Is Europe fulfilling its CBD obligations? An analysis of how the Natura 2000 network meets the requirements of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the CBD

@techreport{citeulike:2860779, abstract = {Natura 2000 is the network of European protected areas which is based on the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This document aims at giving a practical overview of the similarities and differences between the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) and the EC provisions for the protection of natural areas, in particular Natura 2000, and the EU Action Plan on the protection of biodiversity published in 2006. It highlights in the recommendations above as well as in section II and the Annex below the areas where additional work is needed at national and/or European level, beyond the implementation of the most relevant EU legislation and policies, to effectively contribute to reaching the CBD goals on protected areas. The comparison below shows that the PoWPA and the objectives of the different EU instruments are similar, in particular as a result of the EU 2006 Action Plan on biodiversity. Both the EU Action Plan and the Programme of Work fixed a common objective of having a complete network of terrestrial protected areas by 2010 and for the marine environment by 2012. Both instruments have objectives on the integration of protected areas into wider land-and seascapes and agree on the need to create a favourable enabling policy, including the integration of PAs into sectoral policies. The issue of finding sufficient financial resources is of concern to both instruments. Also, both instruments agree on the need for systems to monitor the management of protected sites as well as evaluating the status and trends of biodiversity within PAs. Finally, both instruments agree on the importance of education and awareness-raising as well as the need for further research on biodiversity. The practical and effective implementation at European and Member State level of the provisions of both the PoWPA and EU legislation remains a key challenge if the 2010 Target to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss is to be reached. For example, while the establishment of Natura 2000 is a promising contribution to Goal 1 of the PoWPA for the establishment of a global network of comprehensive, representative and effectively managed system of protected areas, important actions still need to be taken for Natura 2000 to be effectively established. These actions include: completing the network for the EU-27, especially for the marine environment; setting up the necessary management measures and securing their financing; ensuring the integration of PAs into sectoral policies; and communicating effectively about the importance of Natura 2000. Among the main differences between the PoWPA and the EU measures are: Natura 2000’s focus on species and habitats while the CBD aims at protecting a wider range of biodiversity; the PoWPA emphasis on the designation of transboundary protected areas and the establishment of protected areas in marine areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction; the greater importance it gives to the improvement of site-based planning and management, and the request to take action to fight the invasion of alien species and the illegal exploitation of resources. The EU instrument also does not mention aspects of equity and benefit-sharing. In contrast, the EU is further reaching with its legally binding legislation on impact assessments for evaluating the effects of projects or plans on protected areas. Capacity-building of local decision-makers is more at the heart of the CBD Programme, while the EU instruments looks more for public support for biodiversity policy.}, address = {Gland, Switzerland}, author = {{WWF}}, citeulike-article-id = {2860779}, keywords = {2572nat00, cbd, coverage, europe, pas, policy, wwf}, posted-at = {2008-06-04 11:51:34}, priority = {2}, publisher = {World Wide Fund for Nature}, title = {Is Europe fulfilling its CBD obligations? An analysis of how the Natura 2000 network meets the requirements of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the CBD}, url = {http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cbd\_pa\_and\_n2000finaldraft.pdf}, year = {2008} }

TY - RPRT ID - citeulike:2860779 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2860779 TI - Is Europe fulfilling its CBD obligations? An analysis of how the Natura 2000 network meets the requirements of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the CBD AD - Gland, Switzerland PB - World Wide Fund for Nature N2 - Natura 2000 is the network of European protected areas which is based on the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This document aims at giving a practical overview of the similarities and differences between the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) and the EC provisions for the protection of natural areas, in particular Natura 2000, and the EU Action Plan on the protection of biodiversity published in 2006. It highlights in the recommendations above as well as in section II and the Annex below the areas where additional work is needed at national and/or European level, beyond the implementation of the most relevant EU legislation and policies, to effectively contribute to reaching the CBD goals on protected areas. The comparison below shows that the PoWPA and the objectives of the different EU instruments are similar, in particular as a result of the EU 2006 Action Plan on biodiversity. Both the EU Action Plan and the Programme of Work fixed a common objective of having a complete network of terrestrial protected areas by 2010 and for the marine environment by 2012. Both instruments have objectives on the integration of protected areas into wider land-and seascapes and agree on the need to create a favourable enabling policy, including the integration of PAs into sectoral policies. The issue of finding sufficient financial resources is of concern to both instruments. Also, both instruments agree on the need for systems to monitor the management of protected sites as well as evaluating the status and trends of biodiversity within PAs. Finally, both instruments agree on the importance of education and awareness-raising as well as the need for further research on biodiversity. The practical and effective implementation at European and Member State level of the provisions of both the PoWPA and EU legislation remains a key challenge if the 2010 Target to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss is to be reached. For example, while the establishment of Natura 2000 is a promising contribution to Goal 1 of the PoWPA for the establishment of a global network of comprehensive, representative and effectively managed system of protected areas, important actions still need to be taken for Natura 2000 to be effectively established. These actions include: completing the network for the EU-27, especially for the marine environment; setting up the necessary management measures and securing their financing; ensuring the integration of PAs into sectoral policies; and communicating effectively about the importance of Natura 2000. Among the main differences between the PoWPA and the EU measures are: Natura 2000’s focus on species and habitats while the CBD aims at protecting a wider range of biodiversity; the PoWPA emphasis on the designation of transboundary protected areas and the establishment of protected areas in marine areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction; the greater importance it gives to the improvement of site-based planning and management, and the request to take action to fight the invasion of alien species and the illegal exploitation of resources. The EU instrument also does not mention aspects of equity and benefit-sharing. In contrast, the EU is further reaching with its legally binding legislation on impact assessments for evaluating the effects of projects or plans on protected areas. Capacity-building of local decision-makers is more at the heart of the CBD Programme, while the EU instruments looks more for public support for biodiversity policy. KW - 2572nat00 KW - cbd KW - coverage KW - europe KW - pas KW - policy KW - wwf AU - WWF PY - 2008/// UR - http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cbd_pa_and_n2000finaldraft.pdf ER -