Notwithstanding their participation in / or support for the project, the views expressed in this

1. Promoting Natura 2000 & Sustainable Wildlife Use (hunting & angling) Notwithstanding their participation in / or support for the project, the views expressed in this presentation may not be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission.

2. CONTENT: • THE PROJECT • NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION • HUNTING & NATURA 2000 • RECOMMENDATIONS

3. THE PROJECT: Promoting Natura 2000 & Sustainable Wildlife Use • Run by FACE (Federation of Association for Hunting and Conservation of the EU) • In partnership with ELO (the European Landowners’ Organization) • Supported and co-funded by the European Commission • 12 new Member States and some Member States from the South of Europe

4. THE PROJECT: Workshops Promoting Natura 2000 & Sustainable Wildlife Use 4 WORKSHOPS - 4 bio-geographic regions Baltic Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia Central Europe Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia Czempin Lovasberény Mediterranean Italy, Malta, Portugal and France Arosio Black Sea / East Mediterranean Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus Athens

5. THE PROJECT: Workshops Promoting Natura 2000 & Sustainable Wildlife Use • Awareness raising on the NATURA 2000 Network • Encourage wildlife users to get involved in the management of NATURA 2000 sites • Highlighting the importance and role of sustainable wildlife uses inside NATURA 2000 sites • Promote dialogue between stakeholders • Extend the network of national correspondents (focal points & ambassadors) WORKSHOP – Aims:

6. Key Objective of EU Environmental Policy THE PROJECT: Origin Halting the loss of Biodiversity • Since the 50’s, Europe has lost half of its wetlands • 42% of mammals, 43% of birds, 45% of butterflies, 45% of reptiles, 52% of freshwater fish are considered as threatened • Biodiversity is a value as such, but also provides many socio-economic benefits and essential ecosystem services for society (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment) • The main cause of the decline of biodiversity = loss or deterioration of habitats

7. Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010 THE PROJECT: Origin EU Sustainable Development Strategy(Gothenburg Summit 2001) Objective: To protect and restore habitats and natural systems and halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010 NATURA 2000: The “cornerstone” for reaching this target!

8. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : • NATURA 2000 is a EU-wide network of nature protection areas, • established under the “Nature Directives”, • and designated by the Member States, • following strictly scientific criteria. Aim: to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats.

9. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : • A key contribution to the general objective of maintenance and restoration of biodiversity • A central policy to safeguard Europe’s most important wildlife areas • A combination of species conservation and habitats protection • A way for Member States to work together irrespective of political and administrative boundaries.

10. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : A network of 25,000 sites that covers about 20 % of the EU territory (850,000 km2)

11. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : The “Birds” Directive of 2 April 1979 (79/409/EEC) The “Habitats” Directive of 21 May 1992 (92/43/EEC) National Birds inventories Important Bird Areas National Habitats inventories Reference guide EUR 27 Special Protection Areas (SPA) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) NATURA 2000 NETWORK

12. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : From identification to designation of sites The “Birds” Directive • Special Protection Areas (SPA): the most suitable territories in number and size for the conservation of the species (Annex I species and migratory birds) and wetlands of international importance. • Identification and classification of SPAs is the responsibility of Member States, but European Commission and Court of Justice ensure adequateness of the network (BirdLife's Important Bird Areas are used as reference).

13. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : From identification to designation of sites The “Habitats” Directive • First step: elaboration of a list ofproposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCI) by the Member States • Second step: Biogeographic seminars and adoption of the list ofSites of Community Importance (SCI) by the Commission. • Third step: designation ofSpecial Areas of Conservation (SAC)by the Member States - as soon as possible and within six years at most.

14. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : From identification to designation of sites The “Habitats” Directive According to Biogeographical Regions Alpine Pannonian Macaronesian Mediterranean Continental Atlantic Steppic Black Sea Boreal

15. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : From identification to designation of sites • Member States are responsible for the designation, protection, management, monitoring and financing of NATURA 2000 sites. • The site designation process is exclusively based on scientific / biological criteria. • Socio-economic interests, land use and future management issues are not a determining element at this stage.

16. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : From identification to designation of sites  Natura 2000 Barometer The Natura 2000 Barometer gives an updates statistical information on the progress in establishing the Natura 2000 network. It contains information on number of sites and areas covered, as indicated by Member States. It is established and updated twice a year by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity in Paris

17. NATURA 2000 NETWORK & Management of NATURA 2000 sites EU “NATURE” LEGISLATION : • After designation, Member States have to restore/maintain natural habitats and species, for which the site has been designated to/in a favourable conservation status • Member States have to take appropriate measures in order to avoid the deterioration of habitats • Measuresshall take account of economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics. • Member State authorities can decide to go beyond the requirements of the Directives (stricter protection).

18. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : Hunters and anglers are directly affected and concerned by the loss of biodiversity ! It is in our interest to preserve the European natural heritage !

19. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : The Commission recognises that: • “..many of our favourable habitats are the result of traditional land use and their conservation is dependent on traditional practices and skills.” • “..many sites in Natura 2000 network are valuable precisely because of the way they have been managed up to now. In such cases it will be important to ensure that these sorts of activities can continue into the future.” • “..some of the most important wildlife sites in Europe have survived the pressures of development and destruction due to the interest of wildlife uses, such as hunting and angling.”

20. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : • Hunting and angling are just two of many different possible uses of NATURA 2000 sites • Hunting and angling can have a favourable or unfavourable impact on species and habitats, and restrictions or encouragement may be necessary to achieve the conservation objectives of sites • Disturbance by wildlife use depends on: • Type of hunting or angling • Intensity of hunting or angling, frequency and duration • Species concerned and management of the suitable habitats • Availability of hunting- / angling-free areas

21. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : • Important to have a better scientific knowledge of the impact of hunting and angling on species and habitats inside (and outside) NATURA 2000 sites • It might be necessary to adapt or restrict local hunting and angling practices and to introduce new management rules

22. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : • Properly managed wildlife use can contribute to the maintenance of habitats and species in NATURA 2000 sites • NATURA 2000 is an opportunity for wildlife users because - it helps preserve biodiversity and ecosystems - it allows users to demonstrate their commitment to nature conservation- it provides financial opportunities for land owners and managers

23. The Sustainable Hunting Initiative“The FACE – BirdLife International Agreement” WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : • Co-signed by former Environment Commissioner Ms. WALLSTRÖM • “Both organisations support the establishment of the NATURA 2000 network” • “Both organisations stress that in principle NATURA 2000 designation is not incompatible with hunting. They acknowledge that properly managed hunting inside Natura 2000 sites can continue as long as it is compatible with the site's conservation objectives”

24. The Sustainable Hunting Initiative“The FACE – BirdLife International Agreement” WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 :

25. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : The Sustainable Hunting Initiative“The Guidance Document on Hunting” “Hunting is only one of the many potential uses of NATURA 2000 sites, alongside uses such as agriculture, fisheries and other forms of recreation.” “There is no general presumption against hunting in NATURA 2000 areas”

26. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : “A Sustainable Hunting & Angling Initiative” ?

27. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : “A Sustainable Hunting & Angling Initiative” ? • Natura 2000 Preparatory Actions (5 lots) — prepublished as 'Preparatory actions related to the Natura 2000 network'. • “…This call for tender will include measures to support an integrated management approach for Natura 2000 sites with different characteristics and ownership, to improve networking, to promote sustainable hunting...” • Lot No 4: Promotion of Natura 2000 in the community of wildlife recreational users (hunters and anglers)  4 Tasks

28.  4 Tasks • Task 1: The further development of awareness-raising measures concerning EU nature legislation among the hunting community and further promotion of Natura 2000 in EU-27(FACE + ELO) • Task 2: An assessment of the current Sustainable Hunting Initiativeincluding an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses (IUCN-ROfE) • Task 3: Through contacts and discussions with representative organisations toprepare the foundations for extending the Sustainable Hunting Initiative to cover non-bird species and to engage other wildlife recreational users (anglers) (FACE + ELO) • Task 4: To support the organisation of a conference bringing together hunters / anglers organisations, Conservation organisations, Landowners and national/ regional local authorities.The conference will address the general issue of the relationship between hunting and species and habitat conservation andif possible should also include the signing of an extended Sustainable Hunting Initiative. (FACE + ELO)

29. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : The NATURA 2000 Network needs the active support of all resource users, including hunters & anglers

30. WILDLIFE USE & NATURA 2000 : “I would like to correct one of the common misconceptions about NATURA 2000 – which is that once a site is designated all economic activities have to stop. This is simply not true and it is unfortunate that this mythcontinues. The NATURA network consists of living landscapes in which farming, fishing, forestry and hunting can continue.” Stavros DIMAS – Commissioner for the Environment EU Nature Policy – Challenges in a changing world 14th February 2008

31. RECOMMENDATIONS : • Dialogue and Partnershipbetween all local stakeholders regarding the management of sites to achieve common objectives • Communication of these management measuresto the public at large and exchange of good practices between local stakeholders • Information for local stakeholdersto provide better understanding of the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities a site implies • Recognition of the contribution of each stakeholderin the management and preservation of sites

32. Wildlife users should get involved by… RECOMMENDATIONS : • Finding outmorefrom the local administrationabout NATURA2000 sites, species and habitats of Community interest • Actively participatingin the drafting of local management plans and their implementation and monitoring • Looking forcommon interests or responsible compromisesbetween conservation measures and the management of habitats and huntable species • Taking charge ofthose management operationsfor which they have particular expertise • Implementing sustainable managementof habitats and huntable species • Raising awareness among the hunting communityfor the importance of NATURA 2000 and the funding opportunities it presents • Sharing knowledgewith other stakeholders

33. Thank you for your attention