Nature reporting under the Habitats and Birds Directive – measuring progress to Target 1

2013 BIODIVERSITY EIONET WORKSHOP Nature reporting under the Habitats and Birds Directive –measuring progress to Target 1 Douglas Evans European Topic Centre− Biological Diversity

What are Article 17 reports ? • 6 yearly assessment of the conservation status of all habitats & species listed in Annexes I, II, IV & V of the Habitats Directive • Covers all national territory – not just Natura 2000 sites [also includes a general report on implementation of the directive]

24 First Deliveries • (9 by deadline) 13 Second deliveries • Germany, Greece & Slovakia still to deliver Published on ETC/BD website

Green – 1st & 2nd delivery Yellow - 1stdelivery Red – No delivery Croatia joined the EU this year – no report for 2007-12

Data quality Percentage of reports with conservation assessment reported as ‘unknown’ Preliminary figures based on incomplete data – likely to change

Still many problems & improvement required for next round For example • Spatial data more homogenous than before • Clear that agreed standards not always respected Questionnaire planned for early 2014

Typical problems with spatial data Calculation of range doesn’t follow guidelines (here Range= distribution) Two grids used

Target 1 “… 100% more habitat assessments and 50% more species assessments under the Habitats Directive show (a favourable or) an improved conservation status”

Measuring improvement • Percentage of 'favourable conservation status‘ (A) • Percentage improving assessments (B) • Compare A+B to target

Are changes ‘genuine’ ? – Audit trails a = genuine change b & c = changes in method, better data, etc d = no information nc = no change

But also Article 12 reports for birds • Deadline for reports is end of 2013 • No deliveries so far • EU redlist for non EU countries

What will we do with the MS reports ? • EU conservation assessments (including public consultation) • EEA Technical Report & associated web site • European Commission Composite report (spring 2015) Reports will cover both directives

Contents of EEA Technical Reportaround 100 pages Authors and acknowledgements Executive summary 1 Introduction to the reporting under Habitats and Birds Directive 2 Overall results from Article 12 reporting (Birds Directive) 2.1. Population sizes and trends Data quality and completeness 2.2. Range sizes and trends Data quality and completeness 2.3. Status at the EU27 level 2.4. Threats and pressures 2.5. Conservation measures

3 Overall results from Article 17 reporting (Habitats Directive) 3.1 Biogeographical assessments from the Member States Data quality and completeness 3.2 Biogeographical assessments at EU27 level 3.3 Threats and pressures 4 Natura 2000 and conservation status 5 Results per ecosystems 6 Progress under the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

Ecosystems (based on MAES) Grasslands Cropland Heathland & shrub Woodland & forests Sparsely vegetated land Wetlands Rivers & lakes Coastal Marine inlets & transitional waters Shelf Open ocean Urban Each habitat & species to be allocated to one or more ecosystems

Thank you For further information see http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Reporting/Article_17 http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Reporting/Article_12

Nature reporting under the Habitats and Birds Directive – measuring progress to Target 1