, including 9110 and 9150)
Add HT 9260 (Castanea sativa woods) to the list
Add HT 9170 (Galio-Carpinetum oak-Hornbeam forts) to the list

21. Thank you