1. Agenda item 2.2 Progress on Target 1 Developments since CGBN of March 2012 CGBN Co-ordination Group for Biodiversity and Nature 13 th meeting – 06/09/12

2. Action 1: Completion of the Network (1) Site Designations New Union Lists for all 9 Biogeographic Regions to be adopted on Habitats Committee of 4 October 2012 For info, other items on agenda: Adoption of revised Interpretation Manual for EU28; Evaluation of the new biogeographic process (Natura 2000 seminars) ; Progress with PAFs; Progress with transition to new SDF; Species Action Plans – discussion of further work Bilateral Seminar with Cyprus took place in June 2012 Bilateral Seminars with Romania and Bulgaria scheduled for October 2012 Further seminars foreseen in 2013 (Slovenia?)

3. Action 1: Completion of the Network (2) Management Natura 2000 Seminars See agenda item 2.1 Expert Group on Natura 2000 management Note from Commission sent to MS with papers on SAC designation: information from MS due by the end of September 7th meeting of the expert group: 21 March 2012 Main issues discussed: Guidance on conservation measures in Natura 2000 and work for financing Natura 2000. 8th meeting of the expert group: 27 November 2012 Main issues: presentation of the final draft Guidance document on establishing conservation measures in Natura 2000 with a summary compilation of the fact sheets; guidance document on agriculture & Natura 2000, work on financing Natura 2000, progress on SAC designations in MS.

4. Action 1: Completion of the Network (3) Management – marine issues 2012 critical for achieving substantial progress in marine N2000 designations (Target1-Biod strategy) Enhance synergies with MSFD implementation: Cooperation areas agreed by Nature and Marine Directors (Establishment and management of MPAs, coherent interpretation of definitions, Joint efforts on EU fisheries issues, Streamlining/harmonising reporting and monitoring) FAQ doc. on links between Birds/Hab Dir and MSFD: Final consultation done, ready, to be posted on Web soon. Common methodology for assessing fisheries impacts on marine Natura 2000 sites: Final consultation done, ready, to be posted on Web soon. Marine expert group meeting planned early November, possibly back-to-back with MSFD expert group. Focus on management and links with MSFD.

5. Action 2: Financing of Natura 2000 Final Format and Note on PAFs sent to MS, deadline end 2012 Internal Discussion in Commission re. Strategic Frameworks and Partnership Contracts Commission MFF proposals discussed in Council and EP Dedicated workshop on LIFE-PAF projects to take place on 3 October in Brussels New support contract to update Handbook on Financing Natura 2000, provide seminars in some MS and develop methodology for PAF-OP consistency evaluation

6. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (1) Stakeholders - Guidance docs / Enforcement Inland waterway transport: Guidelines completed, to be posted on Web soon. Aquaculture: Document to be finalised in coming days and be posted on Web by end September. Translations will follow. Art 6 guidance doc update: To be available by end 2012. Based on Court rulings and taking into account work under N2000 man. group re. SAC designation, cons. objectives and management planning. Guidance on Natura 2000 and agriculture: - First workshop held on 15 March 2012 - 2 nd meeting of the working group on 26 June 2012 - 2nd workshop on 25 September 2012 - 3rd meeting of the working group on 6 November 2012 Guidance on Forestry and Natura 2000 -Scoping document published on CIRCA -First workshop planned for 13 December 2012 (date TBC) -First meeting of working group planned for early 2013

7. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (2) Stakeholders - Guidance docs / Enforcement ORNIS committee on 5/10: Key items: Roadmap on Illegal Killing of Birds, Recovery Plans, marine SPA designations, CMS Raptor MoU, Revision of Bird Species Action Plans and Management Plans, Cormorants, EU action plan for Seabirds Energy infrastructure: Guidance on N2000 & electricity/gas/oil transmission facilities. Work underway, stakeholder workshop in June 2012, completion by end 2012 Guidance on Climate Change and Natura 2000 – final draft subject to internal COM consultations Commission working on follow-up to implementation Communication

8. Action 3: Stakeholder awareness & involvement and enforcement (3) Public Awareness Natura 2000 Brochure out 4 of the 5 Natura 2000 LIFE site live events and Superalp Walk successfully took place Europarc / Eurosite celebratory Conference preparations well advanced, all CGBN members invited to attend

9. Action 4: Reporting nature directives Last meeting of Reporting Group: 22 March 2012: Formats & guidelines for Art.17, Art.12 & SDF data-flows were finalised in mid 2011: new phase Technical implementation of tools (Art. 17 (ready), Art. 12 (mid-September), Natura 2000 SDF (ready)) Reference Portals updated (Art. 17, Art. 12, Natura 2000 SDF) ETC helpdesk available, FAQ service available (Art.12/17) Work-plan 2012-2015 Art.17/12 established Conservation status & Natura 2000: further work by EEA with new sub-group underway Natura 2000: SDF software is ready for use, transition phase ends September 2012 Streamlining with MSFD first proposal to streamline on certain habitats and species for 2012 report under MSFD