ECNC

6 December - ECNC is involved as a stakeholder in the European research project EcoFINDERS, to make the connection between our role in the European Learning Network on Functional Agrobiodiversity (ELN-FAB) and soil biodiversity research. To this end ECNC’s Ben Delbaere attended the project’s stakeholder meeting hosted by the University of Coimbra, Portugal, on 5 December 2011.

The EcoFINDERS project (short for Ecological Function and Biodiversity Indicators in European Soils) is a large research project, funded by the EC FP7 and bringing together 25 research institutions. Started in January 2011, the project aims to support EU soil policy making by providing the necessary tools to design and implement strategies for sustainable use of soils, including characterisation of the biodiversity of European soils; determination of relationships between soil biodiversity, functioning and ecosystem services; quantification of the economic values of soil ecosystem services; evaluation of the impacts of human activities on soil biodiversity, functioning and services; and design of policy-relevant and cost-effective indicators.

Soils and soil biodiversity are key components in the natural system that provide key ecosystem services. Many of these support agricultural processes and are essential for ensuring a more sustainable agriculture in Europe. This is where functional agrobiodiversity comes in. The EcoFINDERS knowledge and experts therefore provide a unique contribution to the ELN-FAB network, which in itself offers a valuable platform for outreach and cooperation to the soil biodiversity research community.

Find more information about EcoFINDERS on their website: http://www.ecofinders.eu.

24 November - For the second year running, Antwerp University Faculty of Biology in Belgium is offering biology students an international course on ‘Conservation and society’. The course is composed of a number of guest lectures on topics such as valuation of nature, ethics and conservation targets. The course organizers are Professor Rudy van Diggelen of Antwerp University (an ECNC Network partner) and Dr Ladislav Miko of the European Commission.

As part of the course, on 24 November ECNC’s Ben Delbaere presented a guest lecture on international biodiversity treaties. This is the second time he has been invited to give a guest lecture for the course. The lecture offered an overview of the historical background in the development of international biodiversity policy as well as insight into the key players and the key treaties at global, pan-European and regional level. It also zoomed in on main achievements and drawbacks of the current international governance system and policy instruments. During an afternoon practical session the 14 participating students debated ways to improve the effectiveness of the global and regional governance of biodiversity.

14 November - The EU conference ‘Planning for Biodiversity’, organized in the framework of the Polish EU Presidency, was held in Warsaw from 7 to 9 November. ECNC’s Mark Snethlage participated on behalf of the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity, of which ECNC is a consortium partner.

The conference focused on the role of spatial planning in biodiversity. There were three main subthemes: Planning within the Natura 2000 sites, Spatial planning as a tool in biodiversity protection and Specificity of maritime spatial planning, which were addressed in separate workshops with international presentations.

The conference participants concluded that spatial planning both inside and outside protected areas and at various spatial scales is an essential tool to support the implementation of the EU 2020 strategy for the conservation of biodiversity. They advocated the use in spatial planning of the ecosystem approach as defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity. Another important conclusion was that there needs to be a sufficient financial envelope in the next financial perspective to implement green infrastructure measures across sectors and policies and to develop and implement Natura 2000 management plans. The economic, health and cultural values of ecosystems have been insufficiently presented as strong arguments for green infrastructure and thus require more communication efforts for their promotion. It was also pointed out that the planning of natural resources use offers great benefits to decision-making and therefore more efforts need to be made in the mapping and valuation of ecosystem services. Finally, the specific case of marine spatial planning and its challenges were discussed, recognizing that this process could greatly help to reduce the risk of conflicts and to mitigate any adverse impacts on these areas.

The conference results can be viewed at: http://prezydencja.gdos.gov.pl/Articles/view/97/Materials

Photo: General Directorate for Environmental Protection, Poland, www.gdos.gov.pl.

14 November - Applications for the Klaus Toepfer Fellowship Programme for Future Leaders in Nature Conservation from the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia are now open. This new high-profile training programme aims to catalyze personal capacity development through training on international best conservation practice and policy, management training and personal network development. It is implemented by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), with funding from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The patron of the fellowship is Dr Klaus Toepfer, the former UNEP Director. The programme is supported by the IUCN, the CBD Secretariat and UNEP-WCMC.

The extra-occupational programme consists of four ten-day training modules (including excursions to leading conservation institutions in Germany) within a time period of 13 months, a transfer project with relevance to the work of the participants at their home institution, as well as tests, e-learning and additional assignments between the modules. The modules combine joint learning on key conservation topics with management and leadership training and excursions to leading nature conservation institutions, projects and programmes. Additional information about the programme, its eligibility criteria and application process can be found on its website www.bfn.de/klaus-toepfer-fellowship.html.    

Applications for the first round of the programme (starting in March 2012) are now open. Please note that the application deadline is 15 December 2011, and that some preparation may be needed to submit the application. Additional information about the programme, its eligibility criteria and application process can be found on its website www.bfn.de/klaus-toepfer-fellowship.html. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Andrea Strauss at andrea.strauss@bfn-vilm.de (regarding the programme itself) or adelphi consult GmbH at ktf@adelphi.de (regarding application procedures) in case you have any questions.

31 October - The impact of the private sector on the environment can be very detrimental. Getting companies on board with conservation organizations is crucial to try and reduce this impact and improve the status of species and habitats in Europe. A number of initiatives have been developed to help businesses become greener. A comprehensive European accreditation scheme for companies is now being discussed.

ECNC together with the British consultancy Middlemarch Environmental Ltd has developed an assessment scheme for businesses to determine their biodiversity impact, and improve their environmental performance. The company participating in the scheme which will show real commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development will be awarded with the European Biodiversity Standard for a period of two years (with possibility of renewal).

The Global Nature Fund and partners have developed a similar initiative within the European Business and Biodiversity Campaign (EBBC) through an assessment called the Biodiversity Check.

A meeting initiated by the IUCN Regional Office for Europe has recently taken place at the premises of ECNC in Tilburg, the Netherlands to align the two abovementioned approaches and develop collaboration among the various actors. The IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands, Middlemarch and Triple E, a Dutch partner in the EBBC, also participated in the meeting. Further talks will take place to find a way to link the two approaches with the aim to offer a comprehensive scheme to the business community in Europe.

This European biodiversity accreditation scheme would be part of a global standard to be developed in the years to come, and it would complement and build on the Guide to Corporate Ecosystem Valuation released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in April this year. The guide provides an innovative framework designed to enhance business understanding of the benefits and value of ecosystem services like fresh water, food, fibre and natural hazard protection.

For more information, please contact Rob Wolters.

17 October - Friday 14 October 2011 saw the successful closing of the two-day international conference ‘Biodiversity goes local’, held in Budva, Montenegro. The aim of the conference was to further enhance local biodiversity actions in Southeastern Europe, with a focus on the Western Balkan region. The conference brought together almost 100 participants from local communities of countries in the Dinaric Arc region, governments, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and various experts, who engaged in lively discussions and exchange of views, experience and expertise.

The conference recognized the increasing importance of local biodiversity action for delivering international, national and local targets for sustainable development and biodiversity. The participants strongly welcomed and applauded the leading role played by the ten municipalities (Bajina Basta, Cajetina, Dragash, Gorazde, Gostivar, Mavrovo-Rostuse, Peshkopi, Pljevlja, Srebrenica and Zabljak). The conference acknowledged that biodiversity-led planning can deliver profound economic and social benefits and thus true sustainable development.

It was decided to establish a Balkan regional learning nework for local biodiversity in order to stimulate the exchange of expertise in Southeastern Europe, including the Dinaric Arc region. The learning network may become part of the UN-ECNC European Learning Network on Regions and Biodiversity.

The conference was organized in the framework of the project ‘Local Biodiversity Action Plans in Southeastern Europe’ (SEE-BAP) funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The SEE-BAP project resulted in strongly increased awareness about biodiversity and sustainable development at a local level. The ten municipalities in six Western Balkan countries each developed a local biodiversity action plan, and shared information on the development and implementation process.

ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation together with REC-Regional Environment Center organized the conference, with financial support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Background information and the publication Local Biodiversity Action Planning for Southeastern Europe: Spotlight on the activities can be found here: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/nature-and-society-ongoing-projects/biodiversity-goes-local

For more information please contact: Ms Aysegul Cil, ECNC, via cil@ecnc.org or +31614157847; or Sasa Solujic, REC, via ASolujic@rec.org.

14 October - The regular half-yearly meeting of the management committee of the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) was hosted this autumn by ECNC in Tilburg. During the two-day meeting the management of the nine consortium partners reviewed progress in implementing this year’s ETC/BD implementation plan and looked ahead at the plans for 2012.

Chaired by Johan Bodegård, Director of the Swedish Species Information Centre, the management committee considered the ETC/BD activities in relation to Natura 2000 reporting, the Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE), support to EU biodiversity policies, biodiversity-related assessments and much more. Some time was devoted to discussing how the ETC/BD could accommodate for the growing demand for a European ecosystem assessment and even ecosystem services assessment. On the basis of the discussions and the further refining of needs by the European Environment Agency, a detailed work plan for 2012 will be developed by December 2011.

ECNC has been an ETC/BD partner since 1995 and continues to provide a substantial input, among others via a secondment, participation in the process of streamlining biodiversity indicators and biodiversity assessments.

The second day of the meeting was held in the National Park Loonse en Drunense Duinen, a Natura 2000 area that is known for its large-scale drifting sand dune system. The location enabled participants to experience the area in real life, instead of as a database record in the EUNIS database that is managed by the ETC/BD.

For more information please contact Lawrence Jones-Walters.

Photo: The meeting participants visited National Park Loonse en Drunense Duinen, Amor Torre-Marín

7 October - Two of the main outputs of the MAK-NEN project, which was completed earlier this year, were the final MAK-NEN map and the Bear Corridor Management Plan. After publishing the map in Skopje during the final project event in June, the management plan is now available for download as well.

The plan lists the 23 existing and potential bottlenecks for functioning of the ecological network identified on the map, elaborating the potential solutions and measures to be implemented by different stakeholders in order to ensure the full functionality of the network.

The main objective of the MAK-NEN project was to develop a National Ecological Network in Macedonia as part of the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN). To achieve this, one of the activities was the development of a management plan for an ecological corridor for large carnivores, with special focus on the Brown bear, involving key stakeholders (such as ministries, national institutions, landowners, forestry officers, national park management, local municipalities, local people). This Bear Corridor Management Plan creates better understanding of the bear’s ecological functions, better acceptance of the species' needs and raises awareness of and willingness to accept the implementation of MAK-NEN.

Go to the MAK-NEN project web page to download the Bear Corridor Management Plan as well as the final MAK-NEN map.

30 September - ECNC outlines its position about ecosystem services and its relationship to biodiversity in a new brief published today. In this brief, ECNC gives its view on the topic, stressing the importance of studying and documenting the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services to underpin relevant policies.

"The failure of society to place a value on nature has resulted in the degradation of ecosystems (TEEB) , a consequent reduction in ecosystem services and has contributed to a significant decline in biodiversity. Whilst more research is needed to fully understand the many relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services, in certain circumstances high levels of biodiversity in an ecosystem can provide a level of insurance against major disturbance, increasing the capacity of the ecosystem to recover to its original state; this is termed ecosystem resilience."

Therefore, ECNC will keep up the good work strengthening biodiversity in Europe. Read the brief on ecosystem services and biodiversity here.

16 September - The Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks meets in Strasbourg on 19-20 September 2011 for the third time. During this two-day meeting, experts on protected areas will be informed on the state of play of Emerald Network constitution process. The experts will also discuss the implementation of the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN) and most importantly, they will debate on the possible options for its future development. The paper produced by ECNC about the future of ecological networks will serve as a basis for this discussion.

In addition, delegates will be setting-up the Bern Convention contribution in terms of targets for the achievement of the recently adopted global Aichi biodiversity targets, at the 10th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The meeting will count with the participation of officials from the Council of Europe, the European Union, as well as with representatives of Contracting Parties and Observer states and NGOs to the Bern Convention.

ECNC’s Senior Programme Manager Lawrence Jones-Walters will attend the meeting.

11 August – ECNC recently attended the 17th consecutive biennial international conference ‘Coastal Zone 2011’, the largest gathering of ocean and coastal management professionals in the world. Over 700 participants gathered in Chicago (USA) from 17 to 21 July 2011 to explore the challenges of coastal resource management and learn from the experiences of leaders from around the world.

Many factors are changing coastal, estuarine, marine and lacustrine communities. Existing problems, such as the impacts of coastal development, and new threats, such as invasive species, global climate change and other human-induced hazards, require new approaches to ocean and coastal resource management.

Ms Ayşegül Çil, ECNC Programme Manager, presented ECNC’s work and experience, with particular reference to South-Eastern Europe, in a session entitled ‘Across the lake, across the ocean: Global perspectives in oceans and coastal management’, together with representatives from the Wadden Sea Ministerial Council and Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute. The session was moderated by Ms Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Throughout the week there were more than 180 technical sessions, including café conversations and poster sessions, workshops, training programmes and field trips. The conference was a great platform for discussions and networking, and for exploring and interacting with other experts from other parts of the world.

More information about CZ11 can be found at: http://www.doi.gov/initiatives/CZ11/index.htm

Photo: Looking across Lake Michigan from Chicago, Ayşegül Çil ©

26 July - Over 35 country and international organization representatives attended the 13th meeting of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) this June in Geneva (Switzerland). This landmark meeting decided on the future of the PEBLDS process. The participants concentrated on three main areas. First, the key actions that should be taken throughout the pan-European region to meet the 2020 targets set out in Nagoya at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Second, they discussed effective measures by governments to implement biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). Third, they focused on promoting biodiversity concerns at all levels of government planning.

The participants agreed on a new Pan-European Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, thereby declaring that they are in favour of continuing the pan-European process. The participants recognized the huge potential for partnership and cooperation, and called for coordinated national implementation of biodiversity-related agreements. In closing the meeting Mr Robert Lamb, Chair of the PEBLDS, proposed turning the existing structure into a more flexible and lighter Pan-European Biodiversity Platform, which would respond to today’s challenges to tackle biodiversity loss.

ECNC was actively involved in preparations for the meeting, and also had an active input during the meeting. ECNC’s contribution focused on the drafting process of the Pan-European Strategy together with UNEP. ECNC also presented a gap and challenges analysis, a country-based pilot project approach, and topical developments in Green Infrastructure.

For more information, please contact Lawrence Jones-Walters or Rob Wolters.

21 July - Based on its wide experience and expertise regarding business and biodiversity issues, ECNC has now launched the European Biodiversity Standard (EBS), an independent tool for companies to assess, upgrade and profile their biodiversity performance.

Biodiversity and ecosystem services are vital elements for a growing number of companies. Worldwide and in Europe, the integration of biodiversity considerations in business operations is receiving more and more attention, as shown by the Biodiversity Convention, the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, and the Pan-European Biodiversity Strategy towards 2020. However, companies often struggle with the question of how to address biodiversity in a practical way in their business operation. Although many companies operate environmental management systems, these systems often neglect or even omit biodiversity issues, despite their importance.

The European Biodiversity Standard provides practical tools for companies to address biodiversity and to measure, improve and demonstrate publicly the company’s ecological performance. Its motto is: ‘Make Biodiversity Your Business’.

Acquiring the EBS is a simple two-stage process in which a company first undertakes a self-assessment of its performance in relation to biodiversity. If the company then feels that it meets the standard, it can apply for the external assessment to receive full certification. Once awarded the EBS, the company can profile this in internal and external communications.

The EBS was developed and is managed by ECNC through a partnership with Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Middlemarch has a long-standing record in biodiversity benchmarking, in particular in the United Kingdom. Please visit the website for more information: www.europeanbiodiversitystandard.eu and/or contact ECNC via telephone +31 (0)13 5944 944 or e-mail ecnc@ecnc.org.

15 July - The latest Impact Factor (IF) figures for Elsevier´s Environmental Science and Ecology journals have just been released, and it showed that the IF of the Journal for Nature Conservation more than doubled from 2009 to 2010: 1.545 (2010) versus 0.711 (2009).

The IF is an indicator of the importance of a scientific journal, with journals with higher impact factors deemed to be more important than those with lower ones. The IF is used to compare the different journals within a certain field. It reflects the average number of citations to articles published in science and social science journals. In a given year, the impact factor of a journal is the average number of citations received per paper published in that journal during the two preceding years (source: Wikipedia).

Elsevier Science publishes the Journal for Nature Conservation in affiliation with ECNC.

8 July - Over the past year people throughout Brabant have worked with great passion and enthusiasm on biodiversity (the diversity of plants and animals) and nature and environmental education in the nature and environmental education programme Brabant Pearls of Biodiversity. Biodiversity is now being encountered in childcare, schools and recreation, as well as at home and in the fridge! On 29 June numerous successful projects, the Brabant pearls, were presented at the harvest meeting ‘From pearls to crown'. In addition to 'harvesting', the purpose of the meeting was to communicate the results.

The childcare organizations Kober group and Kinderstad have developed a green menu for experiencing nature in the childcare sector. Through the Nature time programme they have put experiencing nature in childcare firmly on the map. They will start within their own organizations, but this will also be an example for other childcare organizations.

Another pearl concerns the relation between biodiversity and health. Experiencing nature has a positive effect on health and motivates people to exercise more. The Reinier van Arkel group in Vught and Bernhoven Hospital in Veghel offer BioWalking.

Municipal and provincial administrators are also enthusiastic. Frank Petter, chairman of the Brabant Taskforce on Biodiversity and Mayor of the Municipality of Woudrichem, passed the baton to various parties to take these good results further in the Province.

Do you want to find out more about these magnificent pearls? Go to www.biodiversiteitbrabant.nl (in Dutch).

Organizations involved
The Province of Noord-Brabant, 15 Brabant municipalities, water boards, nature and environmental organizations, community organizations in the fields of agriculture, recreation and after-school care, schools, local residents, green educational institutes and several entrepreneurs associations.

The Brabant Biodiversity Taskforce is an administrator and client of this project. IVN Association for Environmental Education (Brabant branch) and ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation are responsible for coordination of the Programme. The implementation plan totals €2.7 million, €900,000 of which are being contributed by the national programme office for Nature and Environmental Education.

For more information please contact Ben Delbaere.

Photo Mayor Frank Petter enjoys an oyster, Maurits van Hout ©

7 July - ECNC’s Annual report 2010 has been published. In addition to detailing project activities in 2010, the report covers developments within the organization. These include progress in the formation of what is now the ECNC Group, and the establishment of a new ECNC Programme Area, Ecosystem and Species Management.

Click here to go to the Annual report, together with extra online information.

 

1 July - On 22 June ECNC and the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) presented the final results of the MAK-NEN project, concluding three years of work. The presentation was held in Skopje and attended by numerous representatives of ministries, scientific and expert institutions representing sectors relevant to the implementation of the National Ecological Network in Macedonia, which should be the next step. The Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands in Macedonia, Mr Gert Kampman, attended the event on behalf of the funder, the Government of the Netherlands. He expressed his satisfaction with the project results achieved and offered his help in providing political support to further activities.

Two of the main outputs of the project that were presented were the final MAK-NEN map, published in A1 format, and the Bear Corridor Management Plan. The Plan lists the 23 existing and potential bottlenecks for functioning of the ecological network identified on the map, elaborating the potential solutions and measures to be implemented by different stakeholders in order to ensure the full functionality of the network.

As a result of the three-year stakeholder involvement process, the discussion that followed the presentations showed that the participants have a high level of understanding, acceptance, ownership and support of the ecological network concept. This indicates that MAK-NEN has a bright future in Macedonia.

At the end of the event, the representatives of relevant sectors were presented with framed maps of MAK-NEN, so that they will be continuously reminded of it and will bear it in mind when planning their future activities.

For more information contact Lawrence Jones-Walters and Kristijan Čivić.

17 June - The report on ‘National indicators, monitoring and reporting for the Strategy for Biodiversity 2011-2020’ has been circulated for the information of participants in the meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The meeting is due to take place from 20 to 24 June 2011 in High Wycombe, UK.

ECNC provided information on the experience of European countries in the development of national and regional biodiversity indicators in the framework of the SEBI process. The contribution summarizes information on the reasons for or purpose of the development of national or regional indicators, including in relation to the CBD 2010 Biodiversity Target; how national indicators were used (including in CBD 4th National Reports); relevant national reports using indicators; examples and experience of monitoring (data collection) systems for the regular production of biodiversity indicators; and relevant recommendations on overcoming obstacles likely to be encountered by European countries in the development of national indicators for the CBD 2020 global targets.

The AHTEG will provide advice on further development of agreed indicators and additional indicators to assess progress towards targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; mechanisms to support parties in their efforts to develop national indicators and associated biodiversity monitoring and reporting systems; and strengthening of linkages between global and national indicator development and reporting. The AHTEG will report to the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice.

The recommendations for the 2011 AHTEG on indicators that arise from the findings of this report are presented in Section 10.

The report is available here: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/ind/ahteg-sp-ind-01/information/ahteg-sp-ind-01-inf-02-en.pdf.

15 June - On 1 June 2011 the establishment of the ECNC Group as a legal entity was celebrated in EUCC’s headquarters in Leiden in the Netherlands, in the presence of the Scientific Council and Joint Management Team of the ECNC Group.

The newly created legal structure is a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG), a legal entity based on EC law, to facilitate and encourage international and cross-border cooperation. The purpose of such a grouping is to facilitate or develop the activities of its members by a pooling of resources, activities or skills and to simplify entering into joint activities. This will produce better results than the members acting alone. Through the creation of this legal entity a new structure is formed that brings together expertise on terrestrial, coastal and marine biodiversity and sustainable development, that includes over 40 staff and provides access to wider European expert networks.

The ECNC Group EEIG is registered in Barcelona, Spain, at the MedCentre of the ECNC Group.

In 2009 ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation and the Coastal & Marine Union (EUCC) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation; the ECNC Group was born. The ECNC Group consists of two units: 'Biodiversity & Nature' (represented by ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation), located in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and 'Coastal & Marine' (represented by EUCC), located in Leiden, also in the Netherlands. The members of the ECNC Group are ECNC, EUCC and Centro Mediterráneo. In addition EuroNatur, the NatureBureau and EECONET Action Fund are observers of the ECNC Group.

The ECNC Group is dedicated to a sustainable and beautiful Europe for present and future generations, based on rich biodiversity, healthy ecosystems and strong linkages between nature and society. It promotes sustainable, integrated policy approaches to land, sea and coast and actively stimulates interaction, communication and bridges between science, society and policy.

The ECNC Group policy is laid down in a midterm strategy 2011-2015.  Priority themes of the ECNC Group are:

• Climate Change
• Green and Blue Infrastructure
• Civil Society 
• Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Valuation.

The ECNC Group is already executing joint projects, including on Natura 2000, and is developing new joint activities.

For more information please contact Rob Wolters, Chair of the ECNC Group joint Management Team, wolters@ecnc.org.

30 May - On 24 May 2011 ECNC and REC representatives visited the Municipalities of Pljevlja and Zabljak in Montenegro in the framework of the ongoing SEE-BAP project on local biodiversity action planning in the Western Balkan region.

In Zabljak and Pljevlja, Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) have been finalized and formally adopted by the municipal councils. The meetings were devoted to prioritizing the list of actions for this year. The team assessed the prioritized actions together with the LBAP team in each municipality and advised on the actions to be implemented in the framework of the project. Both meetings were very productive. Other partner municipalities will be visited to discuss the planned activities, which will be embedded into existing municipal policies and actions. In the final conference of the project later this year municipalities will also have the opportunity to introduce their activities and the achievements attained through the implementation of this project.

Following the visits, on 25 May the project’s 5th Steering Committee meeting took place in Razem, Albania, chaired by ECNC Executive Director Rob Wolters. The meeting was attended by Finnish Government representatives Ms Anu Rämä and Mr Ismo Kolehmainen (both of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland) and Mr Janne Rinne (Finnish Environment Institute), representing the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (NALAS), and ministry representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia, and the project leaders of the IUCN-led project. The ministry representatives expressed their appreciation for the action planning process, which was considered to be very important and rich in context. The Steering Committee members welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the LBAPs, and provided advice and feedback on the prioritized actions which were highlighted during the meeting.

Project coordinators of ECNC and IUCN will further explore areas of cooperation for the upcoming project period. The areas covered in this project will be effectively communicated with wider stakeholders during the final conference of the SEE-BAP project in October 2011.

The SEE-BAP project receives financial support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

For more information, please contact the Project leader, Aysegul Cil.

Photo: Aysegül Cil ©

25 May - Alderman Marieke Moorman of Tilburg Municipality performed the opening ceremony by poking a stick into one of the three insect hotels in this special, public garden. These are wooden constructions, taller than a man, filled with small tree trunks, straw and old roof tiles. Desirable housing for solitary bees.

The 150,000 euro biodiversity garden is a joint project of ECNC, its landlord The Corpac House, the Municipality of Tilburg and the Province of Noord-Brabant. In the framework of 'Think global, act local', four years ago ECNC put forward the idea of setting out this garden around the office building in which it is located. In the years that followed, the idea was further developed in cooperation with students from a green training course. The garden has five habitats: a Marsh marigold meadow, a pond, a butterfly garden, an exotic garden and a Brabant hedge. ECNC employees and local residents will monitor the biodiversity in the garden.

In the coming months the garden will be further expanded towards the adjacent secondary school, whose pupils will use the garden as a learning area. ECNC also hopes that the garden will serve as an example for other towns in Noord-Brabant.

The opening of the biodiversity garden was also the starting signal for the Tilburg Biodiversity Weekend. With a workshop on building insect hotels, lectures at the Natural History Museum, excursions to nearby nature areas, a biodiverse brunch in Tilburg’s harbour, cycling tours along allotments, town walks and special films, everywhere they looked Tilburgers were surprised by the biodiversity in and around Tilburg.

Photo: Alderman Marieke Moorman opens the biodiversity garden, Toine van Berkel ©

13 May - The ECNC Group has started work on the recently launched project: ‘Sectoral experience with Natura 2000’, commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The project kick-off meeting was held on 15 March 2011 at ECNC’s headquarters in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

The majority of Natura 2000 sites in Europe have now been identified: over 26,000 sites, covering about 18% of Europe’s land surface. With the Network taking shape, a range of economic sectors (notably those with a direct land-use connection) is gaining experience in the ways in which Natura 2000 affects them. This experience shows that the designated sites at times create barriers and restrictions for certain sectors. If left unattended, such barriers and restrictions can negatively influence the perception of and support for Natura 2000 by both sectors and the wider public. In order to form an accurate picture of existing barriers and how sectors deal with them, for instance by exploring the opportunities which these barriers can offer, there is a need for an assessment and analysis of the situation based on solid facts.

The one-year project aims to contribute to removing barriers and increasing the support of economic sectors for Natura 2000 through fact-finding, learning from each other and demonstrating sector-specific solutions to overcome barriers. It will in particular contribute to increasing the knowledge within economic sectors (agriculture, forestry, tourism and recreation) in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland and Denmark on how to deal with barriers posed by Natura 2000, and to investigating whether these barriers can create opportunities.

For more information: Ayşegül Çil, Programme Manager – Nature and Society, or Mark Snethlage, Project Manager

 

6 May - On 21 April 2011 the Bureau of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) met in the Environmental House in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the future and priorities of the pan-European cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Mr Robert Lamb. ECNC's Executive Director Rob Wolters participated on behalf of ECNC. The meeting discussed the preparation of the next Council meeting on 28 and 29 June 2011 in Geneva as well as various new initiatives, including the possible development of a regional biodiversity knowledge hub for biodiversity-related conventions. The meeting also addressed the preparations for the next Ministerial Environment for Europe conference in Astana (September 2011). UNEP, which has the secretariat of PEBLDS, and ECNC work together on various issues, including on efforts to revitalize the pan-European biodiversity cooperation. ECNC advocated the development of a clear and appealing vision for the pan-European cooperation, a vision which should position its niche and should be anchored in priorities of EECCA countries and the European Union, but also involve local and regional authorities.

 

29 April - The Large Herbivore Network (LHNet) has been working hard to strengthen its communication activities. A new interactive website has just been launched, and other communication materials will be published soon.

The website http://www.largeherbivore.org contains a wealth of information about LHNet and its activities. For instance, an overview of species has recently been completed. If you visit http://www.largeherbivore.org/european-bison/, for example, you will find information on the European bison – the flagship species incorporated in the LHNet logo. This page gives information on population size and trends, and includes some interesting data collected on the situation in Ukraine and the Caucasus.

Visit the website at http://www.largeherbivore.org

For more information about LHNet contact Hans Kampf, Director Large Herbivore Network.

 

26 April - On 19 & 20 April 2011 the final stakeholder workshop of the Macedonian National Ecological Network (MAK-NEN) project was held on Lake Veles in Macedonia. Organized by the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) and ECNC, the final workshop was attended by participants from the relevant ministries and other institutions representing all relevant stakeholder groups (NGOs, scientists, environment, spatial planning, forestry, water management, agriculture, rural development, etc.) in the implementation of the National Ecological Network. Demonstrating the continuous support of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the participants were welcomed by Mr Filip Ivanov, Director of the Ministry’s Administration of Environment.

The final map of the Macedonian National Ecological Network was presented as an opportunities map which should help all the sectors to work together on making the network real. At the same time the map will serve as a guide to where different sectoral activities can take place – showing that there is room for both nature and sustainable development.

The workshop was also an opportunity to present the outline of the Bear Corridor Management Plan, which will be finalized in the next few weeks. This document will list the existing and potential bottlenecks in the functioning of the ecological network, together with the recommended measures to be implemented by different stakeholders in order to overcome them.

Through group work and lively discussions the workshop participants came up with a comprehensive action plan for the implementation of the network in practice. Many of the ideas in the action plan could form the basis for follow-up projects.

For more information contact Kristijan Civic.

Picture: Final map of the Macedonian National Ecological Network

15 April - Throughout Europe, farmers are applying various forms of functional agrobiodiversity to their farming practices. This practical experience is extremely fragmented and difficult to access. The ‘European Learning Network on Functional AgroBiodiversity’ (ELN-FAB) aims to change this by bringing together experience, knowledge, views and case studies.

Based on a previous exchange of information about the ELN-FAB between the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, the Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic (ANCLP) and ECNC, and in view of the objectives of ECNC and the Czech Republic with respect to biodiversity and agriculture, a dialogue has been initiated to discuss future cooperation.

ECNC’s Executive Director Rob Wolters and Veronika Mikos, Project Manager, met with representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, and ANCLP from 28–30 March 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic. The meetings resulted in clarification of the stronger involvement of the Czech Republic in the future of the ELN-FAB initiative, in particular in the form of a European or regional seminar on ELN-FAB to be held in the country. Further cooperation was also identified in relation to conflicts in the management of the Natura 2000 Network, and business and biodiversity activities. ECNC also raised nature conservation issues which are of European interest, for example the case of Šumava National Park.

The project team and steering group of the European Learning Network on Functional AgroBiodiversity (ELN-FAB) held its first meeting of 2011 this April to discuss progress and the main activities since the previous meeting and the future of the initiative. External experts from the European Environment Agency (EEA), Flemish Land Agency (VLM) and European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) also participated in this meeting. One of the key issues discussed during the meeting was the preparation of a handbook on FAB by the end of 2011 in order to provide guidance to the practitioners and stakeholders on how to implement FAB in their operations and promote sustainable agriculture.

For more information: Rob Wolters, Executive Director ECNC.

12 April - The EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform offers guidance to business sectors on how to integrate biodiversity into their economic activities. The Platform works with the priority business sectors identified by the European Commission to promote their awareness of and engagement in biodiversity protection. Sectors covered are agriculture, food supply, forestry, extractive industry, financial sector and tourism.

The project team held its first meeting of 2011 on 4 April to discuss the progress made last year and the priorities for 2011. The meeting was hosted by IUCN Regional Office for Europe in Brussels. Activities proposed through the B @ B Platform will provide tools and methodologies to companies to promote value creation and mitigate risk thanks to biodiversity conservation programmes. The key tasks for 2011 include:

• mobilizing stakeholders;
• preparing a best-practice publication;
• updating and maintaining the website on a regular basis;
• organizing sectoral workshops in relation to the EU post-2010 Biodiversity Strategy, in particular the sub-targets and ways of implementation;
• organizing sectoral benchmarking workshops;
• designing a grading system for the Award Scheme to recognize outstanding contributions to the conservation of biodiversity.

The EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform is funded by the European Commission, Directorate-General Environment, for an initial period of three years (2009-2011). The project team is composed of IUCN Regional Office for Europe (Project leader), PwC (France), ECNC, ELO and Blue4You. ECNC has particular responsibility for the sectors of agriculture and finance.

For more information: Ben Delbaere, project coordinator. Visit the Platform’s website at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/business/index_en.html

8 April - Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a highly invasive species across Europe with particularly harmful impacts on human and animal health (where in both cases it can cause serious allergic reactions), agriculture and other production systems, biodiversity and the wider environment. It is spreading rapidly throughout Europe, in particular in agricultural fields, along roadsides and disturbed soils such as vacant lots and abandoned fields. Highly infested regions in Europe are the French Rhone valley, the Italian Po valley, some former Yugoslavian states and Hungary. For about 15 years its abundance has been increasing in other countries of Europe – among them Switzerland.

It is therefore no surprise that the European Parliament itself commissioned the work associated with the new project 'Assessing and controlling the spread and the effects of Common ragweed in Europe' whose objective is to develop protective measures to control the introduction and the spread of ragweed in the EU. On Monday 4 April, core members of the project team: the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) - the project leader, NatureBureau, Economics for the Environment Consultancy (eftec) and ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation, met with representatives of the European Commission to kick off the project, which will last for 18 months.

In a highly productive meeting the key aims and objectives of the project were confirmed including the pressing need to synthesize and systematically review information, highlight knowledge gaps and utilize modern modelling methods to allow an understanding of the current extent of ragweed infestation in Europe. The development of measures to control ragweed spread and introduction (now and in future climates) was also confirmed as a priority; this work should include the quantification of harmful (direct and indirect) economic, social and environmental effects on all sectors. There also will be active dissemination of accurate and up-to-date scientifically-based evidence to stakeholders.

This project will partly achieve these aims by implementing a coordinated set of actions involving a network of experts from across Europe and three other partners, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), the Royal Agricultural College (RAC) and NaturePartner. It should be emphasized that the project has a generic nature and the approaches developed therefore have the potential for wider application to a range of Invasive Alien Species currently making their presence felt across Europe and beyond. Thus, in addition to the work already mentioned the study also aims to develop an early warning system for this species that will have direct applicability to a range of other species.

For more information, contact ECNC’s Senior Programme Manager Lawrence Jones-Walters.

Photo: Common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Paul Drobot ©

28 March - On 23 and 24 March 2011 project partners and members of the Advisory Committee of the ‘Skills for local biodiversity’ project came together in Paris to review the results of the situation analysis in the five participating countries. The seminar was prepared by ATEN-Atelier Technique des Espaces Naturels (Montpellier, France) and hosted by NatureParif (Paris, France).

Project partners presented the results from their questionnaires and interviews to explore regional training needs and available resources with the target group. In facilitated discussions with members of the Advisory Committee the methodological approaches to link resources with training needs were explored.

The presentations and subsequent discussions confirmed that there is a clear demand for capacity building and knowledge transfer regarding biodiversity among the staff of local authorities. Local authorities are taking on increased responsibilities in relation to the integration of biodiversity in the local planning process, particularly in relation to the implementation of built development, and the skills and capacity of the staff to deal with these requirements need to be built up and maintained.

In relation to training needs and preferences, the clear picture emerged that staff of local authorities have only limited time to receive training and that they prefer interactive participative methods of learning instead of classical lectures. These participative methods should be supported and illustrated with cases of good practice, presented through written material and by the organization of field visits.

In the next project phase the partners, under the lead of the Yorkshire and Humber Environment Trust (UK), will develop the prototype (or master) of the training materials and approach based on the results of the seminar. These will be tested by a selection of potential end users at the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (Germany) in early 2012.

More information: Mark Snethlage, project coordinator.

Photo: Flower meadow in Paris, NatureParif

16 March - On 9 March 2011, the Slovenian Government hosted the 1st Dinaric Conference of environment ministers of the Dinaric Arc (DA). Ministers of the Dinaric Arc signed the ‘Dinaric Resolution’, which confirms the willingness of the Dinaric countries to strengthen their cooperation on protection and development of this very biodiversity rich and commonly shared mountain region. Those ministers who signed the Resolution requested UNEP to explore the development of a legal framework for environmental protection of the Dinaric Arc region.

ECNC’s contribution concerned the crucial role of local and regional authorities in delivering global goals and integrating biodiversity conservation into wider policies, in particular regarding local sustainable development and climate change. ECNC illustrated this by referring to its ongoing SEEBAP project on local biodiversity action planning in the Western Balkan region, funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The ministerial event provided an excellent opportunity to exchange views for the future strategies with political support in the DAI region as well as the neighbouring areas. Bilateral meetings took place between ECNC representatives and various ministers, in which the SEEBAP project was discussed.

Following this conference, a SEEBAP project meeting took place in Belgrade on 10 March. ECNC and REC representatives discussed priority actions in 2011, including the allocation of budgets to relevant biodiversity projects in the targeted municipalities and a closing seminar in Montenegro.

To find out more, please contact Aysegül Cil.

10 March - The ALTER-Net network of biodiversity research in Europe is celebrating its second year of existence since the EU co-funding stopped in April 2009. This makes the ALTER-Net one of the few Networks of Excellence co-funded under the EU 6th Framework Programme that is still active in its original set-up.

This fact, together with the achievements of the ALTER-Net in 2010, formed the basis for the annual meeting of the ALTER-Net Council on 8 and 9 March, hosted by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research, Germany. The senior management of the institutes that are partners in ALTER-Net discussed progress, communication plans, joint project development and research activities, as well as the connection with the LTER-Europe, the network of long-term ecosystem research sites. Also, with the current budget for activities ending in March 2012, first steps were taken towards securing funding as from that time. The ALTER-Net Secretariat, currently hosted by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, will be rotating among partners as from 2012.

During the meeting, Terry Parr stepped down as chair of the ALTER-Net Council. Terry was the initiator of the ALTER-Net, the network coordinator for the first 5 years, and Council chair for 7 years. Eeva Furman (a member of the ECNC Scientific Council) was unanimously elected to be the new chair for the coming years. Also, Daniel Terrasson announced the end of his chairmanship of the ALTER-Net Management Board. The Council unanimously elected Leon Braat to succeed him.

With these steps and the plans for a number of events in 2011, including the annual Summer School, the ALTER-Net has demonstrated that it is alive and kicking. ECNC is happy to continue being a partner in this European biodiversity knowledge base, contributing its expertise on biodiversity, policy, communication and stakeholder involvement.

Photo: The Michelson house at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany was the venue for the meeting, SuperStock ©

02 March - On 23 and 24 February 2011 ECNC attended an international workshop in Vilnius, Lithuania, titled: ‘Establishment of ecological networks – experiences and perspectives’. The workshop was organized as part of the Life+ Nature project ‘Development of Pilot Ecological Network through Nature Frame Areas in Southern Lithuania’. The project is being implemented by the Lithuanian Fund for Nature (LGF), an ECNC network partner.

The aim of the workshop was to exchange experience and knowledge regarding ecological network implementation through presentations on different approaches in various European countries. ECNC was invited to present the methodology and criteria for development of the National Ecological Network in Macedonia in the framework of ECNC’s MAK-NEN project. Other examples included approaches to ecological network design and implementation in Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Belarus and Serbia, along with some practical examples of habitat management and restoration of ecological corridors from Lower Saxony in Germany. The workshop was closed with a discussion on which methods of corridor establishment would suit the Lithuanian situation based on some of the best-practice examples presented.

25 February - ECNC has recently started work on several new projects. The project ‘Integrated assessment of vulnerability of environmental resources and ecosystem-based adaptation measures’, funded by the European Commission Directorate-General Environment and the Climate Action Markets Team, formally kicked off with a meeting of the partners in Wageningen, the Netherlands, on 10 and 11 January 2011. The project contributes to the preparatory action ‘Climate of the Carpathian Basin’ approved by the European Parliament. In 2010 the European Commission proposed that the work under the preparatory action should be focused on the analysis of the vulnerability of water and ecosystems of the region to climate change impacts and other man-made pressures and on identifying potential adaptation measures (specifically adaptive water management and ecosystem-based approaches). As well as providing strong benefits to national and regional authorities of the Carpathian Region and contributing to concrete policy proposals in line with the Commission White Paper on Adapting to Climate Change, the work will provide a contribution to the forthcoming EU Information System on Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation. ECNC will contribute to a number of tasks within the project, in particular the work to engage stakeholders in the process of developing the vulnerability assessment.

The DG Environment-funded project ‘Recognizing Natura 2000 benefits and demonstrating the economic benefits of conservation measures’ kicked off in Brussels on 20 January. The project, which is led by Arcadis and involves ECNC and Eftec, is one of three related projects that deal with the economic benefits of Natura 2000 sites. The kick-off meeting therefore involved the three successful consortia and resulted in a highly productive exchange between those attending and the Commission, who hosted the meeting. ECNC has already led on the preparation of a questionnaire to gather the views of Natura 2000 site managers in relation to the activities that they carry out as part of their roles and responsibilities, and the contribution that these have made to achieving favourable status for their sites.

The KNEU project - ‘Developing a Knowledge Network for EUropean expertise on biodiversity and ecosystem services’ - kicked off in Brussels on 10 February with full representation from all 18 European project partners. Their first action was to agree a catchy new title for the project which, from now on, will be called ‘Biodiversity Knowledge’. There will soon be an active website, and more news on all of the above projects will follow in due course.

For further information contact Lawrence Jones-Walters, Senior Programme Manager – Green Infrastructure / Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity Assessment.

 

15 February - During the annual ‘Good Money Gala’ on Wednesday 9 February 2011 the Dutch National Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij) announced that a project proposal submitted by ARK on behalf of Rewilding Europe is to receive 3.1 million euros, and the Healthy Sea (Gezonde Zee) project of the Vereniging Kust & Zee is to receive 1.25 million euros. With this grant, Rewilding Europe can make a prompt start on its pioneering project to rewild one million hectares of abandoned agricultural landscape in five areas across Europe.

The Healthy Sea project focuses on shipwrecks in the North Sea that are crucial for animals in the North Sea. Intensive fishing has led to serious pollution of the wrecks by fishing gear, with an estimated one million kilos of fishing lead being left behind every year. With the help of divers and salvagers, the Healthy Sea project will clean up the wrecks. The organization is also working with the fishers and the sportfishers association to introduce biodegradable fishing lines and lead substitutes. The Vereniging Kust & Zee is the Dutch branch of ECNC's blue unit Coastal & Marine.

270 million for man and nature
Thanks to its participants, the National Postcode Lottery paid out a record sum of 270 million euros to 83 good causes during its annual Good Money Gala on Wednesday. This means that the largest good causes lottery in the Netherlands has crossed the magic line of 3 billion euros, the total amount paid out in its 21-year existence.

Sources:
http://rewildingeurope.com/2011/02/09/3-million-euro-from-dutch-national-postcode-lottery/
http://www.kustenzee.nl/nieuws/fr_index.htm?/nieuws/npl.htm

14 February - The Journal for Nature Conservation, published in affiliation with ECNC, is celebrating its 10th anniversary by offering free access to the 5 most cited papers of this period. Next to that, the Journal will from 2011 increase the number of issues to 6 per year. Top 5 articles published in the last 10 years:

Habitat fragmentation effects on fitness of plant populations - a review. Journal for Nature Conservation, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2 July 2004, Pages 53-72, Judit Lienert

Object-oriented methods for habitat mapping at multiple scales - Case studies from Northern Germany and Wye Downs, UK. Journal for Nature Conservation, Volume 13, Issues 2-3, 15 July 2005, Pages 75-89, Michael Bock, Panteleimon Xofis, Jonathan Mitchley, Godela Rossner, Michael Wissen

An index of naturalness. Journal for Nature Conservation, Volume 12, Issue 2, 22 October 2004, Pages 95-110, Antonio Machado

Long-term persistence of aspen - a key host for many threatened species - is endangered in old-growth conservation areas in Finland. Journal for Nature Conservation, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2 July 2004, Pages 41-52, Jari Kouki, Kerstin Arnold, Petri Martikainen

Support for decision making in conservation practice: an evidence-based approach. Journal for Nature Conservation, Volume 11, Issue 2, 2003, Pages 83-90, Andrew S. Pullin, Teri M. Knight

The Journal for Nature Conservation is a scientific journal focusing on methods and techniques used in nature conservation. ECNC staff have authored several articles published in the Journal. Find out the current top 25 hottest articles of the Journal as well.

10 February - On 7 February 2011, the President and the management team of ECNC and the ECNC Group met with EC Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Janez Potočnik. This was followed by a meeting with the Head of the Natura 2000 Unit, Mr Stefan Leiner, and the Deputy Head of the Biodiversity Unit, Mrs Claudia Olazábal.

The Commissioner was very appreciative of ECNC and its activities, and also welcomed the integration process of ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation and the Coastal & Marine Union (EUCC) under the flag of the ECNC Group, and the merger of the Large Herbivore Foundation into ECNC. The Commissioner also welcomed further strengthening of the working relationships between DG Environment and ECNC.

Amongst others, information and views were exchanged about:

• The EC developments towards an EU Biodiversity Strategy and a Strategy on Green Infrastructure.
• The Commissioner’s Flagship Initiative for a Resource-Efficient Europe, aiming at mainstreaming environment and biodiversity in Europe’s economy as part of the efforts to green the economy. The Commissioner will develop a road map and wants to increase the focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services. He has invited ECNC to provide its expertise input, including about business and biodiversity.
• The European Learning Network on Functional AgroBiodiversity (ELN-FAB), and the relevance for greening the Common Agricultural Policy.
• ECNC’s activities on regional and local levels, including in the Balkans, and the recent UNEP-ECNC initiative to create a European Learning Network for Regions and Biodiversity.
• ECNC’s and EUCC’s work on Green Infrastructure, including Natura 2000.
• EUCC’s activities on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, greening the Common Fisheries Policy, and the Quality Town Awards.

The Commissioner especially welcomed the ECNC focus on Central and Eastern Europe and particularly the West Balkan region, in the light of the special efforts required to enhance and maintain the quality of biodiversity and ecosystem services in this region.

ECNC and the ECNC Group were represented at the meeting with the Commissioner by Sir Brian Unwin, President ECNC and ECNC Group; Rob Wolters, Executive Director ECNC and chairman of the management team of the ECNC Group; Albert Salman, General Director of the Coastal & Marine Union (EUCC) and deputy chairman of the ECNC Group; and Ben Delbaere, Deputy Director ECNC.

8 February - The project ‘Dealing with conflicts in the implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network- best practices at the local/site level’ was commissioned by DG Environment in January 2009. The aim of the project was to promote best practices for achieving a good balance between potentially conflicting interests related to the use and management of Natura 2000 sites, ensuring the engagement of different groups of stakeholders (including the public) into the protection and proper management of the sites and their ecological values. The final brochure of the project, entitled ‘Natura 2000 – Addressing conflicts and promoting benefits’, is now available for downloading.

Given the scale, scope and ambition of the Natura 2000 network, conflicts are to be expected in its establishment and management. However, addressed in a proactive way, conflict can be managed or resolved in most cases. The challenge is how to deal effectively with ‘on-site’ conflict situations when they arise. Understanding the mechanisms and reasons of conflict is essential to finding workable solutions and developing sustainable management practices. Left unaddressed or ignored, conflict can become a major threat, which can prevent reaching Natura 2000 objectives, be they at site, national or European level. This brochure and the project reports should be helpful, especially in a conflict situation related to the management of Natura 2000 sites.

The project was led by Alterra (Wageningen, UR) in partnership with ECNC and Eurosite.

The brochure ‘Natura 2000 – Addressing conflicts and promoting benefits’ and the other project reports can be found here.

7 Februari - On the morning of Friday 4 February 2011 the MOLO Task Force on Biodiversity in Noord-Brabant (the Netherlands) presented its biodiversity manifesto ‘Brabant chooses biodiversity; Biodiversity as a green engine for innovation and sustainable regional development’ to the vice-chairman of the Provincial Council of Noord-Brabant drs Wim Thuis and the chairmen of the parliamentary groups in the Provincial Council. In the manifesto the members of the Task Force challenge the newly to be elected provincial authority of the Province of Noord-Brabant to take up the gauntlet together and firmly anchor biodiversity in the administrative agreement for 2011-2015.

On the basis of the ‘Brabant Agenda’ the emphasis in Noord-Brabant in the period 2011-2015 will be on regional-economic development. It is a challenge to achieve a sustainable combined action between economic growth and the preservation and strengthening of biodiversity and landscape identity. Thus, a task for the coming administrative period is to link the development and investment opportunities for businesses, housing construction and infrastructure with the conditions for the existence of biodiversity so that the latter will on balance increase. Biodiversity in Brabant is still under great pressure.

However, the quality of biodiversity is not a task for government alone. Entrepreneurs, civil-society organizations, educational bodies and others also bear responsibility. Therefore, increasing and maintaining awareness of biodiversity among citizens, both young and old, is a strong ambition of the parties cooperating in this manifesto.

The manifesto was presented by the chairman of the Task Force, Dr Frank Petter, in the presence of the members of the Task Force, outside the main chamber of the Provincial Council in the Province House in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

More information can be obtained from Peter von Meijenfeldt, ECNC.

Photo: Dr Frank Petter presenting the biodiversity manifesto to drs Wim Thuis, Peter von Meijenfeldt ©

3 February - On 26 & 27 January 2011 the preparatory Emerald Biogeographical Seminar for the six West Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) was held in Paris, France. It was co-organized by the Council of Europe and the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) acting on behalf of the European Environment Agency (EEA) in the framework of the project for extension of the West Balkan countries’ participation in the activities of the EEA. More specifically, ETC/BD will support the countries in the implementation of Resolution 3 of the ‘Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats’ (the Bern Convention), which encourages contracting parties to designate Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) for targeted species and habitats, as part of the Emerald Network.

This was a preparatory seminar which prepared the ground for a full seminar to be held in autumn 2011. An important part of it was a simulation of the assessment at a biogeographical level of the extent to which the candidate Emerald sites in each country are sufficient to ensure a proper conservation of habitats and species listed in Resolution 4(1996) and 6(1998), respectively, of the Bern Convention. As a consortium partner of the ETC/BD, ECNC will follow the process closely and produce a synthetic report to the EEA, in a consistent way with the EU Natura 2000 network, the progress achieved so far and the level of commitment needed in the future to give life to the network.

The implementation of the Emerald Network constitutes a basic tool for preparing the West Balkan countries for the future work on Natura 2000 and to comply with the requirements of the Habitats and Birds Directives. It also represents a useful instrument for the conservation of areas of high ecological value and a framework of cooperation within a homogeneous network of areas covering the whole of Europe.

For more information contact Kristijan Civic, ECNC Project Manager. To read more about the Emerald Network, visit www.coe.int/emerald.

26 January - ECNC recently agreed cooperation within two framework contracts for the European Environment Agency. The first, led by ECNC, is to provide support on agriculture. The second, led by the European Forest Institute (EFI) with ECNC one of two other main partners, will provide support on forests. Both contracts relate to the provision of integrated analysis and assessment, inputs for monitoring and reporting processes, policy evaluation, and outlook studies related to agriculture and forest ecosystem functioning and provisioning of ecosystem goods and services under current and future environmental conditions. The contract duration is four years (January 2011 – December 2014).

For more information, contact ECNC’s project coordinator, Lawrence Jones-Walters.

18 January - The Lithuanian Fund for Nature (LGF) has joined the ECNC Network. LGF is a non-governmental organization that encourages and supports nature protection and the sustainable development of Lithuania. It works on the conservation of rare and endangered species, the management and restoration of ecosystems and natural habitats, the sustainable use of natural resources, and environmental education. For more information on LGF visit www.glis.lt

The ECNC Network now has 52 partners in 28 European countries, spanning a broad range of expertise and a wide geographical area; see http://www.ecnc.org/people/network-partners for more details. For information on joining the ECNC Network, please contact Ben Delbaere, Deputy Executive Director.