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This guidance provides an overview of Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) in Europe and the protections and provisions of the Habitats and Birds Directives under the Natura 2000 network. It also highlights the benefits and prospects of IWT in terms of relieving road congestion and promoting greener and more energy-efficient transport.
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EC GUIDANCE ON IWT AND NATURA 2000CHAPTERS 1 & 2 Kerstin Sundseth, Ecosystems LTD
Chapter 1: Overall purpose • To give an overview of IWT in Europe • Vital stats on IWT in EU ( basedmainly on Eurostat) • Prospects and advantages of IWT (relieve road congestion, greener, more energy efficient..) Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Chapter 1: Overall purpose • Outline the EU policyframework in place to support IWT • EU White Paper: more sustainableapproach to transport • Naiades Programme for IWT : Platina etc. • Ten- T programme – 30 priorityprojectsincl 2 for IWT Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Chapter 2: Overall purpose • To give an overview of the purpose of the Habitats and Birds Directives and their main provisions • Illustrate how they have been applied on a number of major IWT rivers in the EU Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Habitats & Birds Directives • Overall objectives : • To protect rare or endangeredspecies • Ca 1500 species and 230 habitat types • All wildbirds • Ca 1000 otheranimals and plants listed in annex IV of FFH • To conserve core areas for thesespeciesthroughdesignaton and management of Natura 2000 sites • Ca 26,000 sites in Natura 2000 • Ensuretheir long termsurvival (Favourable Conservation Status) Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Habitats & Birds Directives • Species protection provisions prohibit eg: • Deliberate disturbance, particularly during breeding, rearing, hibernating etc.. • Deterioration or destruction of breeding sites or resting places applies throughout species range (ie also outside Natura 2000 sites) ie relevant to IWT sector too Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Habitats & Birds Directives • Habitat protection provisions within Natura 2000: • Take positive conservation measures as required (Art 6.1) • Avoid deterioration of site and disturbance of species (Art 6.2) • Approval procedure for plans and projects that might have adverse effect on integrity of site (Art 6.3 & 6.4) • New developments not excluded but must be done in way that safeguards the habitats and species for which site is designated N2000 unless for IROPI Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Implementation of HBD on main EU navigable rivers • Rivers of high importance for EU biodiversity: • Complex • Dynamic • Connected longitudinally and laterally Complex mosaic of habitats attracts large diversity of species both heavily dependent on rivers - Also provides valuable ecosystem services Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Implementation of HBD on main EU navigable rivers • Lakes and river ecosystems represent 4% of Natura 2000 Network Analysis of 13 main IWT rivers to map N2000 sites and identify EU protected species & habitats for which sites have been designated range from ca 13% - 73% of river – but caution with figures Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Implementation of HBD on main EU navigable rivers • The Natura 2000 viewer for details on sites http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/ Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Implementation of HBD on main EU navigable rivers Natura 2000 on main IWT rivers: • 18 habitat types - eg Riparian mixed forests, alluvial meadows, different types of rivers. • 30 fish species - eg Aspius aspius, Alosa alosa, Zingel zingel, Cottus gobio • 20 invertebrate species - eg Unio crassus, Ophiogomphus cecilia.. • 11 plant species - eg Dicranum viride, Liparis loeselii • 50 bird species – eg Alcedo atthis, Botauris stellaris, Ciconia nigra • 6 mammal species – eg Lutra lutra, Castor fiber, Myostis dascycneme • 6 amphibian species – Bombina bombina, Triturus dobrogicus • 1 reptile – Emys orbicularis Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
‘favourable’ (green), • ‘unfavourable inadequate’ (amber), • ‘unfavourable bad’ (red) or • ‘unknown’ (grey). Implementation of HBD on main EU navigable rivers • Health check of conservation status of FFH habitat types and species done in 2009 Green= favourable, Amber= unfavourable –inadequate; Red = unfavourable –bad; Grey = unknown Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010
Implementation of HBD on main EU navigable rivers Bullhead, Cottus gobio White-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis Thick shelled river mussel, Unio crassus Ecosystems LTD 3rd EC Rivers WG – Nov 2010