Transcript L. Miko, EC - Natura 2000

Nature management challenges
(from non-intervention in wilderness to systematic management in
human induced ecosystems)
Management of protected areas
in European framework
Ladislav Miko
European Commission, DG ENV
Biodiversity threats and our ambitions
• Biodiversity:
– Decline 10-1000 times faster
than natural, extinctions
– Simplification of communities,
homogenisation
– Decrease of specialised,
endemic, local species
– Increased amount of
generalists, « weedy » species,
– Loss of identity
– Loss of functions – limited
resilience
level of
ambition
dream
???
EU
world
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Ecosystems – functional units of biosphere
• Ecosystem services
– Objective (supporting all life on the Earth)
– Anthropocentric (services for humankind, see MEA)
• Relationship biodiversity – ecosystem function very
complex :
– Importance of key (umbrella) species
– Redundancy of species (how many bricks may be
taken from the wall before it collapses?)
– Relationships between complexity and stability
(resistance, resilience) of ecosystems
• Decline of biodiversity and decline of ecosystem
services positively interrelated (mostly not linear though
– eg. issue of thrersholds)
Where is nature?
European nature: specifics
• European nature identity
changed: original pristine biomes
almost fully replaced by cultural
land, even if with different level of
human interventions
• Nature conservation approaches
reflect this situation: different level
of active management of natural
sites applied, very variable within
different European countries
• Unlike in other continents,
„wilderness area“ as a nature
conservation category is almost
absent
(? some „zapovedniks“ in Russia)
Virgin/Wild areas: Should we care?
•
•
•
•
•
Original European nature
Evolution
Natural succession
Base-line for science
We may be not able to know
everything regarding proper
management
• New challenges (climate
change): different responses
should be checked
• We require the same from others
in other parts of the world
• Emotional and ethical reasons
Management: how to approach?
• Basic question in nature
conservation: succession
or succession stage ?
• Usually highly decisive for
level of human intervention
• If support to particular
habitat or species – in
majority of cases
interventions (active
management) necessary
• If natural processes are the
objective: no intervention or
low intervention to be
implemented or as a goal
TRENDS
Hunting, fishing
Sealing
Urbanisation
Linear infrastructure
(transport, energy)
Intensification
trend likelihood
of change
Medium Sustainability, regulation
Medium Minimization
Low
Green infrastructure
Medium Minimisation of net increase
Interaction elements
Low
(simplification, unification)
Invasive species
Pollution/toxic substances
Answer
Interaction elements (green
infrastructure), no-go areas
Medium Regulation, active eradication
Medium Replacement, minimisation
Water extremes, regime
Low
Regime restoration, green
infrastructure, multifunction
Climate change
Speed of changes
Low
Minimization, adaptation
Very low Space-low speed areas (???)
Green infrastructure (1)
• What?
– Interconnected patches within the matrix:
bio-centers (core areas) and bio-corridors
– Patches - « Space for nature »:
• NATURA 2000: cornerstone: all sorts of
management regimes (non-intervention/soft
intervention/ intensive management)
• Multi-functional landscape (outside of protected
areas)
– Interaction elements:
• Natural: corridors, stepping stones, small patches ..
• Man-made: restoration,‘new nature’,‘eco-ducts’
Green infrastructure (2)
• How?
– Knowledgede base: information, data,
indicators
– Impact assesment (individual projects etc.)
• quality, relevance; expert level
– Ecosystem accounting (general)
– Ecosystem assesments (general – EU level)
– Policy development: integration/other policies
– Implementation:
• Guidance - Advice - Compliance check - Enforcement
– International co-operation (EU, PEBLDS, E-Econet)
What we have?
• Legislation (directly linked):
–
–
–
–
NATURA 2000: Birds, Habitats Directives
Water Framework, Marine Directives
Soil Framework Directive (on the way)
EIA, SEA, Environmental liability
• Action frameworks (some):
– Biodiversity Communication/Action Plan
– Forest Action Program (weak)
• Tools:
– Life +
– Rural Development Funds
– Cohesion Fund, Structural Funds
What is in pipeline / still needed?
• Alien species: ongoing preparatory work
• Climate change adaptation (green paper)
• Management approaches (full range needed –
from ‘gardening’ to wilderness)
• Connectivity: article 10 (Hab.Dir) as entry point
– EC developed guidelines (IEEP contract)
– New contract launched- to develop stronger
concepts and technical support
• Solving conflicts of interests and functions – landuse (ecological) planning concept – to be
discussed
• NEW EXTENDED VISION - BEYOND 2010
Some elements of my vision…
• (1) skeleton: existing high value areas with highest
priority for natural processes (concept of wild areas
missing)
• (2) space for nature: defining of minimum area
necessary for keeping the nature working – Natura
2000 then contributing even if climate change occurs
– need for proper management and (flexible)
conservation objectives
• (3) defragmentation, increased connectivity: land
use, ecological planning, landscape protection
(broader policy for landscape protection missing)
• (4) restoration of deteriorated habitats with a
potential to contribute overall ecological stability
• (5) ‘creation of new nature’ where previous
impossible
• (6) special protection (iconic species, endemites,
rare species, beauty etc.)
Photographs:
© Zdenek Patzelt
Ladislav Miko
Thank you for attention!