Transcript The concept of ecological networks and "green corridors". Design

The concept of ecological
networks and “green
corridors”.
Design and implementation.
Current status and trends
with focus on Europe.
Transboundary cooperation
Mart Külvik
Estonia
content
•
•
•
•
Concept, terms, philosophy
Status and trends: European policies
Upside down approach
Bottom-up approach
Concept, terms, philosophy
concept
Ecological networks –
coherent assemblages of areas representing
natural and semi-natural landscape elements
that need to be conserved, managed or, where
appropriate, enriched or restored in order to
ensure the favourable conservation status
of ecosystems, habitats, species and landscapes
of regional importance across their traditional
range (Bennett, 1998)
terms
•
•
•
•
•
wide range of names worldwide:
greenways in the USA, Australia and New
Zealand
ecological infrastructure, ecological framework
extensive open space systems, multiple use
nodules, wildlife corridors, landscape restoration
network
habitat networks, territorial systems of
ecological stability, framework of landscape
stability
the network of ecologically compensating areas
Core area
components
Landscape corridor
Core area
 Core areas
 Corridors
Stepping stone corridor
Core area
 Buffer zones
 Restoration
areas
Linear corridor
Bufferzone
Restoration area
Variety of ecological networks appearance
why ecological
network needed?
Changing land-use patterns is
creating fragmented habitats
 Stress for ecosystems is increasing
Number of threatened and
endangered species is expanding
philosophy of econet
 The underlying philosophy of the establishment
of an econet is to promote synergy between
existing nature policies, land-use planning, rural
and urban development.
 Econet offers a dynamic framework for
integrating several sectors policies in relation to
nature conservation and management that will
build on and benefit from the existing
agreements, programmes and initiatives.
 Econet does not only consists of legally protected
areas, valuable landscapes and habitats are not
restricted protected areas only. Corridors and
buffer zones very often maintained or managed
by different land-use sectors.
Status and trends:
European policies
status and trends
Central part of an international political process:
the establishment of Pan-European Ecological
Network (PEEN) is a priority theme of the PanEuropean Biological and Landscape Diversity
Strategy (PEBLDS), endorsed in 1995 at 3rd
“Environment for Europe” (EfE) Ministerial
Conference, Sofia
The target of
the Pan-European Biological and
Landscape Diversity Strategy:
‘To ensure that a full range of ecosystems,
habitats, species and their genetic diversity
and landscape of European importance are
conserved; habitats are large enough to place
species in a favourable conservation status;
there are sufficient opportunities for
dispersal and migration of species; damaged
elements of the network are restored and the
system is buffered from potential threats’
(PEBLDS, 1995)
5th EfE Ministerial Conference in Kyiv, May 2003:
biodiversity resolution endorsed by Environment
Ministers:
target 2006: PEEN will be identified and reflected
on coherent indicative European maps in all States
of the Pan-European region,
target 2008: all core areas adequately conserved
and the PEEN gives guidance to all major national,
regional and international land use and planning
policies + to the operations of relevant economic and
financial sectors.
Upside down approach
Indicative map of the Pan-European Ecological Network in CEE:
AREA
Methodology: basic lines of reasoning
Internationall y
desig nated are as
+
Core areas
Inter nationally
ackn owl edged are as
+
Areas fulfi llin g size
cr iterion
+
Pan-European
Corridors
Major ri vers in r egion
+
Co nnections size
cla ss II and II
Consultation
Indicative map of the PanEuropean Ecological
Network
Basic map 1:
internationally designated sites
Basic map 2:
internationally acknowledged sites
Basic map 3:
PEEN habitats map
Analysis steps:
Step 1. Determine large non-fragmented ‘natural’
habitat (complexes) that fulfil species demands
Step 2. Add on corridors: Known migration and
potential dispersal routes
Step 3. Estimation of patch sites that support key
populations of indicator species
Step 4. GIS analysis
Indicative map of the Pan-European Ecological Network in SEE:
AREA
Slo
Cro
BiH
SCG
Bg
Mk
Al
Gr
Tr
100
0
100
1:13.000.000
200 Kilometers
© CKFF
Project team
 Albania: Directorate of Nature Protection
 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Agricultural Institute
 Bulgaria: Wilderness fund
 Croatia: University of Zagreb
 Macedonia: Agency of Environment
Serbia-Montenegro: Institute for Nature Conservation
 Slovenia: Center for Cartography Fauna and Flora
 Turkey: WWF Turkey
 LEAD: European Centre for Nature Conservation
Bottom-up approach
Objectives of the project

to develop the concepts and methodologies
for national ecological networks in Baltics;

to implement the concept of ecological
network at state level and in pilot areas at
county level;

to develop maps, databases and action plans
for implementation of National Ecological
Networks.
3
Ecological network of Lithuania
Traffic accidents with large
mammals (by L.Klein)
To supplement the green
network at county level
IUCN Regional Office for Europe
1
Large natural and semi-natural
areas
IUCN Regional Office for Europe
21
conclusions
• Ecological greenway networks have huge
potentials in ecological perspectives but also to
unite Europe.
• Among the most important potentials is their
function as both an ecological and social network
on different levels.
• The network has a potential to increase coordination across the “human borders” of
administrations, countries, regions and local
spots and to increase co-operation between
administrative sectors, local people and NGOs.
• The real potential of the ecological networks is,
however, that they might potentially widen our –
conservationists’ -- understanding of interaction
with nature in a socio-economic context.
Many thanks for your attention!