1. Biodiversity conservation in & by Natura 2000 network
Protection through active management:
`So lovely in theory, so lonely in practice`
Marian Dragoi – University of Suceava

2. Presentation goals:
To show how protected areas have changed the tenets of traditional multifunctional forest management
To present the new challenges posed to the forest management planning by Natura 2000
Training for trainers in Natura 2000 – what type of education are we providing?

3. New framework on environmental protection
Triggering event: Rio Summit with the two famous Framework Conventions:
Biodiversity
Climate change
Consequences after almost 3 decades
Stronger regulations on biodiversity conservation at international level (IUCN)
Natura 2000 in Europe
No effective reaction on reducing the gross emissions of GHGs
Stronger and stronger regulations and institutional settings

4. Traditional Romanian forestry shadowed by….
Holistic approaches on biodiversity conservation (like Natura 2000 network)
New accountability rules for land use change (Kyoto and Paris protocols)
International agreements adopted by national legislative bodies:
Some agreements still taken for granted and do not have any effect (EUTR)
Some endorsed by new laws, sometimes tougher than the international agreement (e.g. Natura 2000, in Romania)
Forest functional zoning system overcome by the new legislation on biodiversity and Millennium Ecosystem Services approach

5. Why Natura 2000 network? Environment Economy Society Society
European habitats are heavily fragmented by dense infrastructure
In case of climate change, impossible migration
A new approach on Nature conservation
Economy
Society
Environment

6. Notable differences between traditional forest planning and Natura 2000 planning system
Biodiversity conservation overrides tenets of economic efficiency
Subsidies (payments for ecosystem services) for additional ecosystem services provided
Long time windows for preparing and approving Natura 2000 management plans (almost 12 years)
All forest management plans shall be updated according to Natura 2000 provisions
Tough constraints regarding the allowable cut and cutting budget 
Forest management plans altered by Natura 2000 provisions
Frustration, but not compensation for private forest owners 
Favorable status of conservation for protected species and habitats

7. 31% of Romanian forests are in Natura 2000

8. Types of Natura 2000 protected zones
Based on a different philosophy:
nature and mankind instead of nature or mankind
SCI zones – setup according to Habitats Directive (92/43)
SPA zones – setup according to Birds Directive (79/409)
Most of SCI and SPA +/- overlap
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9. Pareto graph on forest ownership

10. Land restitution process triggered a long series of litigations state vs private owners

11. What shall we teach and to whom?
Environmentally friendly logging operations to logging companies ????
More than 4000 companies at national level = too much competition on wood market
Basic knowledge about the ethology of most sought-after insects and birds
Difference between different silvicultural system – make it plain and simple

12. What can we do in years to come
Welfare vs biodiversity or welfare and biodiversity ?
Multifunctional forest management has taken over a technical tradeoff from the communist legislation – so-called conservation works/fellings – get rid of them!
National Agency of Protected Areas – a new structure occurred lately
Effective payments for ecosystem services in place
Effective biodiversity surveillance