The importance of training and awareness

1. The importance of training and awareness Hanns Kirchmeir, E.C.O. Institute for Ecology In Cooperation with: • Federal Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein • Technical University of Vienna

2. Gap Analysis • legal procedures for the application of directives • management and organizational structures • ecological assessment • socio-economic dimension

3. Results: Transnational tools and strategy for the better management and implementation of Natura 2000 sites • Joint Transnational Action Plans • Common Monitoring Tool • Tools for further implementation: • Training Needs Assessment • IPAM Expert System • Financial Portfolio

4. Joint transnational action plans • Goal • Consistent methodology and structure all over Europe • Target group • Decision makers (assignment) • Protected area manager or consultancy (preparation) • Requisites • Comprehensive information on the target species or habitat • Personal contact to nature conservation experts from different countries

5. 3 Action plans for species • White stork (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) • Pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) • Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii)

6. 3 Action plans for habitats • Calcareous fens (7210, 7230) • Coastal habitats (2110, 2120, 2130, 2250 • Freshwater habitats (3130, 92A0)

7. Monitoring Tool • Content: • Definition of a monitoring method • Goal: • Allow evaluation of current conservation status of habitats and species • Specific action planning on the management level • Objective: • To monitor the effectiveness of conservation actions • Methodological approach: • developed in a transnational process of knowledge exchange

8. All gaps show: Missing capacity • individual competence • organization and network • financial resources

9. Diversity of approaches! Integration of different interests ! Diversity of categories ! Diversity of technical issues ! International requirements, regional demands ! Permanent lack of ressources ! Communicating! Marketing! Deciding! Financing! Creating benefits! To tell the truth: planning and managing Protected Areas is a hard work.

10. Success Protected Areas: Solution There are three golden rules, how to properly manage a Protected Area. Unfortunately, nobody knows them. Undoubtably, highly skilled and motivated personalities are the key to sucess.

11. The Vision: The knowledge exchange system of protected areas exchange inside the PA – old and young staff exchange by involving the knowledge of regional stakeholders

12. Individual Competence job profile for the management of protected areas is missing Integrated Management of Protected Areas Directors, heads of administration Tools and skills for Protected Areas: visitor management, finances, conservation, law enforcement, etc. Middle management level Technical competencies: languages, IT, accounting, maintenance, etc.) Technical staff, rangers, field guides

13. Exemplary institutional competencies= sum of all individual competencies Exemplary individual competencies

14. Gained success Within the Be-Natur project we provided 33 trainings with local stakeholder involvement

15. Observed findings:Barriers for Trainings • Organisationally • No appraisal for knowledge/skill improvement • no money for training • no time for staff training

16. Stakeholder involvement and Awareness rising Young people are important … but don’t forget decision makers!!!

17. Results for young people • Didactic brochure on wetland habitats

18. But also adult people have been reached • By trainings • Excursions • Stakeholder involvement

19. Finding of Stakeholder involvement: Protected Manager in place + Communication capacity = Private landowners will implement measures

20. Organization and network • every site should be supported and supervised by a competent and trained person • This person/institution serves as the direct contact for all stakeholder groups • coordination and networking between individual sites • installation of a centralized institution would significantly improve and foster the effectiveness of current management (Natura 2000Centers of Excellence)

21. Presentet tool: IPAM – Self Assessment and Knowledge Base • Self assessment of management status • Sharing of results and experiences • Searching for specific information and new developments • The system consists of three components • Self-assessment • Recommendations • Knowledge Base

22. Training contents The toolbox refers to the life cycle and the integrated management approach ww.ipam.info

23. Financial Portfolio for Protected Area Management “ The performance of a protected area is closely linked to the financial resources of the site” • Financial „gap analysis“ giving an orientation on the financial planning of protected areas • Visualisation of the complexity of funding strategies

24. Sources of funding • National- level: • Taxes, levies, surcharges and tax incentives • Tax deduction schemes • Grants from private foundations • … • International: • Multilateral banks • Global Environment Facility (GEF) • Bilateral development co-operation agencies etc. • … • Site-level: • User fees • Cause-related marketing • Adoption programmes • …

25. Basic scheme showing the system of prioritizing among finance mechanisms

26. Thank you for your attention!