Natura 2000 Seminars1

Alpine BiogeographicalRegion

First Steering Committee Meeting

EC DG ENV, Brussels, 3 July 2012, 11:00-16:30

Draft Minutes

ECNC, ARCADIS Belgium, Aspen International, CEH, ILE SASSeptember 2012

Natura 2000 Seminars1

Participants: Aulikki Alanen (FI), Marita Arvela (ETC/BD), Silvia Barova (EC DG ENV), Annika Bente (D), Marie-Alice Budniok (ELO), Vesela Chulashka (BG), Lora Dimitrova (BG), Jana Durkosova (SK), Inka Gnittke (EC DG ENV), Ctibor Kocman (EC DG ENV), François Kremer ( EC DG ENV), Andras Krolopp (EHF), Andrzej Langowski (PL), Christian Plössnig (AT), Lucille Rambaud (F), Werner Rehklau (D), John Smaranda (RO), Frank Vassen (EC DG ENV), Lawrence Jones-Walters (contractor), Johan Lammerant (contractor), Ben Delbaere (contractor).

  1. Introduction

François Kremer introduces the New Biogeographical Process (See PPT on CIRCA / CIRCABC):

  • The focus is on knowledge management in support of managing Natura 2000. No additional reporting for MS is involved. The process is about networking and cooperation. The meetings that are part of the process are only milestones in a longer process. A communication platform is under development and will be based on the model of
  • All relevant documents are on CIRCA / CIRCABC:
    CIRCA will be changed to CIRCABC. For CIRCABC MS have to register (1st step) and be invited for the group (2nd step). For the 2nd step MS need to inform the EC that they registered to CIRCABC and want to have access to the Alpine interest group (and other groups).
  • The New Biogeographical Process is an organic and dynamic process, aiming to collect tacit knowledge, rather than published knowledge.
  • Points of attention:
  • it is important for MS to involve and mobilise their experts and existing networks and to involve NGOs.
  • See already available background document and other docs from previous seminar rounds on CIRCABC to see what has been produced.
  • The Alpine region is different from others, as it spreads across Europe and is composed of a number of detached subregions. 12 MS are involved.
  • AT: question on timetable: June 2013 is too early for the Alpine seminar as it coincides with the Art. 17 reporting deadline. October 2013 would be better. EC: this is possible, but we should consider consequences regarding other regions that are to follow. Important is to start the process asap.
  • D: question on pre-scoping document: do MS contribute to it by September? In D this coincides with the Länder submitting their art. 17 reports to the national level. EC: MS are not involved in the pre-scoping document, this should not cause clashes. For the background document (which comes later in the process) experts in MS will be asked for references and review, based on a draft prepared by the contractor. Individual experts will not need to review the entire document but only selected habitats.
  • SK: NBP is understood and supported by the ministry. There is some hesitation with experts because of lack of money to get involved (e.g. to cover travel). SK is in favour of postponing the seminar date and document production. EC: expenses of invited non-governmental experts are covered by EC (2-3 per MS for workshop and seminar).
  • RO: in favour of postponing the process because of bilateral seminars of RO/EC and BG/EC with regard to first round of biogeographical seminars to be held this autumn. Also RO faces lack of resources. EC: for this autumn little effort from MS is expected because most work is done by ETC/BD and the contractor. There is no need for MS to worry about workload.
  • ETC/BD: early September for the pre-scoping document is tight. Supports postponing seminar.
  • There is general agreement in the SC to postpone the Alpine seminar to October 2013.
  1. Initial discussion on the seminar themes

Marita Arvela presents the draft pre-scoping document (PSD) (see PPT on CIRCA / CIRCABC):

  • In table of top 20: the ETC will check consistency between nr of MS covered and subregions covered.
  • MS and NGOs will be asked to select minimum 15 habitat types from the top 20 and maximum 5 from the total list of 89. A total list will be prepared in the same format and ranking as the top 20 by the ETC/BD. MS can also indicate maximum three species (or species groups) to be covered (e.g. large carnivores).
  • The pre-scoping document will be ready by the 2nd SC meeting; a 1st draft background document and information sheets will be ready by the 3rdSC meeting. MS can already now prime their experts on the basis of the existing questionnaire on CIRCABC. SC members ensure distribution and collection in country and send collected information to the contractor. If preferred experts can also send their responses directly to the contractor. All input is welcome. MS can also propose cross-cutting themes to be dealt with (e.g. land abandonment).
  • Habitat types are grouped for exchange and discussion. An initial grouping of the top 20 habitats was put forward as follows.The grouping of the selected habitat types and species will be discussed at the next SC meeting:

Grasslands (6)
6520
6210
6230
6410
6510
6430 / Rivers & lakes (8)
91E0
3230
3220
3160
3240
3150
3260
3140
Bogs & mires (5)
7230
7140
7220
91D0
7110 / Glacier (1)
8340
  • It is advised to have an excursion in both meetings;
  • AT: should invitees to workshop be the same as for the seminar? EC: Preferably not. The host MS decides on the maximum nr of invitees. This is to be discussed in the next SC meeting.
  • ELO: advises on involving stakeholders as early as possible. MS are to nominate experts for workshops/seminars.
  1. Collaboration and communication platform

Lawrence Jones-Walters summarizes the process of meetings and document production (see PPT on CIRCA / CIRCABC):

  • On the question whether MS want time to vote on top 20 habitat types to consider, most MS feel the need to do so. Both the list for the entire Alpine region and lists for subregions need to be checked and approved by the MS. Already now some MS have comments on the list (e.g. France and Austria feel there is a lack of forest habitats; for Finland only one habitat typeof the top 20 is also listed in the Fennoscandian top habitat list in the pre-scoping document). Comments can be provided by MS by 27 July. MS can select 15 habitat types of the top 20 as provided by ETC/BD + max 5 other habitat types. Also MS can raise the need to cover species specific issues and cross-cutting themes.
  • How to deal with species? In previous seminars a question was included in the working groups on species-specific measures to be taken. MS can indicate species in their feedback on the habitat list.Now there is also the possibility to propose species or species groups as a specific issue to be discussed, next to the habitats. This applies in particular to species that are hard to link to specific habitats e.g. large carnivores.
  • Background document: this is based on already existing information by MS and experts. It is a dynamic scrapbook that provides a unique reference. AT: who will decide on the final version of the background document? EC: The contractor includes comments in track changes or highlights. The document is mainly a collection, a living document, in future to be an online database. It does not have a final delivery date.
  • Communication platform: an outline will be delivered to the EC this week. On that basis a mock-up will be created for discussion with the EC end August and then at the next SC meeting.
  • AT: non administration-experts/NGOs to beinvolved in the background document should be also nominated by the EC and contractor. The SC should be informed who has been invited/who contributed.
  1. Any other business
  • The overall timetable of the biogeographical process will be discussed with the MS in the Nature Directors meeting. Therefore MS are invited to propose options on how to combine regions in the seminar process.
  1. Overview of next steps/time table
  • 6 July: Contractor will send list of 89 habitat types to Steering Committee (SC) members;
  • 27 July: SC members send their list of top 20 (15 plus 5 habitats) and 3 species (groups) to contractor; no reaction by MS = agreement with list;
  • 3 August: Contractor works out ranking list incl. top 20 plus the ranking list of the proposed species and send it to ETC, with copy to SC members;
  • 26 Sept: ETC/BD prepares the revised pre-scoping document including the selected habitats and species and sends it to SC members;
  • 3 October: 2nd SC meeting (Back to back with Habitats Committee). Discussion/agreement on1) The final list of selected habitat types and species; 2) The grouping of the habitats and species; 3) Further organizing the process: how to take into account the sub-regions, cross-cutting issues, who will lead which habitat / species group, etc;
  • early 2013: 3rd SC meeting;
  • March/April 2013: 4th SC meeting (tbc);
  • late May/early June 2013: Alpine preparatory workshop;
  • late June: 5th SC meeting;
  • October 2013: Alpine Natura 2000 seminar.

ECNC, ARCADIS Belgium, Aspen International, CEH, ILE SASSeptember 2012