European Commission

L I F E I I I

Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites

The contribution of LIFE-nature projects

European CommissionEnvironment Directorate-General

LIFE-Focus is the journal of the LIFE III programme (2000-2006).

LIFE (“L’Instrument Financier pourl’Environnement” / The Financing Instrument for the Environment) is a European Commission programme administered by the LIFE Unit of the Directorate-General for the Environment.

The content of LIFE Focus does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the institutions of the European Union.

Author: Oliviero Spinelli, Comunità Ambiente srl. Revision: Bernard Brookes. Coordinator: Federico Nogara, Life Unit. Managing Editor: Philip Owen, European Commission, Environment DG, LIFE Unit- BU-9 02/1 200 rue de la Loi, B-1049Brussels. LIFE Focus series coordinator: Simon Goss, LIFE Unit. Revision:François Kremer, Nature and Biodiversity Unit,Joaquim Capitao, LIFE Unit. The following people have contributed to this issue: Mats Eriksson, John Houston, MaritaKarling, Britte Küper, Anton Gazenbeek, Ana Guimaraes, Mariella Fourli, Stefanos Fotiou, Concha Olmeda, Olivier Patrimonio,Geert Raeymaekers, Stefano Picchi, Kerstin Sundseth, Marc Thauront, Daniela Zaghi. Production: Nadine Mezard, Martina Perris, Lea Wongsoredjo. Acknowledgements: thanks to Nicole Nowicki of Eurosite for her contribution. Photos: the photos have been taken from LIFE Nature projects and web sites. Graphic design: Paola Trucco (Jumblies).This issue of LIFE Focus is published in English.

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int/life).

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2005.

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European CommissionLIFE Focus / Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites. The contribution of LIFE projects.

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2005.

2005 – 48 pp. – 21x28 cm

ISBN 92-79-00388-7ISSN 1725-5619

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LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 1

Preface

PART ONEGeneral introduction / 3

The Birds and Habitats directive and the Natura 2000 nerwork / 4

General Principles of Natura 2000 site management adopted by Member States / 7

Management guidelines by Member States: the approach in France and Italy / 10

PART TWOCase studies / 15

Natura 2000 and water / 16

Natura 2000 and coastal and marine areas / 20

Natura 2000 and forestry / 24

Natura 2000 and agriculture / 29

PART THREEList of LIFE Nature projects which have included management plan actions / 33

Freshwater habitats / 34

Coastal and marine habitats / 36

Forest habitats / 37

Agricultural and grassland habitats / 39

Other habitats / 41

Fauna species / 42

Bird species / 44

Flora species / 46

Generics / 47

The aim of this brochure is to illustratethe contribution that the LIFE-natureprogramme has made to the integrat-ed management of Natura 2000 sites.The term integrated management isused to indicate the care of a site coin-cidental with the management ofanother activity or resource, such asagriculture or water, as opposed to thesole activity of nature conservation.

The brochure is in three parts.

Part One provides a summary descrip-tion of the key issues of the Birds andHabitats directives linked to the Natura2000 network, an overview of the mainguidelines and recommendations byMember States and an illustration ofnational guidelines and manuals pre-pared in France and Italy with LIFE-nature projects.

Part two contains examples of man-agement plans which were producedduring LIFE-nature projects. They takeinto consideration both issues linked tothe conservation of habitats and spe-cies of EU importance and other sec-tors, such as forestry or river and watermanagement, agriculture and tourism,which have impacts on the manage-ment of Natura 2000 sites.

Part three consists of a list of all LIFE-nature projects which have includedmanagement plans. They total 428, ofwhich a considerable part deals withhabitats and animal species, the lat-ter including large carnivores, birds,amphibians, cetaceans and fish.

The management plans, and the datacollected for their preparation, may beuseful to site managers dealing withthe same habitats and species in simi-lar conditions throughout the EU. Theyrepresent an extraordinary contributionto the development of the Natura 2000network.

For well over ten years the EuropeanUnion has been financing projects toreduce biodiversity loss. The main fi-nancial instrument for the actions hasbeen LIFE, created in 1992 to supportpilot actions in the implementationand development of EU environmen-tal policy. One of the three branches ofLIFE, LIFE-nature, has been dedicatedspecifically to the implementation ofthe Birds and Habitats directives, fun-damental EU legislation for the conser-vation of nature in Europe. The mainobjective of the Habitats directive isthe protection of endangered or oth-erwise valuable natural habitats andplant and animal species. This is achi-eved through the creation of a Euro-pean ecological network of SpecialAreas of Conservation, known simplyas the Natura 2000 network.

Many of the projects financed by LIFE-nature have included managementplans. These serve to anticipate theobligation, under article 6 of the Habi-tats directive, to establish measures toprotect endangered habitats and spe-cies listed in the annexes of that direc-tive.

During recent years, as the selection ofNatura 2000 sites neared completion,administrations and organizations re-sponsible for the Network started toexchange views on the best criteria formanaging the sites. This exchange, ba-sed in great part on experience gainedwith projects co-financed by LIFE-nature, has started a process of inte-gration of different national measuresused to reduce biodiversity loss.

This is a natural development. Admin-istrations responsible for the manage-ment of Natura 2000 sites throughoutthe EU are confronted with similar, andin some cases identical, problems.

In many Member States, for instance,the adoption of conservation plans fornational parks and other protectedareas is a long and complicated exer-cise, often involving parliamentaryapproval. Do we need the same cum-bersome procedure to be used formanagement plans for Natura 2000sites? And which administration shouldbe responsible for managing SpecialAreas of Conservation outside alreadyprotected areas?

Another issue common to all MemberStates is how to involve landownersand land users, such as farmers, in na-ture conservation activities. The Habi-tats directive covers also semi-naturalhabitats, created and maintained byhuman activity, and in order to con-serve biodiversity it is essential, forexample, to conserve certain farmingpractices. What are the most efficientmeans to combat land abandonmentor maintain “traditional” farming? Canthey be applied on a large scale or onlyin limited cases?

Yet another problem common to Mem-ber States has arisen with the adop-tion, in October 2000, of the WaterFramework Directive. Member Statesare obliged to designate water basinsand their management plans, takinginto consideration the conservation ofhabitats and species on Natura 2000sites. In practice, many Member Stateshave merged the responsibilities forNatura 2000 and river basin manage-ment plans into a single body. Is thisthe best approach to managing Natura2000 sites, considering the long time itwill take to approve river basin plans?Will river basin plans favour an engi-neer’s over a nature conservationist’sapproach?

Furthermore, how will managers ofcoastal Natura 2000 sites take into con-sideration the Recommendation by theEuropean Parliament regarding theIntegrated Coastal Zone Management,adopted in 2002, in which MemberStates are requested to take an inte-grated approach to the managementof coastal areas?

PrefaceAs you will see in the following pages,several LIFE-nature projects have inclu-ded preparation of management planswhich combine actions aimed at theconservation of habitats and specieson Natura 2000 sites with agri-environ-mental measures and other measuresaimed at improving water quality andthe forest environment.

This brochure provides examples ofintegrated management plans for Natu-ra 2000 sites co-financed by LIFENature. It includes also a brief illustra-tion of the process of integration ofmeasures adopted by EU Member Sta-tes themselves to guarantee the con-servation of endangered habitats andspecies on these sites. This informa-tion should be of particular use to allconcerned with the sustainable man-agement and administration of natureconservation areas in EU countries andbeyond.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 3

PART ONEGENERAL INTRODUCTION

The Birds and Habitats directive and the Natura 2000 nerwork / 4

General Principles of Natura 2000 site management adopted by Member States / 7

Management guidelines by Member States: the approach in France and Italy / 10

In its conception the Network intro-duced a series of innovative elementsin nature conservation:

• inclusion of semi-natural habitatswhich are the result of centuriesof agricultural activity;

• protection of each area as part of a coherent network, ratherthan as isolated sites;

• the freedom for Member Statesto guarantee the conservation ofsites either with specific manage-ment plans or through conserva-tion measures included in broaderdevelopment plans, rather thanthe establishment of one set ofstrict rules and regulations forgeneral application.

The creation of the network was established by two Europeandirectives.

1.The Birds Directive

The directive on the conservation ofwild birds was established in 19791. Itrequires Member States to preserve,maintain or restore biotopes and habi-tats important for bird species throughthe creation of protected areas. It in-cludes the conservation and manage-ment of habitats inside and outside theprotected zones. Member States arerequired to classify the most importantsites as Special Protection Areas (SPA).These sites should cover species spec-ified in the directive2 and also regularmigratory species not specifically iden-tified in the directive.

2.The Habitats Directive

The “Habitats Directive” on the conser-vation of natural habitats and wild faunaand flora, established in 19923, is aimedat ensuring biodiversity through theconservation of natural habitats andspecies of wild fauna and flora. Measu-res are to be taken to maintain or resto-re habitats to “favourable conservationstatus”.

The Birds and Habitats directivesand the Natura 2000 Network

1 Directive 79/409/EEC on theconservation of wild birds. 2 Listed in Annex I of directive79/409/EEC.3 Directive 92/43/EEC on theconservation of natural habitatsand of wild fauna and flora.

Natura 2000 is a network of areas selected and protected for their high nature conservation

value. Any human activity there should be carried out according to the principles

of sustainable development. The network represents the cornerstone of European Union

policy for the conservation of biodiversity.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 5

4 Pre-defined habitats are listedin Annex I and animal and plantspecies in Annex II. 5 The seven regions are namedAlpine, Atlantic, Boreal,Continental, Macaronesian,Mediterranean and Pannonian.6 The Macaronesian regioncomprises the Portuguese andSpanish territories in the Atlantic(the Azores, Madeira and theCanary Islands).

Article 3 of the directive requires thecreation of Natura 2000, an ecologicalnetwork of protected areas, known asSpecial Areas of Conservation (SAC).These sites host habitat types and habi-tats of plant and animal (excluding birds)species specified in the directive4.

The Natura 2000 network includes alsothe Special Protection Areas estab-lished by the Birds Directive. Areas des-ignated under the 2 directives maycover the same territory.

The Habitats directive lays down thefollowing stages for the designation ofSACs:• each Member State proposes a list

of sites to the European Commis-sion. This is based on an assess-ment of habitats and species presenton proposed sites using commonecological criteria;

• the European Commission, in agre-ement with Member States, adoptsa final list of SCIs (Sites of Commu-nity Interest). These sites are then tobe officially designated by the Mem-ber States as Special Areas of Con-servation within 6 years.

Selection of Natura 2000 sites is madefor each of the seven biogeographicalregions5.

Up to now, final lists of pSCIs havebeen drawn up for the Alpine, Atlantic,Boreal, Continental and Macaronesi-an6, regions. In March 2005, the 19.516proposed Sites of Community Impor-tance were either in the final lists or hadbeen selected for inclusion, covering atotal area of 52,3 million hectares. Therewere also 4.169 SPAs covering 38,2million hectares.

3. Development projects proposedwithin Natura 2000 sites

An important instrument in the protec-tion of Natura 2000 sites is the require-ment, under Article 67 of the HabitatsDirective, to evaluate plans and projectswhich could have a significant impacton the site’s habitats and species. Theauthorities responsible may only agreeto such a project if they have ascer-tained that there will be no significantadverse effects on a site.

In the case that a plan or project un-favourable to a site must neverthelessbe carried out for reasons of overridingpublic interest and due to lack of alter-natives, paragraph 4 of Article 6 re-quires that the Member State take com-pensatory measures to maintain thecoherence of the Natura 2000 networkin that Member State. In practise this isoften resolved by selection of a new siteor sites which can take over the eco-logical value of the site that is being

* The Commission was chaired bythe then Prime Minister of Norway,Mrs. Gro Harlem Bruntland.

1971• Convention on Wetlands of Interna-tional Importance, Ramsar, Iran. Thefirst international treaty on the conser-vation of natural resources. The con-tracting Parties are committed to:• draw up a list of all wetlands in the

country and to designate at leastone site that meets the Ramsar cri-teria for inclusion in a list of wetlandsof international importance;

• protect the ecological character oflisted sites;

• include wetland conservation withinnational land-use planning;

• establish nature reserves on wet-lands and promote education con-cerning wetlands.

The Convention currently includes 138contracting parties and 1.200 sites.1973• First Environmental Action Programof the European Community.• Convention on International Trade in

Main acts and events related to the creation and integrated management of the Natura 2000 Network

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (CITES). An agreement to ensurethat international trade in specimens ofwild animals and plants does notthreaten their survival.1976• Barcelona Convention for the Pro-tection of the Mediterranean Sea aga-inst Pollution, signed by 16 Mediterra-nean states and the EuropeanCommunity, to protect coastal andmarine environments, control pollutionand preserve biodiversity.1979• Bonn Convention on Migratory Spe-cies (CMS), which currently has 80contracting parties, aimed at the con-servation of terrestrial and marine mi-gratory birds throughout their migra-tory routes. The Contracting Partiesagree to provide strict protection forendangered migratory species, toconclude multilateral agreements forthe conservation and management of

migratory species, and to undertakejoint research.• Birds directive. The European Uni-on’s first legal act concerning natureconservation.• Convention on the Conservation ofEuropean Wildlife and Natural Habitats(Bern Convention) covering conserva-tion of wild flora and fauna and theirnatural habitats and promotion of Euro-pean co-operation.1987• Publication of the Bruntland Report“Our Common Future”, by the UnitedNations Commission on Environmentand Development*. The report intro-duces at international level the conceptof sustainable development, defined as“development which meets the needsof the present without compromisingthe ability of future generations to meettheir own needs.”

1988• Publication of “BioDiversity” editedby E.O. Wilson, using a term first intro-duced by Walter G. Rosen in 1985.1992• Convention on biological diversity(CBD) signed at the 1992 Earth Summitin Rio de Janeiro. The Conventionestablishes three main goals: the con-servation of biological diversity, the sus-tainable use of its components, and thefair and equitable sharing of the bene-fits from the use of genetic resources.Article 8 of the CBD states that “EachContracting Party shall, as far as pos-sible and as appropriate:A. Establish a system of protectedareas or areas where special measuresneed to be taken to conserve biologi-cal diversity;B. Develop, where necessary, guide-lines for the selection, establishmentand management of protected areas orareas where special measures need tobe taken to conserve biological diver-sity;C. Regulate or manage biologicalresources important for the conserva-tion of biological diversity whetherwithin or outside protected areas, witha view to ensuring their conservationand sustainable use;D. Promote the protection of ecosys-tems, natural habitats and the mainte-

nance of viable populations of speciesin natural surroundings;E. Promote environmentally sound andsustainable development in areas adja-cent to protected areas with a view tofurthering protection of these areas.”• Convention for the Protection of theMarine Environment of the North-EastAtlantic (OSPAR). The sixteen contract-ing parties aim to protect marine envi-ronments through monitoring and con-trol of a wide range of activities. Inparticular the convention aims to pre-vent and eliminate pollution from land-based sources, from off-shore oil andgas installations and from dumping ofwaste at sea.• Adoption of the Habitats Directive.• Adoption of the 5th Environmentalprogram which marks the start of a hor-izontal European Community approach,which takes into account the causes ofpollution in industry, energy, tourism,transport and agriculture.1993• The Maastrich Treaty sets out thatthe environmental dimension should beintegrated in other sectoral policies. 1997• The Amsterdam Treaty introducesthe principle of sustainable develop-ment as one of the European Commu-nity’s objectives.

7 The wording of Article 6,paragraph 3 is “Any plan or projectnot directly connected with ornecessary to the management ofthe site but likely to have asignificant effect, either individuallyor in combination with other plansand projects, shall be submitted to

appropriate assessment of itsimplications for the site in view of the site conservation objectives(...) the competent nationalauthorities shall agree to the planor project only after havingascertained that it will notadversely affect the integrity of the site and, if appropriate, afterhaving obtained the opinion of thegeneral public.”8 The precautionary principle asdefined in Principle 15 of the 1992Rio Declaration on Environmentand Development, states that“where there are threats of seriousor irreversible damage, lack of fullscientific certainty should not beused as a reason for postponingcost-effective measures to preventenvironmental degradation”.

destroyed. Moreover, in the case of asite hosting a priority habitat type orspecies, a project may only beaccepted on grounds of human healthor public safety, or because it will con-fer benefits of primary importance forthe environment, or further to an opini-on from the European Commission, forother reasons of overriding public inter-est.

When applied correctly, the assessmentprocedure works well in finding a bal-ance between conservation of habitatsand species of EU importance and thedevelopment of economic activities.The procedure helps to ensure consid-eration and appraisal of all feasiblemeasures for avoiding, reducing oreven eliminating negative impacts on asite.

Assessment also helps raising aware-ness of public administrations andstakeholders on the importance of theprecautionary principle8, a keystone ofEU environmental policy.

In recent years various national, regio-nal and local administrations havedrawn up laws or guidelines for the as-sessment of proposed projects whichcould have an effect on Natura 2000sites.

2001• Göteborg-EU heads of state andgovernment agree on the EU Sustain-able Development Strategy, declaringthat decline of biodiversity must behalted by 2010.2002• Adoption of the Sixth CommunityEnvironment Action Program (6th EAP),which sets the environmental agendauntils 2012 and indicates nature andbiodiversity as a priority target.2003• The midterm reform of the CommonAgricultural Policy requires farmers toobserve certain environmental stan-dards and sets out a system of crosscompliance. In order to achieve crosscompliance and to avoid any reductionin the total level of direct aid receivedthe farmer must concur with 19 Statuto-ry Management Requirements (SMRs)and a number of standards aiming toensure the “good agricultural and envi-ronmental condition” (GAEC) of agricul-tural land. The SMRs are based on pre-existing EU Directives and Regulations.GAEC is a new requirement and con-sists of a total of eleven standards relat-ing to the protection of soils and themaintenance of habitats.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 7

Principles of Natura 2000 site management adopted by Member StatesMember States have started to provide guidelines and indications on managing Natura 2000,

often based on surveys and actions carried out within LIFE Nature projects.

Article 6 of the Habitats directiverequires that “for Special Areas ofConservation, Member States shallestablish the necessary conservationmeasures involving, if need be, appro-priate management plans specificallydesigned for the sites or integratedinto other development plans”. In ac-cordance with the principle of subsi-diarity1, it is left entirely up to MemberStates to decide which option to fol-low.

This chapter offers an idea of the cur-rent status of Natura 2000 site man-agement principles implemented byMember States. It is based on infor-mation provided by the Habitats Com-mittee, in which Member States arerepresented to assist the Commissionin the implementation of the HabitatsDirective. The examples given beloware not meant to give a completeoverview of measures adopted in allMember States, but only a generalindication of trends and directionwithin the EU.

All EU Member States have takenconcrete action towards the manage-ment of the Natura 2000 network. Dif-ferent approaches are adopted by dif-ferent countries depending on the sizeof the country, national legislation,administrative organization and nat-ural environment.

1 According to the principle ofsubsidiarity (European Council,Edinburgh, UK, December 1992),measures should only be taken atEU level if it is more effective attreating a problem than measuresat national, regional or local level.

In Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands,the Slovak Republic and Sweden, forinstance, management plans forNatura 2000 sites are obligatory. InBelgium they are obligatory in two ofthe three administrative regions. InFinland, Natura 2000 managementplans are obligatory only for sites innational parks and wilderness areas.In Hungary there is no obligation toadopt a management plan for aNatura 2000 site, except for thosealready protected by national legisla-tion. In the Czech Republic manage-ment plans are mandatory for pro-posed Special Areas of Conservation,but not for Special Protection Areas.Specific management plans are oblig-atory also in some of the Germanregions.

The decision on whether to integrateadequate nature conservation mea-sures within other planning instru-ments, such as territorial plans, riverbasin plans or forestry plans, are oftendelegated to regional bodies of Mem-ber States.

This is the case, for instance, in Italy,where a ministerial decree provides alogical procedure to help local admin-istrators decide whether to adopt aspecific plan or to integrate measuresin other existing plans. In Portugal,measures to protect species and habi-tats listed in the Birds and Habitatsdirectives are to be included in otherterritorial plans.

In Latvia, all Natura 2000 sites aredesignated as Specially ProtectedNature Territories, for which the na-tional government has issued generalrules for their management, includinga list of activities that are allowed andnot allowed.

How to decide when a specific Natura 2000 site management plan is needed

(example from the Italian Ministry of the Environment)

On 24 September 2002, the Italian Official Journal published guidelines for themanagement of Natura 2000 sites. They include indications for public adminis-trators at local level on how to decide whether a specific Natura 2000 manage-ment plan is needed. The decision procedure to establish the need for a specificplan is summarised in six logical phases.

Phase 11.1. Collect all legislative and planning restrictions relevant to the area.1.2. Does the site fall within a protected area?

A. YesIf the site is within a protected area, are the measures within the protected area sufficient to guarantee the conservation of the habitats/species within it?A1. If yes, then specific conservation measures are not needed.A2. If no, pass to Phase 2.

B) No. If the site is not within a protected area, then pass to phase 2.

Phase 2. Verification of existing management measures2.1 According to existing obligatory conservation measures a management

plan is required.A. Existing obligatory conservation measures are sufficient to

guarantee the conservation of habitats/species. No need to proceed further.

OrB. Existing obligatory conservation measures are not sufficient to

guarantee the conservation of habitats/species. Continue.2.2 Is the management plan needed over and beyond any of the existing

planning instruments?• Urban territorial plans• River basin plans• Specific plans (water, coast, forest, fauna, etc)• Other plansA. No, existing plans are sufficient. No need to proceed further, on

condition that the site and plans are monitored to guarantee that the plans continue to be sufficient to protect the habitats/species.

B. Yes, existing plans are not sufficient. Continue.

Phase 3. Integration of existing protection measuresIf existing measures and/or plans are not sufficient, new measures should beadded and the decision three reapplied as from Phase 2.

Phase 4. A management plan is neededIt can take the form of either:

A. New measures inserted into other existing plans, e.g. a national or regional park plan, a territorial coordination plan, a forestry plan etc.

B. A specific plan.

Phase 5. Technical preparation of the planDescribe the different phases of a specific study of conservation measures tobe inserted in other plans and/or a specific Natura 2000 plan.

Phase 6Having established obligatory conservation measures, verify whether additionalmeasures are required to prevent deterioration of habitats/species.

Guidelines for specific Natura2000 management plans

Galway, an ancient city in western Ire-land, is a name well known to Natura2000 managers. It was there, in Octo-ber 1996, that representatives of con-servation agencies, non-governmentalorganizations, Member States, andthe European Commission met toexchange views on the content andstructure of an ideal managementplan. The Galway seminar guidelineshave consistently been used by theCommission as an indication of thebasic elements that a Natura 2000management plan should include. Atthe same time it has always beenmade clear by the Commission thatMember States themselves mustdecide if, when and how managementplans for Natura 2000 sites should bedrawn up. Gradually Member Statesthemselves started to take up thisprocess, encouraged by mountingpressure from local administrationsand other stakeholders.

In 1999 the Italian Ministry of the Envi-ronment obtained LIFE-nature co-financing for a project2 aimed at pro-viding local administrators with auseful model for managing Natura2000 sites. The outcome of the project– carried out in cooperation with sci-entific and non-governmental organi-zations – was the publication3 of gui-delines by the Ministry of theEnvironment, in September 2002. The12 page document was approved bygovernmental decree and publishedin the Italian Official Journal, and isintended to assist local administratorsdecide if a specific management planis needed. As a supplement to guide-lines the Ministry also produced amanual with basic management indi-cations for the habitats and specieslisted in the Habitats directive.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 9

2 Project number LIFE99NAT/IT/006279, The Natura2000 Network in Italy:management models.3 Also available on the website:http://www.minambiente.it

Also in 2002, the Finnish Ministry ofthe Environment produced a guidelinepaper to help Regional EnvironmentalCentres decide where to start inter-vening in site management. EachCentre was required to group Natura2000 sites into four categoriesaccording to the need for a manage-ment plan:• required urgently,• plan required relatively urgently,• plan required,• plan not needed.The task was completed in mid-2005and is to be followed by the draftingof specific plans.

In Sweden, the preparation of a con-servation plan is obligatory for allNatura 2000 sites. According to theirEnvironment Ministry, all plans shouldhave been completed by August2005. The plans drafted by the 21county administrations, include a de-scription of threats to sites and con-servation targets corresponding to“favourable conservation status”. Theplans are based on the Natura 2000handbook prepared by the SwedishEnvironmental Protection Agency andare available for public consultation.

In Estonia the 2004 Nature Conserva-tion Act designates all Natura 2000sites as protected areas, for whichmanagement plans are foreseen. Theplans should include a description ofthe main environmental conditions,the purpose of protection and details

of actions to be undertaken togetherwith a timetable and budget. The gov-ernment has already drawn up guide-lines for species action plans.

Denmark has taken an innovativeapproach, linking the Habitats andWater Framework Directives. Consid-ering that the implementation of bothEU directives would require plans withterritorial overlap, the Danish authori-ties decided to set up new regionalenvironmental agencies responsiblefor all water and nature planning ineach water basin. The “EnvironmentalObjectives Act” which covers waterbasins and conservation areas ofinternational status, establishes anintegrated monitoring program forwater and the natural environment. Amanagement plan must include:A. an initial analysis including as-sessment of the conservation statusof species and habitats within the areaand identification of threats and needsfor action;B. specific conservation objectivesfor species and habitats;C. a management action programmefor the following 6 years.

The first generation of plans will belaunched in 2009, coincidentally withthose for water agencies under theWater Framework Directive.

There have been three phases to theLIFE instrument1. The first phase ranfrom 1992 to 1995, the second from1996 to 1999 and the third, whichbegan in 2000, will end in 2006. In theperiod up to 2004 more than half ofLIFE-nature projects (428 out of a totalof 853) have included managementplans, or data collection and otheractions connected with planningactivities concerning management ofEU-listed habitats and species2.

Management guidelines by Member States. The approach in France and ItalyOver half of the projects financed by LIFE-Nature have included management plans.

One project in France and another in Italy have been entirely devoted to management

plan strategy and guidelines for Natura 2000 management plans.

The structure, content and aims of Na-tura 2000 management plans financedby LIFE-nature vary according to thesize of the site, the habitats and speciestargeted, national and regional legisla-tion and the requirements and theactors involved.

In one case in Slovenia3, for instance,a two page document was sufficient togive indications for landowners onactions to be taken to conserve semi-natural grasslands and karstic ponds.

The difference in management docu-ments produced with LIFE financialsupport is linked in part to the devel-opment of information technology (IT).The capacity and speed of exchangeof information on the internet has im-proved immensely since 1992, whenthe first Natura 2000 planning docu-ments were started. Software used forplanning protected areas has becomemore accessible and user friendly.

1 The Financial Instrument for theEnvironment. The legislationcovering the current programme(extension of LIFE III, the thirdphase) is Regulation (EC)1682/2004 of 15 September 2004.2 Those listed in the annexes ofthe Habitats Directive and theBirds Directive, and migratoryspecies targeted by it. 3 Conservation of endangeredhabitats/species in the future KarstPark (LIFE02Nat/SLO/008587).

Habitats Forest 56Freshwater 76 Natural and semi-natural grasslands 41Coastal 34Other 20

Species Fauna (other than birds) 63Birds 58Flora 15

The remaining 65 projects were direc-ted either at managing Natura 2000sites or at managing specific sectors,as for instance, managing only purcha-sed land, or restored areas (see table inPart 3). The breakdown of projects bytopic is as follows.

Birds 58Generics 64

Tourism 2

Forest 59

Freshwater habitats 75Natural and semi-natural grassland 27

Coastal habitats 34

Other habitats 20

Flora 15

Agri-enviroment 14

Breakdown of LIFE Nature projects which have included management plans

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 11

These developments have also enabledpublic administrations responsible forNatura 2000 to combine managementplans for different sectors such asnature conservation, forestry, waterbasins and rural development.

Developments in IT have also facilitatedconsultation at local and internationallevel. For instance, new EU MemberStates can rapidly profit from experi-ence gained in other Member Stateswhen setting guidelines for managingNatura 2000 sites.

France and Italy are among the EUMember States that have already pro-duced guidelines for managing Natura2000 sites. They were the result of twostrategic LIFE Nature projects5.

Both projects, which provided indica-tions on the structure, content and aimsof Natura 2000 site management plans,took into consideration the main con-clusions of the 1996 Galway seminar.

Another set of guidelines taken intoconsideration are those produced byEurosite, which are widely used by sitemanagers in the EU Member States.

There are, however, differences in ap-proach. The French guidelines givemore emphasis to public consultationand inclusion of socio-economic groups.They also propose a “facilitator”, a per-son in charge of drafting the plan inconsultation with all local interestgroups. The Italian manual gives gui-delines according to pre-defined cate-

Eurosite and Management Planning

Eurosite, a network of organisations devoted to nature conser-vation management over 22 countries of Europe, has producedsince its creation in 1989, different guidelines for ManagementPlanning in protected areas.

The Eurosite Management Planning Toolkit published in a binderformat in 1997 is now completed by a new guidance document“Management Planning for Protected Areas”, June 2005, writ-ten by E T Idle and T J H Bines. Contributions came from manyindividuals and much of the content of the Guidance is derivedfrom the experience of participants from Estonia, Latvia, Lithua-nia, Poland and Russia, involved in a three-year Darwin Initiativeproject led by Eurosite.

The Guidance clarifies the recent trends “management plan-ners” should take into account to produce a good ManagementPlan. It provides necessary tools and tries to answer the ques-tion, “What makes a successful Management Plan?” The Guid-ance does not set down rules or a blue-print, but recommendsimportant principles about what should be done and how to doit, providing a clear rationale for the management of ProtectedAreas. The Guidance is designed for flexible use and applica-tion by site managers; appropriate sections may be adapted tothe particular circumstances of the Protected Area for which aplan is being prepared (large or small, State-managed or NGO-managed, designated formally or informally, actively managedand/or unmanaged).

The Guidance addresses the need to involve stakeholders andincorporates requirements arising from the European “Habitats

gories of habitat type, thus encourag-ing local administrations of the samegroup, but from different geographicalareas, to share knowledge and experi-ence.

Galway seminar: suggested structure of a Natura 2000 management plan

An ideal management plan should con-tain the following elements :• policy statement with reference to

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive; • site description, including a histori-

cal land use analysis; • statement of objectives, including

long term and short term goals • statement of the constraints, inclu-

ding identification of the actorsinvolved;

• realistic list of actions to implement,with time schedules and financialplanning;

• a detailed consultation process; • monitoring and evaluation.

Directive” and the Convention on the Conservation of EuropeanWildlife and Natural Habitats. The Guidance will help to:• Identify the essential elements of a management plan;• Identify objectives for management of Protected Areas;• Clarify the barriers to good management planning;• Gain reassurance and credibility for management planning;• Learn about management planning as a process;• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of a participatory

approach to management planning;• Learn how to involve and activate local landowners and to

establish long-terms communication links with partners inthe management of Protected Areas;

• Learn how to get positive results for site managers;• Understand how to define and implement monitoring and

evaluation requirements of Protected Areas;• Learn to manage expectations – and be realistic!

The Guidance has been developed with users firmly in mind:summary boxes and diagrams are used frequently with the inten-tion that they may be copied and used freely by Protected Areamanagers to help with the production of their managementplans. It will be an invaluable tool for site managers. Its publi-cation in other languages (French, Hungarian, Polish, Czech,Croatian, Romanian and Baltic languages) is under way.

The Toolkit (1997) and the new Guidance (2005) are available onEurosite’s website: http://www.eurosite.org. Hard copies of the Guidance can be obtained from Eurosite –email a request to: info@eurosite.org. Also, further copies maybe obtained from English Nature Enquiry Service – emailenquiries to: enquiries@english-nature.org.uk.

5 In France “Experimental drawingup of management plans for futureFrench Natura 2000 sites (LIFE95NAT/F/00533)” and in Italy “TheNatura 2000 Network in Italy:management models (LIFE99NAT/IT/006279)”.

The guidelines for Italy, together withmanual of interpretation, can be foundon the Ministry of Environment web-site (http://www.minambiente.it).They were approved by governmentdecree on 24 September 2002.

General guidelines

The 12 page document, which inclu-des an introduction to the Natura 2000network and references to articles 6and 8 of the Habitats Directive, con-sists of 4 sections:

A. Introduction. Main indications tobe considered for the preparationof a plan.

B. Administrations responsible for theimplementation of the HabitatsDirective.

C. Logical framework to assess the ne-ed to prepare a management plan.

D. Structure of the management plan.

Manual for management of the Natura 2000 sites

All Natura 2000 sites in Italy are clas-sed into 25 different categories. Halfof the categories are identified usingstatistical analysis of the presence orabsence of EU-listed habitat types.The other half of the categories coversites to which statistical analysis can-not be applied.

The manual, which explains the mainsteps in the preparation of a plan,includes the following chapters:• Guidelines for the management of

the NATURA 2000 sites.• Assessment of implication for the

site (re. article 6.3 of the HabitatsDirective).

National guidelines for Natura 2000management plans in Italy

Site type (24)

Physicaldescription of the site

Ecological needs (with special attention to habitats andspecies included in the Directive)

Proposed indicatorsof status

MANAGEMENT PLANin the framework of the existing territorialmanagement tools

Conservatione Guidelines

Strategy

Status 1based onindicators

Status 2based onindicators

Status 3based onindicators

Biological description of the site

Potential impact

Land use Atlas

Social-economic description of the site

Description of archeologicaland culturalvalues of thesite

Description ofsocial-economic surrounding

NATURA 2000 SITE

Inventories

Plan structure

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 13

•� Legal basis for the management ofthe NATURA 2000 sites: conserva-tion measures.

•� Indications for the management ofthe NATURA 2000 sites: generalcriteria, proposed system of bio-logical indices and their use, flora,forestry, fauna, hydrology and geo-logy, threats and changes in envi-ronmental conditions, social andeconomical aspects.

•� Description of the 25 categories ofsites identified. Each one includes alist of habitats which characterizethe category; description of the nat-ural environment and ecologicalneeds, topography, biological indi-ces applicable, potential threats andmanagement indications.

•� Bibliography.•� References.•� Relevant web sites.

The document includes the followingannexes:1. Description of the methodology

applied to identify the categoriesof Natura 2000 sites, including thehabitat coverage algorithm, andthe site code and category numberschemes.

2. Table of statistical relationshipsbetween the site categories:• and soil parameters (forestryarea and percentage cover);impact of grazing (scale 0-3);• fire risk (scale 0-5);• built up area (% cover).

The annex includes a map of the dis-tribution of sites within each cate-gory, together with indication of thebio-geographical regions.

3. Matrix of average percentage coverof each habitat type within each ofthe derived categories.

4. Legend applicable to the land usemaps.

5. Categories of the IUCN Red List(for species of fauna).

6. List of the species of fauna foreach site category.

7. List of the species of flora for eachsite category.

Management plan structure

Natura 2000 plans should include• Physical description, including de-

scription of the site limits, the localand regional climate, geology, geo-morphology, soil and hydrology.

• Biological description, includingverification of the Natura 2000 form,bibliographical research, detailedstudies for preparation of the sitemap (including data on land use,and actual and potential distribu-tion of habitats and species of EUinterest), phyto-sociological de-scription of the site, and a checklist of species with special atten-tion to EU-listed habitats andspecies and the Italian Red List.

• Description of the socio-economicaspects which could affect theconservation status of the habitatsand species (i.e. information onrural and urban land use, descriptionof existing planning instruments,

population data, and human activitydata).

• Description of the archaeological,architectural and cultural aspects.

• Evaluation of the ecological needsof the habitats/species of EU inter-est.

• Definition of general and specificobjectives.

• Conservation strategy.• Schemas for technical forms cov-

ering each conservation actions.These include the following infor-mation: title of action, type of ac-tion (physical action intervention,regulation, incentive, monitoring pro-gramme, educational programme),maps of sites where actions willtake place, aims, biological indica-tors, description of the action, de-scription of results to be achieved,person responsible, timetable and budget.

STATEPrefect

CHAIRS

Local Steering coommittee(territorial and local collectivities, social andprofessional organisations)

APPOINTS

Technical operator

VALIDATES

Management plan

OWNERS, OPERATORS AND USERS

ADMINISTRATION

EXPERT

management, socio-economic spe-cialists, representatives of rural agen-cies, farming, forestry and non-gov-ernmental organizations, and of theoutdoor sports sector and tourism.

The steering committee, whose chair-man is nominated by local administra-tions, is responsible for negotiatingand approving the management plan.The plan must then be endorsed bythe county administrator.

The document itself is prepared by a“facilitator”, appointed by the chair-man or by the county administrator, inconsultation with the members of thesteering committee.

The management plan has to include:• technical studies, including a

description and map of the speciesand habitats present within theNatura 2000 site, their conservationstatus and its main socio-economiccharacteristics;

• the main objectives proposed tomaintain or restore the conservationstatus of habitats and species on thesite and a sustainable develomentstrategy;

• a list of measures proposed to reachthe objectives, and, if necessary,

proposals for new regulations;• specific agreements to be proposed

to landowners (or their representa-tives) for the management of thearea, including technical specifica-tions and source of finance. Lan-downers may be reimbursed forcommitments they take on. Theseagreements are co-financed by theEuropean Agricultural Guidance andGuarantee Fund (EAGGF);

• proposed financial measures;• a programme for monitoring and

evaluating the proposals and theconservation status of habitats andspecies;

• a list of specific activities which,although not subject to evaluation ofplans and projects (re. articles 6.3and 6.4 of the Habitats Directive),should comply with their require-ments.

Steering committees and facilitatorshave support at their disposal in theform of training courses and nationaldocumentation. The latter includesmanagement plan guidelines and mod-els for description of habitats andspecies, conservation requirements anddetailed proposals for agreements.

National guidelines for Natura 2000 management plans in France

The main recommendation from theNatura 2000 project was the adoptionof an approach through negotiationand contract, involving all actors fromthe very start of the planning process.The management plans which are theresult of this procedure are known as“documents d’objectifs”, or as the ac-ronym “DOCOB”.

The rules for the implementation ofNatura 2000, partly based on theexperience acquired with the LIFE-nature project, were included in thelaw of 11 April 2001. It was recentlymodified on 23 February 2005.

The Ministry of Ecology and Sustain-able Development (“Ministère de l’é-cologie et du dévelopment durable”)10

has regularly published guidelines onNatura 2000 management plans. Themost recent dates from 21 December2004.

The first step of a “DOCOB” is the set-ting up a steering committee (“comitéde pilotage”) by the county adminis-trator. The committee includes repre-sentatives of all sectors concerned:representatives of local communitiesand landowners (mandatory), profes-sionals with experience in biodiversity

10

http://natura2000.environnement.gouv.fr

Definig the management plan The Players

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 15

PART TWOCASE STUDIES

Managing Natura 2000 and water / 16

Natura 2000 and coastal and other marine areas / 20

Managing Natura 2000 and forestry / 24

Managing Natura 2000 and agriculture / 29

Natura 2000 and waterA number of Member States have created sole agencies to prepare joint management plans

for river basins and their Natura 2000 sites

Many Natura 2000 site managementplans co-financed by LIFE-natureincluded recommendations on con-servation measures for freshwaterhabitats.

Nineteen freshwater habitat types, theconservation of which requires desig-nation of Special Areas of Conserva-tion, are specified in the Habitatsdirective1. They are grouped into twocategories, “standing water” and “run-ning water” habitats2.

In some cases, however, managementmeasures were drawn up by site man-agers without full consultation with theriver basin authorities responsible forrivers and lakes management in manyMember States. This approach hascreated problems and shown the

importance of coordination with riverbasin authorities in the preparation ofplans directed at freshwater habitats.The need for integrated managementmeasures for aquatic sites becameeven more evident with the adoptionof the EU Water Framework Directive(WFD) in December 2000. This directiveset up a framework for comprehensivemanagement of water resources throu-ghout the European Union, laying downcommon approaches, objectives, prin-ciples and basic measures. Coveringrivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal watersand groundwater, it aims at preventingany deterioration in the existing statusof aquatic zones, their ecosystemsand water quality. Its aim is to achieveat least “good surface water status”for all zones concerned by 2015.

The WFD proposes river basin dis-tricts as the administrative areas formanagement of all water matters.Member States have to designateriver basin districts and for each pre-pare a river basin management plan.

The directive also foresees that Mem-ber States establish a list of all areasrequiring special protection, includingaquatic zones designated for the con-servation of habitats and species. The potential overlapping of Natura2000 and river basin managementplans prompted the creation, in manyMember States, of new agencies incharge of combining measures for theimplementation of the two Europeandirectives, such as surveys and mon-itoring, so as to reduce possible con-flict between different services andreduce implementation costs.

Article 13(5) of the WFD states that“River basin management plans maybe supplemented by the productionof more detailed programmes andmanagement plans for sub-basin,sector, issue, or water type, to dealwith particular aspects of water man-agement”. On the basis of this articlea number of local administratorsresponsible for protected areas star-ted to draft Natura 2000 managementplans for inclusion in the relevant riverbasin management plan, in collabora-tion with local water authorities.

1 Listed in Annex 1 of Directive92/43/EEC.2 The full designation is “runningwater, sections of water courseswith natural and semi-naturaldynamics (minor, average andmajor beds) where the waterquality shows no significantdeterioration”.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 17

Beneficiary. English NatureLocation. United Kingdom

Project Objective

The project was run by a partnershipof government agencies responsiblefor water quality and the protection offresh-water habitats. The primary ob-jective was to produce river conserva-tion strategies for seven rivers in Scot-land, Wales and England, designatedas pSCI, with a total length of 872 km.

Results

Each river had different features andpriorities. Project officers were em-ployed to produce River ConservationStrategies (considered equivalent tomanagement plans under the terms ofthe Habitats Directive). The plans tar-get Natura 2000 aspects and developpartnerships between statutory autho-rities, fisheries interests and land own-ers to identify the threats to the sitesand species and to set out an actionprogramme. The River ConservationStrategy process was supported bydetailed studies on the ecologicalrequirements of EU-listed habitats andspecies (including numerous publica-tions). Guidance and practical tools formonitoring and reporting on thesespecies and habitats were also devel-oped.

One of the main products of the pro-ject was the publication “DevelopingRiver Conservation Strategies: ModelGuidance for Special Areas of Con-servation”. The document includesindications on how to determine man-agement measures, engage stake-holders and organise an appropriateconsultation process.

The project also included publicationof reports on the ecological require-ments of a number of habitats andspecies, including information on whatcan be considered as “favourable con-dition” for attributes such as waterquality, nutrient levels, flow conditions,river channel riparian habitat, sub-

strate, access for migratory fish andlevel of disturbance.

Monitoring protocols were also pro-duced to allow assessment of theconservation status of species andhabitats targeted by the project,addressing both monitoring tech-niques and sampling strategies to beused.

Website: http://www.english-nature.org

LIFE in UK Rivers

LIFE99NAT/UK/006088

Bourget Lake (“Lac du Bourget”)

Beneficiary. Rhône-Alpes RegionalNature Conservation Agency (“Con-servatoire Rhône-Alpes des EspacesNaturels”).Location. Rhône-Alpes region, France

Project Objective

The alpine lake Bourget is the largestnatural lake in France. It is home toseveral EU-listed habitats .

The LIFE Nature project, part of a largerprogramme already started in 1998,aimed at testing and implementingtechniques for the restoration of thelake’s eco-systems and extending theareas of aquatic vegetation, marsh andmeadows.

LIFE99NAT/F/006321

Results

The project produced very detailedmaps of the aquatic vegetation of thelake, representing the first generalinventory of the lake’s macrophytes.On the basis of the new data acquired,site managers identified areas ofgreatest conservation values, wheretechniques for restoration of the lake’secosystem were tested. A breakwatersystem of artificial islets and deflec-tors using plants was set up to protectthe shore and the remaining aquaticvegetation, which were fortified withnew plants. Monitoring carried outafter completion showed beneficialeffects on the vegetation and depen-dent fish and birds.

The results of the pilot actions wereused as the basis for the managementplan for seven areas of the lake. Themeasures, which included actions forthe conservation of aquatic vegetationand reed beds for a total budget of 1,5million euro, were approved by theproject steering committee and incor-porated in a new contractual programfor the Bourget lake basin (“Contrat deBassin du lac du Bourget”).

The project also tested reintroductionof the box tortoise (Emys orbicularis).Thirty seven radio-tagged individualswere released in the southern part ofthe lake. The first year of monitoringyielded encouraging results and led tothe preparation of a reintroductionstrategy for application to other simi-lar sites in the EU.

Website: http://www.le-grand-lac.com/vous.htm

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 19

LIFE00NAT/E/007330

SCI Parga-Ladra-Támoga: recovery of bog woodland and dystrophic lake

Beneficiary. Institute for the Economicand Social Development of Lugo(Instituto Lucense de Desarrollo Eco-nómico y Social).Location. Galicia region, Spain

Project Objective

The upper catchment area of the riverMiño (Lugo) is a very valuable wetlandin the Iberian Peninsula. It containsone Natura 2000 site with no less than15 habitats of Community interest(four of them priority).

The LIFE project had as main objec-tive to ensure the management of thearea for its conservation benefit. Inthat framework, a number of actions(drafting of a management plan, habi-tat restoration and improvement in 55ha of land containing habitats andspecies of Community interest to bepurchased) were undertaken to redu-ce the effects of the different threats.

Results

The management plan of the Natura2000 site, Parga-Ladra-Támoga wasdrafted following the formula used forthe protected areas designated underthe regional law: the Natural Resour-ces Regulation Plan (Plan de Orde-nación de los Recursos Naturales,PORN).

The area covered in the PORN wasmuch larger than that of the Natura2000 site, which is of 4.900 ha, whilethe total area of the plan is of 20,600ha. This was due to the “river basin”approach adopted by the team whodrafted the plan.

It is an approach consistent with boththe WFD and the Habitats Directive,defining the management objectivesand establishing the criteria for themonitoring of the environmental quality.

The final document submitted to publicconsultation includes sections oninventory (natural and socio-economicfeatures), zoning, diagnosis, and objec-tives and guidelines for management.

The document, 475 pages, includingphotos and maps, is subdivided into sixsections: introduction and spatial fra-mework, inventory (natural features andsocio-economic information), planningand management tools, including defi-nition of environmental units and theirevaluation using different criteria, pro-posed zoning (reserve, priority for con-servation, restricted use and generaluse), and objectives and guidelines.This last section defines managementobjectives, guidelines, relevant legisla-tion, human activities compatible withconservation, restoration needs of eachenvironmental unit within each zoneand each thematic area (air, land, con-tinental water, landscape, natural andsemi-natural habitats, flora and fauna,cultural, archaeological and paleonto-logical resources).

Habitat improvement measures weredeveloped (restoration of streams andcanals, recovery of natural vegetation,elimination of exotic species, installa-tion of ecological filters) which in turnhelped to recover the three priorityspecies of plants and molluscs pre-sent in the area. In addition, an envi-ronmental monitoring system was setup and a public awareness campaignlaunched.

Website:http://www.terrasdomino.org

Natura 2000 and coastal and other marine areasNatural areas are important buffers against coastal erosion. Nineteen LIFE-nature projects

have produced management documents for this type of areas.

In May 2004, the European Commis-sion published “Living with CoastalErosion in Europe: Sand and Spacefor Sustainability”. This report evalu-ated the social, economic and eco-logical impact of coastal erosion onEuropean coasts and assessed theneeds for action.

According to the report one fifth of theEU’s coastline is subject to erosion bythe sea. Coastlines are retreating bybetween 0.5 and 2 meters per year,and in a few dramatic cases, by 15meters per year. Every year, 100 mil-lion tonnes of sand that previouslynaturally replenished coastal habitatsin Europe are extracted for construc-tion, trapped behind river dams or

ing risks and losses linked to erosion.These include risks to human life fromflooding, and destruction of propertyand possible economic and ecologi-cal damage from loss of land. Accord-ing to the report 36% out of the132,300 km subject to coastal erosionin the EU, are areas of nature conser-vation value and most are included inthe Natura 2000 network .

The Natura 2000 network is thereforeconsidered by the European Commis-sion as one of the instruments –together with the Water FrameworkDirective and the Strategic Environ-mental Assessement (SEA) – for ensu-ring sustainable coast management.

blocked by engineering works. Naturalareas, which are also important buffersagainst erosion by the sea, are steadilydisappearing.

The report is one of the initiativesbeing taken by the European Com-mission as part of the implementationof “Recommendation 2002/413/EC ofthe European Parliament and Councilof the European Union, concerning theimplementation of Integrated CoastalZone Management in Europe (ICZM)”.

The act recommends that MemberStates take a strategic, pro-active,anticipatory and preventive approachto the management of the coastalzones in order to reduce the increas-

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 21

LIFE99NAT/UK/006081

Living with the Sea

Beneficiary. English NatureLocation. United Kingdom

Project Objective

Development of a strategic approachto problems affecting Natura 2000sites in ecologically dynamic coastalareas.

Results

Seven Coastal Habitat ManagementPlans (CHaMPs) were produced. TheCHaMP process is an assessment ofpredicted geomorphologic changeover the following 30 to100 years ondesignated habitats within the CHaMParea.

The CHaMPs procedure identifiesbroad habitat changes and developsproposals for reducing losses of habi-tats or for their relocation. The actualproposals included options such as“no action”, maintaining existing man-agement practices and managedreduction of loss of habitats. Initiallyproject managers estimated gains andlosses to habitats. Results of studiesrevealed the need for a broader spatialand temporal approach to addressconservation measures against netloss to habitats.

The final CHaMPs examined proces-ses in estuaries and along coasts andrelated these to more specific sub-units. This allowed them to provide amuch more robust and strategic view. The repeated experience of CHaMPshas shown that a wide view is required

and that indeed “super-CHaMPs” maybe necessary for a whole region, (forexample the whole of southeast Eng-land). One of the key issues for CHa-MPs was to take the decision to main-tain a designated habitat in situ. TheCHaMPs approach has shown thatflood and coastal defence and preser-vation of coastal habitats can be car-ried out hand in hand, provided that along-term view and anticipatory ac-tions are taken.

Website: http://www.english-nature.org

LIFE98NAT/P/005275

MARÉ: Integrated management of coastal and marine areas in the Azores

Beneficiary. Universidade dos AçoresLocation. Azores islands, Portugal

Project objective

Preparation and partial implementa-tion of management plans for coastaland marine habitats on Natura 2000sites in the Azores archipelago. Theplans targeted the sustainability offishing activities and tourism activities,including whale watching.

Results

Management plans for twelve Natura2000 sites were completed.

The first phase of the project was ded-icated to the collection of biologicalinformation, on underwater habitatsand species. On the basis of the newlycollected information managementplans were produced in collaborationwith local environment and fisheriesauthorities. They were adopted fol-lowing public consultation.

Management measures were alsodrawn up for whale watching, andresulted in the adoption of a new reg-ulation. Significant results were alsoobtained in defining measures to beadopted by fishermen to reduce num-bers of sea turtles bycatches.

This was accomplished in cooperationwith the representatives of the UKJoint Conservation Committee andother organizations in Europe and theUSA working on the impact of fishingon dolphins and sea turtles.

One important achievement of theproject was the establishment of goodcooperation between the scientificcommunity and the fishing and tourismsectors.

A second, resulting from awarenessraising activities within the project, wasthe interest shown by schools, both inthe Azores and mainland Portugal, asevidenced by the consequent demandfor educational material.

Website:http://www.horta.uac.pt

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 23

LIFE96NAT/UK/003055

UK Marine SACs project

Beneficiary. English NatureLocation. United Kingdom

Project objectives

The establishment of managementplans for 12 marine Natura 2000 sitesand adoption of an integrated ap-proach to their conservation. This im-plied the identification of the best prac-tical approaches and procedures,laying down standards for and organ-ising surveys, monitoring and reporting.

Results

Conservation objectives and opera-tional advice was provided for each ofthe twelve sites. Guidelines, coveringlegislation, practical development andsupporting information were pub-lished.

Production of each management planfollowed a common procedure – esta-blishment of a management group,surveys and mapping, definition ofconservation objectives, evaluation ofcurrent and possible actions, identifi-cation of a monitoring programme andproduction of a management scheme.

The project favoured a participatoryapproach so that all stakeholders wereinformed and encouraged to take part.Appointment of a specific and locallybased project officer was a major fac-tor in the success of the process.

Conservation objectives and evalua-tion of current and proposed actionswere prepared by the relevant conser-vation authorities in accordance withthe Habitats Directive and subjectedto formal consultation. This procedureensured that for each plan sufficientmeasures were agreed to avoid dete-rioration of habitats and disturbanceto species.

The documentation produced inclu-ded a series of studies on the impactof human activities covering recre-ation, ports and harbours, water qual-ity (including that of saline lagoons),collecting fishing bait, fisheries prac-tice, and extraction of sand and gra-vel.

Website:http://www.ukmarinesac.org.uk

Almost one third of the territory of theEuropean Union is covered with for-est, ranging from boreal to Mediter-ranean scrub. Even though Europe’sforest area has been increasing in thelast decades – with the result thateach year more carbon is stored inforests1 – it is still insufficiently pro-tected2.

EU policy directed at protectingforests dates back to 1986, with theadoption of Council Regulation (EEC)No 3528/86, which established ascheme to protect forests againstatmospheric pollution. In 1990, theMinisterial Conference on the Protec-tion of Forests in Europe (MCPEF),which includes all Member States ofthe European Union and a further 15European countries, was set up topromote sustainable management ofEuropean forests.

A further significant step was taken in1992, with Council Regulation (EEC)No 2158/92, which established a Com-munity scheme to protect forests

against fire. It requires Member Statesto classify their forest land accordingto fire risk and established a Commu-nity inventory of forest damage and amonitoring network.

Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003, appro-ved in 2003, provided financial assi-stance for a more comprehensivelong-term monitoring scheme of at-mospheric pollution and fires knownas “Forest Focus”. The scheme in-cludes harmonised collection, han-dling and assessment of data and thedevelopment of forest monitoringactivities, indicators and risk assess-ment methodology3.

Managing forest land means reconcil-ing different, and at times conflicting,ecological, social and economic func-tions. Forests have a significant eco-nomic value: EU Member States areamong the leading producers andtraders of timber and wood-basedproducts, which account for 38 percent of world exports (by value). Theeconomic value of forests has also

increased through tourism and outdo-or recreation. However development ofrecreational activities is often accom-panied by requests for new roads, ski-ing facilities and other infrastructures.The consequent fragmentation of foresthabitats reduces the nature conserva-tion value of such areas.

The Habitats Directive represents a fun-damental step towards conservingforests and tree species in Europe.Annex I of the directive lists seventy-two forest habitat types of communityinterest – of which 24 are considered aspriority4 – the conservation of which re-quires designation of Special Areas ofConservation.

1 See “Europe’s forests in thespotlight” with the results of theMCPFE 4th conference on theProtection of Forests in Europe(http://www.mcpfe.org)2 See http://www.panda.org.3 It also replaced the earlierregulations (EEC) 3528/86 and2158/92, which were due toexpire.4 The habitat types, under theheading “(Sub)natural woodlandvegetation comprising nativespecies forming forests of talltrees, with typical undergrowth,and meeting the following criteria:rare or residual, and/or hostingspecies of Community interest” aresubdivided into six categories:Forests of Boreal Europe, Forestsof Temperate Europe,Mediterranean deciduous forests,Mediterranean sclerophyllousforests, Temperate mountainousconiferous forests, Mediterraneanand Macaronesian mountainousconiferous forests.

Natura 2000 and forestsForests are a fundamental natural environment: they serve as habitats for innumerable species,

they protect water quality and act as buffers to erosion and as carbon sinks.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 25

Beneficiary. Central Finland Environ-ment Centre (regional public authority)Location. Jyväskylä district, CentralFinland

Project Objective

The Taiga boreal forest habitat typeconsists of forests dominated byeither pine or deciduous trees as wellas mixed forests. The project includedmeasures to maintain and improve thenature conservation status of borealforest areas. It included the prepara-tion of inventories of flora and faunaand drawing up of management plans.The latter was to be done with the helpof landowners and to provide a modelfor carrying out economic activities inharmony with Natura 2000 objectives.

Results

The flora and fauna inventories resul-ted in the discovery of a new speciesof beetle – the Oxyporus mannerheimii– which survives on decayed wood.The presence of several beetle spe-cies and the white-backed wood-pecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) wereindications of the good state of theseboreal forest habitats.

The beneficiary of the project, theRegional Environment Centre, pur-chased around 380 hectares of land.

Ten-year forest management plans -in which nature conservation man-agement was given priority - weredrawn up for a total of 450 hectares.Landowners were asked to help drawup the plans and those who commit-ted themselves to implementation ofactions included in a plan received

financial compensation from LIFE-nature during the duration of the pro-ject and from other sources after theproject ended. Economic exploitationof the forests will continue in the pro-ject areas, but only in accordance withNatura 2000 objectives.

A number of the measures foreseen bythe plans were implemented duringthe LIFE project. Spruce was removedto increase the proportion of decidu-ous trees, the proportion of deadwood was increased and controlledburning was carried out to increasehabitats for species dependent onburnt wood.

Contact: Finland Environment Ministryhttp://www.environment.fi

Protection of Taiga and Freshwater Ecosystems in Central Finland

LIFE99NAT/FIN/006251

Beneficiary. Nuoro ProvinceLocation. Sardinia, Italy

Project Objective

The project, carried out by the Nuoroprovincial administration and WWFItaly, aimed at starting a series of ac-tions to stimulate regeneration offorests around Gennargentu. Siteswhere the indigenous Sardinian yew(Taxus baccata), the shrub Ribes sar-dum and nesting sites of the raptorAccipiter gentilis arrigonii were to befenced off. Human disturbance of yewwoods and steppes was to be redu-ced through programmes to combatwildfires and poaching

The project also included locating andmonitoring of reproductive colonies oftwo priority bird species, Falco eleo-norae and Phalacrocorax aristotelisdesmarestii, in the Gulf of Orosei (as aprelude to the designation of the areaas a SPA) and the preparation of amanagement plan for the Monte AlbopSCI.

Results

The project was reduced due to post-ponement of the setting up of theGennargentu national park. Importantachievements were the surveying ofareas with bird species of EU impor-tance, surveillance against poachingand wildfires and the fencing off ofareas of Taxus baccata (yew) woods.

The management plan for one of theNatura 2000 sites was completed, thefirst in Sardinia to be prepared withdirect participation of the local com-munity. As well as a description of thephysical, biological and human envi-ronment and the main factors influ-encing habitats and species of EUinterest, the plan includes a list of obj-ectives and proposed actions, withdefinitions of the “limits of acceptablemodifications” and “limits of desirablemodifications”.

The document describes 3 manage-ment scenarios, corresponding tothree different levels of implementa-tion of the plan. The description focu-ses on the environmental, economicand social effects of the managementon the site relative to the main threatsidentified (grazing, woodcutting, hunt-ing and tourism). Local administra-tions were requested to implement thefirst level scenario.

Website: http://www.wwf.it/lavoro (in Italianonly)

Urgent actions to safeguard pSCIs in the proposed Gennargentu national park

LIFE98 NAT/IT/005093

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 27

Beneficiary. World Wide Fund forNature BelgiumLocation. Flemish Ardennes-Belgium

Project Objective

Production of a management plan for3 areas of forest in the FlemishArdennes, a stretch of low lying hillsbetween Brussels and Lille. The areasconsist of botanically rich ash andalder and beech and oak woodland.

Results

The management plan includes scien-tific monitoring of Natura 2000 areasby various research institutes andlocal volunteers.

After studying historical land use andother data, interviewing local inhabi-tants and using information from localnaturalists, site managers re-intro-duced cattle and horses into forestmanagement. Local farmers providedcattle of a local breed which nowgraze the mixed forest/grassland habi-tats all year round. This has resulted ina spectacular decline in brambles,rejuvenation of the herbaceous layerand reappearance of small clearingswhich provide open, sunny areas forbutterflies and other insects. No neg-ative effect on tree regeneration wasobserved.

In cooperation with regional natureconservation and agricultural authori-ties, the beneficiary launched a large-scale land purchase programme anddeveloped a strategic plan to integratenature conservation needs with agri-cultural activity in order to create eco-logical corridors and reduce forestfragmentation. As well as increasingthe forest area, the beneficiary alsorestored the forest borders, in partic-ular through purchase of surroundingland from farmers. Sharp limits bet-ween forest and agricultural land were

converted to more diffuse forest mar-gins, allowing typical shrubs andassociated fauna and flora to thrive.Municipalities agreed to the expansionof the forest area and to constructwildlife corridors under existing roads.In addition, the beneficiary succeededin persuading the local planningauthority to integrate this project intoa wider agricultural area.

Site managers have demonstratedhow forest management solely focu-sed on timber production can be in-cluded in an integrated managementscheme, in which nature conservation,recreation and preservation of thelandscape are combined. The benefi-ciary spent considerable effort pro-moting this new approach and wasrewarded with a Flemish regional cul-tural heritage award.

Website: http://users.pandora.be/life-natuur-be-7156 (in Dutch, with summariesin English and French).

Action Plan for conservation and restoration of three woods in the Flemish Ardennes

LIFE00 NAT/B/007156

Combining protection with other formsof land use in the natural boreal forestsof the Syöte area

LIFE99 NAT/FIN/006268

Beneficiary. Forest and Park Service,Ostrobothnia areaLocation. Finland

Project Objective

To plan land use of seven sites-fourwithin the National park of Syöte andthree within Natura 2000 sites outsidethe park – and to prepare one specificplan integrating the objectives of na-ture conservation and the develop-ment of tourism activities. The projectarea, which covers 30,740 ha, con-sists in great part of priority habitattypes: boreal forests, aapa mires andbog woodlands. The project includedalso implementation of some of themeasures foreseen by the manage-ment plans-realization of artificialnests for the golden eagle and for theflying squirrel, restoration of an areawith bog woodland and of a gravel pit-and purchase of land by the Forestand Park service.

Results

All seven management plans werecompleted, after surveys of the pro-ject area, which led to the discovery ofthe presence of new species andhabitats.

The tourism plan was prepared involv-ing stakeholders from the very start ofthe process, taking into considerationthe various documents and chartersproduced on sustainable tourism andanalysing different elements throughthe SWOT analysis1.

The plan (49 pages) targets variousnature-based activities including hik-ing, horse riding, fishing, hunting,mountain biking, dog and reindeersafaris etc. The plan includes an illus-tration of the methods used: termi-nology, description of the biological,historical and cultural values of Syöte,current status of nature tourism,objective of nature tourism and prin-ciples. Additionally it includes moni-toring of environment impact of naturetourism and an action programme,partly implemented by the LIFE-Nature project.

The project has also produced a guidebook “Matkailuyrittäjien luonto-opas”(Tourism entrepreneurs nature guide),82 pages, which gives information onnature conservation areas in general,nature of Syöte, history of Syöte,“rules” of sustainable nature tourismand detailed biological/cultural/geo-logical information about differentsites within Syöte.

Contact: Finland Environment Ministryhttp://www.environment.fi

1 SWOT, an acronym for strengths,Weaknesses, Opportunities,Threats, is a system of analysisresulting from researches firstconducted at the StandfordResearch Institute from 1960-1970.

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 29

Natura 2000 and agricultureThe new EU regulation on rural development will strengthen measures aimed at the environment

and the conservation of biodiversity

Farming has a direct impact on a widevariety of habitats and species whichare threatened or in danger of extinc-tion. Annex I of the Habitats Directivelists 23 habitat types, 12 of which areconsidered priority, under the heading“natural and semi-natural grasslandformations”1. These include arablegrasslands, steppes and lowland andmountain meadows, on which manyspecies of fauna, in particular birds aredependent. The profound transforma-tions that have occurred in agriculturalpractice in Europe in the last fifty years– mechanization and intensification,increased use of fertilizers and pesti-cides, urbanization and abandonmentof agricultural land – have had a neg-ative impact on numerous habitatsand are considered responsible for thedecline in numbers of many species.

The growing awareness of the effectsof agriculture on nature has brought anew aspect to the Common Agricul-tural Policy (CAP), which has a deter-mining role in the organisation of mostagricultural markets and production inthe EU.

Since 1992, the Agri-EnvironmentalRegulation of the CAP has been pro-viding financial support to farmerswho adopt practices that benefit theenvironment through managementagreements, the detailed implementa-tion of which is decided by MemberStates.

In 1999 agri-environment, agri-forestryand rural development measures werebought together in a single RuralDevelopment Regulation (1257/1999),aimed at supporting a viable, multi-purpose and environment-friendlyagriculture.

The 6th Environmental Action Program,adopted in 2002, aims at even greaterintegration between environmental,agricultural, landscape, forestry andmarine policies.

In 2003, following a mid-term reviewof the 1999 reforms, the EU adopteda fundamental reform of the CAP. Sub-sidies to farmers have become more“decoupled”2 from the volume of pro-duction and are also linked to therespect of environmental, food safetyand animal welfare standards (a mea-sure known as “cross compliance”).

The regulation on rural developmentfor the next financial period (2007-2013) will give even greater emphasisto the environment and the Natura2000 network. The new act, whichestablishes the European AgriculturalRural Development Fund (EARDF),lays down four basic aims or “axes”:1. improving the competitiveness offarming and forestry;2. providing support for the environ-ment and the countryside;3. promoting the diversification of therural economy and its quality of life;4. further development strategiesbased on local initiatives.The resources made available for axis2 will be used to integrate environ-mental issues - maintaining biodiver-sity and agri-environment, forestry,water and climate change measures -into other sectors and to assure con-tinued implementation of the Natura2000 network.

1 The habitat types aresubdivided into fivesubcategories: naturalgrasslands, semi-natural drygrasslands and scrublandfacies, Sclerophillous grazedforests (dehesas), semi-naturaltall-herb humid meadows,mesophile grasslands.2 That is to say that support is linked more to agriculturalmeans of production (area ofcrops or number of head oflivestock) rather than paiddirectly according to quantitiesproduced.

Wadden Sea-improvement of the Varde estuary and its natural environment

LIFE99 NAT/DK/006456

Beneficiary. Danish National Forestand Nature AgencyLocation. Denmark

Project Objective

Restoration of the Varde river valley, atthe most northerly part of the WaddenSea, through raising water levels andreducing levels of use of pesticidesand fertilisers by local farmers.

The project – in which also the VardeFarmers Union, the Department ofAgricolture and Ribe County cooper-ated – took place in an area of fresh-water and salt marshes of great im-portance for EU-listed species, inparticular for birds. Since the 1970’sintensive agriculture had been prac-ticed, with a consequent reduction inthe variety and number of wild floraand fauna.

Results

The project area was divided in 13sections. First hydrological conditionswere studied and then an extendednetwork of locks and dams created toraise the water levels and generalhumidity of the areas. On completion,negotiations began with farmers whowere willing to graze and mow mead-ows, to abandon ploughing and whowould accept limited use of chemicalfertilizers and pesticides. The out-come was that more than 250 farmersentered into 20-year managementagreements with regional authorities.This would ensure extensive agricul-tural activity which would maintain thefavourable conservation status of thehabitats and species present in thearea.

Over 2,488 hectares of land wererestored to original hydrological con-ditions through closure of 600 ditchesand simple “low technology” solutionsto control water levels (e.g. sluicegates), which require a minimum ofmaintenance.

An increase in biodiversity in the areawas shown by monitoring carried outduring the project. Of particular notewas the return of the corncrake (Crexcrex) after twenty years absence.

Contact: (Danish Forestry and NatureConservation Agency): sns@sns.dk

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 31

Management plan and urgent actionsfor Veternik and Oslica high dry meadows

LIFE00 NAT/SLO/7223

Beneficiary. Kozjanski Regional ParkLocation. Slovenia

Project Objectives

• Involvement of local farmers in thesustainable management of 500hectares of dry grasslands and mead-ows on a Natura 2000 site within theregional park;• pilot restoration actions;• measures to safeguard the lastremaining population of corncrake(Crex crex) in the area;• preparation of a management planto ensure the long-term managementof the area.

Results

The site management plan was pre-pared, the first in Slovenia. It was pro-duced in close collaboration with thepark council – on which three nationalministries are represented - and otherstakeholders.

The plan includes a description of thelegal basis, description of the site(physical environment, ecology, humanand economic factors, legal restric-tions and threats to habitats andspecies), objectives of dry meadowsmanagement, actions recommendedfor each type of grassland, recreationmanagement, timetable, implementa-tion strategy and sources of finance.The maps, scale 1:20.000, cover geol-ogy, vegetation, agricultural land use,landscape zones, proposed manage-ment regimes, and monitoring, includ-ing corncrake monitoring.

During the first phase of the project ageographical database was createdfrom the official land register for allplots of land included in the projectand agreements made with landown-ers for the elimination of the use ofchemical fertilizers and guarantee ofregular mowing of meadows in ex-

change for financial compensation.Altogether seventy-seven agreementswere drawn up, covering a period of4 years. Following this agri-environ-mental funds were to be used toensure maintenance of a favourablelevel of conservation status of the site.Some actions foreseen in the man-agement plan, such as restoration oftwenty hectares of dry meadows andmowing of a further 270 hectares,were carried out during the project incooperation with local farmers.

Website:http://www.gov.si/kp

Conservation of endangeredhabitat/species in the future Karst Park

LIFE02 NAT/SLO/008587

Beneficiary. University of Primorska,Koper Science and Research CentreLocation. Slovenia

Project Objectives

1. Restore semi-natural dry grass-lands and karstic ponds in an areaknown as Karst Edge, a mosaic of dryand rocky meadows, and resting andfeeding places for migrating birds. 2. Conclude agreements with farm-ers and landowners to continue con-servation actions after the end of theproject.

Results

A 2-page document of recommenda-tions for mowing and grazing (e.g.grazing to a maximum of 6-7 sheepper hectare) was produced for lan-downers.

Indications were given to landownerson the use of the Slovenian agri-envi-ronment program for conservationactions on Natura 2000 sites.

A total of 150 hectares of dry grass-lands were restored through theremoval of bushes and plants. The lan-downers and farmers involved madecommitments through stewardshipagreements to continue cleaning thearea for a period of five years after theend of the project.

Four karstic ponds were restored andthe local municipalities agreed to con-tinue maintenance after the end of theproject and to use conservationguidelines also for ponds not coveredby the LIFE project.

Following intensive field surveys on7,000 hectares of habitat, fifty man-agement guidelines specific to Natura2000 sites with karstic ponds and cal-careous dry grassland were deter-mined.

Website: http://www.zrs-kp.si/projekti/life

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 33

PART THREELIST OF LIFE NATUREPROJECTS WHICH HAVE INCLUDED MANAGEMENT PLANACTIONS

Freshwater habitats / 34

Coastal and marine habitats / 36

Forest habitats / 37

Agricultural and grassland habitats / 39

Other habitats / 41

Fauna species / 42

Bird species / 44

Flora species / 46

Generic / 47

WetlandsDelta Po 1Bbg Elbtalaue

SienaLorraine belgeRavennaCabrasGiliaVallée de l’OiseGrensmaasPlaya MatorralViikkiN.EC.TO.N S’Ena ArrubiaSIC MeridionaliPays de GavotPorto ViroESTANYS DE SILSUntere Inn

Stella

Donauauen TXINGUDICUENCA DEL ASÓNSude SchaaleTrichonidaEssonne et JuineBirds lapland

Wetlands SW FinlandTransboundary wet ecosystems (NL - B)AlserioMares temporaires

PalataCapo FetoOstigliaGenuarioNemosTheiss

StechlinDrana lagoonDOPPSKeski-Suomi

ComanaFiume ToceBlanket bog Karst ParkTarquiniaEquilibri ecologiciDüsterdieker N Blitzenreuter

Freshwater habitats

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Po Delta (regional park) managemen plan.Conception of management plan for flood plain restoration area, including Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) and hydrological survey.Preparation of management plan for the three wetlands.Management plans for land purchased areas within wetland. Preparation and approval of Natura 2000 sites management plan for the Po delta.Management plan for one site with lagoon.Management plan for a Natura 2000 site with lagoon.Management plans for 6 sites.Development of small-scale management plans for purchased areas.Management plan.Updating of the existing management plan of the project area (wetlands in Helsinki).Preparation of Natura 2000 site management plan.Preparation and approval of management plan.Preparation of a pilot management plan for Natura 2000 sites.Management plan of wetlands.Management plan of 2 Natura 2000 sites within the Po Delta.A strategic management model for the core project area.Zoning plan for pleasure boats in the wetlands and plan for angling and hunting on both sides of the German/Austrian border in the wetland.Management plan of wetland habitats within the Natura 2000 site “Risorgive delloStella”.Management plans for different aspects including hydrological plan. Management guidelines for the project site. Management plans for three Natura 2000 sites.Management plan for a 500 ha site.Hydrological study and management plan.Management plan.Management plans for a Natura 2000 site of 544 ha and 1005 ha and 5 plans forrecreational use of 5 sites.Management plans prepared for 5 Natura 2000 sites.Management plans for approx 160 ha land purchased during the project.

Management plan of the wetland habitats of the “Natura 2000 site” Lago di Alserio.Management plans for 2 Natura 2000 sites (Valliguière: 15 ha and Agenouillade: 4 ha) and management guidelines for the site (Padulu in Corsica). Management plans for the project habitats.Management plan for the site Capo Feto.Wetland habitats management plan.Management plan of the Natura 2000 site.2 Natura 2000 sites management plans.Floodplain area management plan on 310 ha; project outcomes will be used forNatura 2000 site management plan.Management plans for forest habitats and lake fisheries.Tourism management plan.Management plan for salt water and fresh water lagoons.Management plans for 2 “Special Protection Area” and restoration plans for 6“Special Protection Area” wetlands.Management plan.Management plans for various habitats.Overall strategy for a large Natura 2000 site30 management plans for karstic ponds.Management plan of the Natura 2000 site.Management plan of the Natura 2000 site.Hydrological restoration plan for updating Management plan.Management plans (includes hydrological) for 3 sites on 420 ha.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE92NAT/IT/1973/03-6LIFE94NAT/D/730

LIFE95NAT/IT/0657LIFE95NAT/B/6285 LIFE95 NAT/IT/0616LIFE95NAT/IT/0753LIFE96NAT/IT/3106LIFE96NAT/F/3215LIFE96NAT/B/3035LIFE97NAT/E/4157LIFE97NAT/FIN/4105LIFE97NAT/IT/4089LIFE97NAT/IT/4177LIFE98NAT/IT/5094LIFE98NAT/F/5192LIFE98NAT/IT/5130LIFE98NAT/E/5348LIFE98NAT/D/0480

LIFE98 NAT/IT/005066

LIFE98NAT/A/5422 LIFE98NAT/E/5346LIFE99NAT/E/6333LIFE99NAT/D/5938LIFE99NAT/GR/6499LIFE99NAT/F/6313LIFE99NAT/FIN/5276

LIFE99NAT/FIN/6278LIFE99NAT/B/6296

LIFE99NAT/IT6235LIFE99NAT/F/6304

LIFE99NAT/IT/6253LIFE99NAT/IT6270LIFE00NAT/IT/7161LIFE00NAT/IT/7209LIFE00NAT/IT/7281LIFE00NAT/A/7051

LIFE00NAT/D/7057LIFE00NAT/GR/7198LIFE00NAT/SLO/7226LIFE02NAT/FIN/8471

LIFE02NAT/R/8571LIFE02/NAT/IT/8572LIFE02NAT/UK/7075LIFE02NAT/SLO/8587LIFE02NAT/IT/8523LIFE02NAT/IT/8526LIFE02NAT/D/7042LIFE02NAT/D/8462

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 35

ZuiderkempenMittelgebirgsbäche SecovljeBinnensalzstellen

Gulf of FinlandMurrough wetlandsRäpinaMedpondsMeadows

RiversPFlusstalmoore-Tebel

Pearl musselDijle ValleiBassin aval de la SeineObere Drau

Rivers in the UKSkjern RiverPearl mussels

“Odense”/Regain

LakesFedersee

MassaciuccoliKempenLac du BourgetLake Pape

Lake FureNestosAinLago BañolasPHS in NPR

LIFE02NAT/B/8595LIFE03NAT/D/003LIFE03NAT/SLO/0076LIFE03NAT/D/005

LIFE03NAT/FIN/0039LIFE03NAT/IRL/0107LIFE03NAT/EE/0180LIFE04NAT/GR/0105LIFE04NAT/LV/0198

LIFE94NAT/D/731

LIFE97NAT/FIN/4086LIFE98NAT/B/5171LIFE99NAT/F/6332LIFE99NAT/A/6055

LIFE99NAT/UK/6088LIFE00NAT/DK/7116LIFE02NAT/B/8590

LIFE04NAT/DK/0022

LIFE96NAT/D/0489

LIFE97NAT/IT/4127LIFE98NAT/B/5168LIFE99NAT/F/6321LIFE00NAT/LV/0081

LIFE02NAT/DK/8589LIFE02NAT/GR/8489LIFE02NAT/F/8482LIFE03NAT/E/067 LIFE04NAT/LV/0199

Management plan for project areas Langdonken and Goor (total approx 50 ha).Management plan for 3 sites (620 ha).Management plan for former salt pan now a Natura 2000 site.Management plan for inland salt marshes including site hydrology measures (total 110 ha).Management plans for 10 sites and restoration for a further 4 sites. Management plan.Management plan to be prepared for the project site.Habitat management plan.Management plans will be prepared for 13 sites and updated for 2 floodplainsites, covering 14.085 hectares

Inventories and management framework of large scale river and fen restorationmeasures including assessment of impact on agriculture.Restoration plans and management plan for 3 rivers.Management plan of project area of 500 hectares.2 management plans.Comprehensive river and floodplain management plan for large Natura 2000 site(976 ha), serving also as a model for the region.River Conservation Strategies for 7 rivers.Management plans.Management plans for small-river ecosystems: including water quality assess-ment, protection and maintenance of river banks.5 year management plans to be prepared, for “Odense River” and “OdenseFjord”.

Management plan made for a Natura 2000 area including hydrological restorationplan.Management plan for the Massaciuccoli lake.Integral management plan for oligotrophic lakes. Management plan for the Lac du Bourget.Data inventory, management plan for the whole project area, essential habitatsprotection and management activities.Management plan guidelines developed using results of monitoring.Tourism management plan.Management plan for habitats of the lower Ain river.Management Plan for the Bañolas Lake. Management plan for the project area (53.000 ha including 148 lakes).

Coastal and marine habitats

Coastal areasSefton CoastIntegrated Coastal Conservation InitiativeHulsig HedePorvooPiscinasVest Stadil FjordPannonische SanddünenWattenmeer SIC Tirreno

Living with the SeaCoastal salty grasslandsMonte RussuBAIX TERANCARES DE LEÓNCoastal meadows

Dune habitatsLV Coastal habitats

Strofylia-Kotychi

Uitkerkse Polder

Costas CádizSilma

IBA marinha Tiengemeten

IslandsLiminganlahtiRahjaIsla de BudaQuark ArchipelagoCapraiaVentoteneAzores

Island of BrailaFamara (Lanzarote)Posidonia Baleares

Cetaceos Gomera

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

11 site management plan for a 2000 ha Natura 2000 site.Management plans for the sites “Ter Yde” and “Hannecartbos”.

Revision of management plan.General management plan for the area (large estuary with some forest).Management plan.Management plan.Management plan. Management plan for tourism use of the coastal area. Two management plans plus supplement to the Cilento National park management plan.Preparation of seven coastal habitat management plans.Management plan for the protected area “Uitkerkse Polder”. Site management plan.Site management plan.Site management plan.7 year regional and national management plans for Bufo calamita, for Lääne,Pärnu, Saare and Hiiu counties.Management guidelines to be prepared from monitoring results.Management plan produced for 4 coastal sites (dunes, boreal forests and aquaticarea).Management plans for two lagoons for dunes with Pinus pinea tourism andspecies management plan.Preparation of a tourism plan for 1.200 hectares Natura 2000 site at the Belgiancoast.A coastal habitats management plan.3 management plans prepared for coastal areas (for sites Vormsi, Ormusaar andSilma).Management proposals to be defined and approved with national authorities.Tourism management plan for an island reserve in densely populated area).

Management plan for southern Hailuoto island.General plan for land use and maintenance and biotope management plan.Revision of existing management Plan .Framework plan.Management plan for 3 sites.Management plan for site of Ventotene island.Management plans for 7 marine “Special Protection Areas” and 5 pSCIs, including proposals of decree and regulation.Preparation and approval of a management plan.Natura 2000 site management plan.Management Plans for 14 marine sites in the balearic Islands, to serve as modelsfor other marine sites. Preparation of plans for recuperation of Larus audounii andPhalacrocorax populations.Natura 2000 site management plan.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE95 NAT/UK/000818LIFE96NAT/B/3032

LIFE96NAT/DK/0300LIFE97NAT/FIN/4102LIFE97NAT/IT/4140LIFE97NAT/DK/4119LIFE98NAT/A/5418LIFE98NAT/D/0441LIFE99NAT/IT/6275

LIFE99NAT/UK/6081LIFE99NAT/B/6295LIFE99NAT/IT/6189LIFE99NAT/E/6386LIFE99NAT/E/6352LIFE00NAT/EE/7083

LIFE02NAT/DK/8584LIFE02NAT/LV/8498

LIFE02NAT/GR/8491

LIFE03NAT/B/0023

LIFE03NAT/E/054 LIFE03NAT/EE/0181

LIFE04NAT/P/0213LIFE04NAT/NL/0202

LIFE95NAT/FIN/0156LIFE96NAT/FIN/3023LIFE96NAT/E/3180LIFE97NAT/FIN/4110LIFE97 NAT/IT/004153LIFE97 NAT/IT/004125LIFE98NAT/P/5275

LIFE99NAT/R/6400LIFE99NAT/E/6392LIFE00NAT/E/7303

LIFE03NAT/E/062

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 37

ForestWBreckland

White-backed woodpecker

Hainich

Yyteri

Chirotteri 1Chirotteri 1Abetine 1Monte LattiasWestern TaigaGagnefNew ForestWildnisgebiet DürrensteinForêt de HaguenauJämtlandWT Svealand/GötalandWT NorrlandGennargentuWT BergslagenDecidous forestsMont MainaloSyöte

Bosco FontanaYlläs-Aakenus western taigaSélestatPohjois SavoHardt NordForêts BourgogneTaiga & freshwater

Boreal grovesOrso BrunoFunduras

TavroposGramos and RodopiNationalpark KalkalpenPin laricioLady’s slipperPohjois-Karjala

Tiroler Lech

Forest of the Flemish ArdennesPriority forestsEvoN2000 areas SW Finland

Grindenschwarzwald

Woodland habitats

Forest habitats

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Preparation of action plans for 20 rare species. Management plans for 13 sitesand general plan for Tetford Forest.Preparation of several nature conservation and forest management plans and publication of “Nature management planning”. Management plan for one Natura 2000 site, including socio-economic study onsustainable tourism and forest management. Forest management plans, including (1) plan of city of Pori, (2) for the Yyteri areaand (3) biotope inventory.Forestry management plan and dry meadows management plan.Forestry and dry meadows management plan.Management plan of 4 forest sites with Abies alba (silver fir). Management plan of a site in southern Sardinia. Management plans for 12 sites.Management plans for 12 forest sites (total 514 ha), primarily western taiga.Management plan for the Natura 2000 site.Management plan for project area (2,387 ha of alpine primeval forest).Management guide for the Haguenau forest site.6 management plans for western taiga sites.6 management plans with western taiga.2 management plans in areas with western taiga.Management plan for a Natura 2000 site with forest habitats.4 management plans for western taiga sites.Action on forest sites and plan of future passive management.Master plan for black pine forest.7 management plans and eco-tourims plans targeting mainly western taiga andaapa mire.Management plan for forest Natura 2000 site in the Po plains.Management plan for 37,000 ha approved by the forestry administration.Management plan for alluvial forests site.8 management plans for restoration actions in areas with western taiga.Management plan for oak-hornbeam forests sites.Several management plans for Natura 2000 sites.2 ten year forest management plans for 446 ha and a special management working plans for deciduous forests with white-backed woodpecker.15 ten year management plans prepared for Fennoscandain herb rich forests.Management plan for 28 sites in 11 State Forests.Management plan for part of the project site, approx. 200 ha of publicly owned-forest. Specific management plans for 3 priority habitats. Preparation of a monitoring plan.Management plan for black pine forests.Management plan for forest habitats within a Natura 2000 sites in a national park.Management plan for habitat with Pinus laricio.34 restoration plans targeting aapa mire and forest sites.Restoration plans prepared for 9 forest/mire areas and action plans for foresthabitat of white-backed woodpecker. Forestry management plan fish and amphibian inventory and river and visitorsmanagement Natura 2000 site = 4,138 ha site.Management plans.

Management plans for 19 project sites.Management plan for 7,800 hectares forests and mires.Preparation of restoration action plans (covering meadow habitats, forests, visitorflows and nature awareness).Management plan through extensive consultation force and guidelines for forestmanagement.Woodland management plans in combination with forestry activity.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE92NAT/UK/13200

LIFE95NAT/FIN/0102

LIFE95NAT/D/840

LIFE96NAT/FIN/3028

LIFE96NAT/IT/3075LIFE96NAT/IT/3075LIFE96NAT/IT/3169LIFE96NAT/IT/3171LIFE96NAT/S/3182LIFE96NAT/S/3189LIFE97NAT/UK/4242LIFE97NAT/A/4117LIFE98NAT/F/5243LIFE99NAT/S/6348LIFE98NAT/S/5369LIFE98NAT/S/5367LIFE98NAT/IT/5093LIFE98NAT/S/5366LIFE98NAT/S/5370LIFE99NAT/GR/6481LIFE99NAT/FIN/6268

LIFE99NAT/IT/6245LIFE99NAT/FIN/6267LIFE99NAT/F/6315LIFE99NAT/FIN/6247LIFE99NAT/F/6318LIFE99NAT/F/6314LIFE99NAT/FIN/6251

LIFE99NAT/FIN/6272LIFE99NAT/IT/6244LIFE99NAT/P/6436

LIFE99NAT/GR/6480LIFE99NAT/GR/6498LIFE99NAT/A/5915LIFE00NAT/F/7273LIFE00NAT/FIN/7059LIFE00NAT/FIN/7062

LIFE00NAT/A/7053

LIFE00NAT/B/7156

LIFE02NAT/EE/8555LIFE02NAT/FIN/8466LIFE02NAT/FIN/8468

LIFE02NAT/D/7039

LIFE02NAT/UK/7074

Koli

Szénás HillsDanube Floodplain forestsPindos

Sur FenBoreal forestsReticnetHabitat N-E MurciaCFS

Tucap

Green BeltAlta Tuscia

Preparation of plan for forestry management through slash-and-burn technique,and of maintenance plan for meadows and a forest management plan. Conservation management plan and annual forest management plans.Forest management strategy.Pilot management plan for priority habitat Mediterranean pine forests withendemic black pine.Recovery and management plan, for site with natural alder swamp forest.Restoration plan for 30 sites of western taiga and bog woodlands.Management plans for five Natura 2000 sites managed by the Forest Service.Management Plans for 10 Natura 2000 sites 300 hectares of forest habitats.Preparation of three management plans for two Natura 2000 sites managed bythe Italian Forest Service.Management plan for conservation of a Natura 2000 site with Apennine beechforests with Abies alba. Restoration plans for 13 sites with western taiga and aapa mires.Implementation of a forest Natura 2000 site management plan.

LIFE03NAT/FIN/0035

LIFE03NAT/H/167 LIFE03NAT/SK/0097LIFE03NAT/GR/0089

LIFE03NAT/SK/0096LIFE03NAT/FIN/0034LIFE03NAT/IT/0139LIFE03NAT/E/059 LIFE04NAT/IT/0190

LIFE04NAT/IT/0191

LIFE04NAT/FIN/0788LIFE04NAT/IT/0153

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 39

GrasslandRhön IUpland habitats

Castro VerdeAtlantic heaths

GrasslandsNardus grassland in BelgiumStelvioSteppeStora AlvaretPian della faggetaConcrake-humid grasslandsTarvisiano

Pelouses sèches en FranceGerola

Gargano

Monte GuffoneWadden SeaHumedales De VillacanasLabbro

LV Teici

N Gauja

WWF-Finland

Chirotteri II

ToscanaDry meadowsLimestone CountryTrockenrasen-RPfKinnekulleKarula

Dolomiti bellunesiAgrasColli EuganeiMilitary areas in Flanders

Medebach WachauIlperveld

Vipera ursiniiEgyek-Pusztakócs

Burren farmongSteppen “Dry grasslands”/Rodgid

Agricultural and grassland habitats

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Management plan for 2 subsites and grazing management plans.Grazing management plans prepared for four Natura 2000 sites targeting problems with deer and sheep.Management plan for part of the project site.Experimental grazing management measures for dry coastal heaths sites insouth-west England and Brittany.Management plan for grassland in the Archipelago National Park.Preparation of small-scale management plans for areas of purchased land.Management plans for mountain grasslands sites, including control of grazing.Management plan for steppe habitats site.Management plans for 4 project sites.Livestock management plan.Management plan for two sites in Flanders. Agro-forestry management plan, hunting management plan and livestockmanagement plan.Management plan for 25 sites.Management plan for the Natura 2000 site of “Bitto di Gerola” (controlled grazingin Alpine meadows).Preparation of a management plan for two Natura 2000 sites with grassland andsteppes.Preparation of the management plan for the pasturelands (approx 150 ha).20 year management plans for 10 sites. Agri-environmental programme for wetland areas.Site management plan including actions financed through Rural Develpmentfunds to protect grasslands. Agri-environmental plans prepared for 85 grasslands sites covering 578 ha to becovered by agri-environmental schemes.Management measures for forestry, agriculture, and recreation. Grassland management plans produced for 3 pilot farms will be incorporated in generalmanagement plan. Management and restoration plans for several Natura 2000 sites in Finland, Estonia and Sweden targeting seminatural grasslands.3 management plan for semi-natural grasslands sites, to be included in territorialplans. Pilot management plans for Nardus grasslands.Management plan for 500 ha of dry meadows.Nature conservation plans for 10 farms.Grazing management plans for 3 sites (approx. 355 ha).Management plans prepared or revised for 15 sites.Management strategy for the conservation of meadows for Crex crex and Aquilapomarina.Management plan for pasturages and restoration plan for the Pinus mugo shrubs.Grazing plan for humid meadows and wetland restoration plan.Management plan for the grassland habitats in the Regional Park.Management plans for 12 project subsites, including areas with semi-naturalgrasslands.Grassland management measures.Dry meadow and forest fanagement plan.Analysis and management of measures to combat acidification of peaty grassland. Management plan of the Natura 2000 site including grassland restoration.Management plan for 85 ha of steppe grassland, 585 ha salt steppe and 70 hawoodland.Preparation of farm management plans.Management measures for “Pannonic steppes and dry grasslands” in eastern Austria.Site-specific actions plans for the 11 project sites.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE93NAT/D/010200LIFE95 NAT/UK/0826

LIFE95NAT/P/0178LIFE95 NAT/UK/000832

LIFE96NAT/FIN/3027LIFE96NAT/B/3034LIFE96NAT/IT/3074LIFE96NAT/IT/3165LIFE96NAT/S/3185LIFE97NAT/IT/4145LIFE97NAT/B/4206LIFE98 NAT/IT/5112

LIFE98NAT/F/5237LIFE98NAT/IT/5044

LIFE98NAT/IT/5121

LIFE99NAT/IT/6237LIFE99NAT/DK/6456LIFE99NAT/E/6339LIFE99NAT/IT/6229

LIFE00NAT/LV/7127

LIFE00NAT/LV/0082

LIFE00NAT/FIN/7057

LIFE00NAT/IT/7139-7140

LIFE00NAT/IT/7239LIFE00NAT/SLO/7223LIFE02NAT/UK/8529LIFE02NAT/D/8461LIFE02NAT/S/8484LIFE02NAT/EE/8559

LIFE03NAT/IT/0131LIFE03NAT/GR/0092LIFE03NAT/IT/0119LIFE03NAT/B/0024

LIFE03NAT/D/001LIFE03NAT/A/0009 LIFE03NAT/NL/8486

LIFE04NAT/HU/116 LIFE04NAT/HU/119

LIFE04NAT/IRL/0125LIFE04NAT/AT/0002 LIFE04NAT/DK/0020

LandsScottish raised bogsBlanket bogs in Scotland & Northern IrelandMire Protection PlanMire restorationForest & miresAapamires Lapland

Aapa mires NorrbottenCalcareous mires

The Bogs of SatchinezDas Wenger MoorLubana Wetlands

TriglavParga-Ladra-TámogaOlvassuo

Simojoki

Alpe VegliaKarelian miresDanta 2004Mires

Baltic bogs

Other habitats

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Management plans for sites managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.Management plan for approx. 8000 ha land purchased within the project.

Management plans for 15 project sites.Restoration plans for 17 sites and general restoration plan. 5 management plans.Management plan for one project site (1.100 ha) and 18 mire restoration planscovering 2.066 ha bogland.5 management plans.Producion of conservation strategy and management plans for the minerotrophicmires (fens) in southern Belgium (focused on the grazing versus mowing management). A management plan prepared and approved by the Ministry of the Environment.Management plan for Natura 2000 site, 298 ha.Hydrology and management plan for restoration of natural bogs (9.812 ha) andhydrology and management plan for restoration of natural meadows (969 ha).Bog management plan, including tourist management.Management plan for the Natura 2000 site (bog woodland and distrophic lakes).Preparation of restoration and management plans for 3 Natura 2000 site of60.900 ha. Implementation of current restoration plan for river Simojoki. Restoration andmanagement and plans for 3 sites on former peat extrction sites.Management plans for 4 habitats and an action plan for Erebia christi.Management plans for 9 Natura 2000 sites (some include restoration plans).Management plan for the peat bogs.Management plans for 4 sites, 3 with high raised bogs and one transition mireand quaking bog 9.947 ha.14 site management plans and regional habitat action plan for conservation ofBaltic raised bogs in Pomerania.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE92NAT/UK/13400LIFE94NAT/UK/0802

LIFE95NAT/S/0507LIFE96NAT/FIN/3025LIFE97NAT/S/4201LIFE97NAT/FIN/4095

LIFE98NAT/S/6359LIFE99NAT/B/6285

LIFE99NAT/R/6394LIFE99NAT/A/5916LIFE00NAT/LV/0083

LIFE00NAT/SLO/7231LIFE00NAT/E/7330 LIFE02NAT/FIN/8469

LIFE02NAT/FIN/8465

LIFE02NAT/IT/8574LIFE03NAT/FIN/0036LIFE04NAT/IT/0177LIFE04NAT/LV/0196

LIFE04NAT/PL/208

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 41

Brown bearPirineos Aragon

Pirineos NavarraBärenschutzprogramm Ursus arctosBraunbaeren Ursus Slovenia

WolfGiganteLupo e OrsoLe loup dans les AlpesLupo Romagna

LynxLince AndaluciaLince Castilla La ManchaLince ExtremaduraLince Toledo

FoxArctic Fox IArctic Fox II

Various large carnivoresPiatra CraiuluiLarge Carnivores Vrancea

BeaverMarch-Thaya-AuenWasserwelt March-Thaya

European minkVison Castilla y LeonVison La RiojaVison ÁlavaLutreolaMustela lutreola

Giant LizardLagarto gigante IILagarto Gomera

MolluscsMolluscsMargarita sanabriaMargaritifera

ArthropodsLibellenOsmodermaMarsh fritillary

Arthropods Extremadura

Fauna species

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Brown bear recovery plan for the region and managemen plan for the Natura2000 site.Brown bear recovery plan. Bear management plan for Austria.Management plans (Specific Environmental Studies) in areas were the bear is present.Revision of existing bear management plan for Austria (see A/95/000399).Brown bear management plan for Slovenia.

Wolf management plan.Management plan.Action plan for the wolf.Management plan for wolf on 10 Natura 2000 sites.

Draft recovery plan for the Lynx.Draft recovery plan for the Lynx.Management plans for the Natura 2000 sites where the lynx is found.Management plans for the Lynx on 11 estates.

A general management plan for Sweden and an action plan for Finland.Local and regional actions plan for 4 counties (3 in Sweden and 1 in Finland).

Management guidelines for large carnivores.National species conservation plans.Management plan for large carnivores.

Inventories and management plan for thr beaver covering 13.000 ha.Site inventories and beaver management plan.

Species’ recovery plan.Species’ recovery plan.Species’ recovery plan.Species’ management plan.Management measures for the species in Spain.

Giant Lizard management plan.Adoption of giant Lizard recovery and Natura 2000 site management plans.

Species management guidelines covering the project site.A management for the plan Freshwater Pearl Mussel and its habitats.Manual for the management of Natura 2000 sites with Freshwater Pearl Mussel.

Management plan for EU-listed dragonflies covering 10 subsites.24 management plans for the hermit beetle. Management plans for 2 Natura 2000 sites and 7 other sites as part of overallmonitoring strategy.Management plans for insect species Macromia splendens, Oxygastra cutisii, Gohus graslini and Coenagrion mercuriale.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE93NAT/E/11801

LIFE93NAT/E/11803LIFE95NAT/A/0399LIFE96NAT/GR/3222LIFE02NAT/A/8519 LIFE02 NAT/SLO/8585

LIFE96NAT/IT/3115LIFE97NAT/IT/4141LIFE99NAT/F/6299LIFE00NAT/IT/7214

LIFE94NAT/E/4811LIFE94NAT/E/4813LIFE98NAT/E/5343LIFE02NAT/E/8617

LIFE98NAT/S/5371LIFE03NAT/S/0073

LIFE99NAT/R/6435LIFE00NAT/H/7162 LIFE02NAT/R/8576

LIFE95NAT/A/0768LIFE98NAT/A/5413

LIFE00NAT/E/7299LIFE00NAT/E/7331LIFE00NAT/E/7335LIFE00NAT/EE/7081LIFE02 NAT/E/008604

LIFE97NAT/E/4190LIFE02NAT/E/8614

LIFE98NAT/P/5239LIFE03NAT/E/051 LIFE04NAT/S/0231

LIFE96NAT/D/0492LIFE97NAT/S/4204LIFE03NAT/UK/0042

FE03NAT/E/057

AmphibiansBombinaBombinaTriturs cristatus / BALTRIT

CetaceansCetaceans

Dolphins

Cetaceos mediterraneos

Linda

FishesSaramugoApronLebensraum Huchen Obere MurTruiteMargarita AragonFartet Murcia

Apron II

BatsBatsBats Brussels

Quirópteros ValenciaBatsQuirópteros Extemadura

Bats

VariousHabitatCaretta carettaTortugas Delfines

Especies prioritaria-CBD

Vipera ursiniiMouflonEmys Ter

Detailed plans for 10 sites and an overall plan.Management plan for 10 sites in Latvia and Germany.National action plans to be prepared for Triturus cristatus in Estonia and Finland.

Development of conservation measures and regulation for whale watching-dolphin watching.National action plan for dolphins conservation and a management plan for onemarine reserve.Management plans for the 3 target species and for their habitats within themarine Natura 2000 sites.Dolphin action plan.

Management plan for the saramugo, covering the two project sites. Guidelines for the management of the asper (Zingel asper).Management plan for the Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) covering 2,800 ha.Forest ecology/fish/amphibian management plan for an area of 878 ha.Management guidelines Macrostigma trout.Recovery plan for the fish Salaria fluviatlis. Recovery plan for Aphanius iberus in the Murcia region. Management Plans forthe 2 Natura 2000 sites designated for the species.Technical guide for the reintroduction of the Zingel asper and for ecological corridors for the species.

Management plans for 143 bat wintering sites in 4 Member States.General guidelines on the management of forest, parks and lanes in urban areafor the protection of bats.Recovery Plan for Rhinolophus mehelyi and conservation plan for Myotis capaccini.8 management plans for caves targeted by the project.Recovery plans for Rhinolophus mehelyi, Rhinolophus euryale and Myotis bechsteinii.Management measures to improve foraging habitats.

Action plans for various species.Management guidelines for pelagic stage sea turtles.Management plans for 3 Natura 2000 sitesfor Caretta caretta and Tursiops truncatus.Management plans for ten sites on private land, including measures to improvethe feeding and breeding grounds.A management plan for the species in the Danube delta.Species action plan.Management plan for amphibian species in the project’s site.

LIFE99NAT/DK/6454LIFE04NAT/D/0028LIFE04NAT/EE/0070

LIFE99NAT/P/6432

LIFE00NAT/R/7194

LIFE02NAT/E/8610

LIFE03NAT/F/0104

LIFE97NAT/P/4075LIFE98NAT/F/5208LIFE99NAT/A/6054 LIFE03NAT/A/0011 LIFE03NAT/F/0101LIFE04NAT/E/033 LIFE04NAT/E/035

LIFE04NAT/FR/0083

LIFE95NAT/D/842LIFE98NAT/B/7156

LIFE00NAT/E/7337LIFE00NAT/R/7187LIFE04NAT/E/043

LIFE04NAT/FR/0080

LIFE92NAT/IT/1973/03-3LIFE96NAT/P/3019LIFE97NAT/E/4151

LIFE99NAT/E/6336

LIFE99NAT/R/6404LIFE03NAT/F/ 099LIFE04NAT/E/059

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 43

Black VultureBUITRE NEGRO-HOLANDA

BUITRE NEGRO MADRIDQUEBRANTA ARAGONBuitre Mallorca

Dadia

Sea birdsIles de MarseillesIles d’Hières

EaglesAguila Imperial AndaluciaAguila Imperial Cast. ManchaAguila Imperial Cast. LeonAguila Imperial ExtremaduraAguila Imperial MadridPerdicera GuaraAlto TajoGolden EagleAguila perdicera – BurgosAquila perdicera – MurciaAquila heliaca HUAquila heliacaEagles & black stork / Eaglelife

BitternDoberschützer Wasser

Humedales MediterraneosBotaurus BayernSchorfheide-Chorin

Butor étoiléBittern

GypaetusGypaète AlpesGypaète CorseGypaetus Crete IIGypaete international

VariousGlobally threatened birdsFiener BruchWhite-backed WoodpeckerOutardesPico Picapinos.

Esteparias Extremadura

Puffinus Puffinus

Faucon crécerellette

Bird species

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Recovery plan for the species in Andalucía, management plan for a Natura 2000site. Management plan for the species.Revision of the recovery plan for the Bearded Vulture in Aragón.3 management plans for private estates of Majorca and a conservation plan forthe Black Vulture in Majorca.Management plan for Black Vulture.

Guidelines for the management of sea birds.Guidelines for the management of sea birds.

Recovery plan for the species.Recovery plan for the species.Recovery plan for the species.Recovery plan for the species.Action plan for the species.Conservation plan for Bonelli’s eagle in Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park.Management plan for the Bonelli’s eagle in the SPA Alto Tajo.National species conservation strategy.Conservation plan for Bonelli’s eagle.Management plan for a Natura 2000 site.Habitat management guidelines.Status survey and management guidelines.Preparation and revision of national management plans for Aquila pomarin,a Aquila clanga and Ciconia nigra.

Management plan for the bittern on 2.400 ha of a Natura 2000 site following aninventory and study. Recovery plan for 4 species (bittern, Audouin’s gull, fartet and samaruc).Management plan for 2 sites (fishponds with bittern).Management plan for bittern on 10 sites, to be included in municipal and regionalland use plans.Guidelines for the management of the species.Revised site management plans.

Action plan.Action plan.2 management plans for extensive livestock grazing.International action plan.

20 action plans.Management plan for the great bustard covering 2.400 hectares.Management plans for 10 project sites. Action plan for the little bustard.Management plan and guidelines for habitat management for the great spottedwoodpecker in Tenerife.Actions plans for the little bustard, great Bustard and lesser kestrel in Extremadu-ra.Species recovery and management plans for the Natura 2000 site “Salinas deIbiza-Formentera”.Action plan for the lesser kestrel in Mediterranean France.

PROJECT NUMBER

LLIFE97NAT/E/4210

LIFE98NAT/E/5351LIFE98NAT/E/5296LIFE00NAT/E/7340

LIFE02NAT/GR/8497

LIFE03NAT/F/0102LIFE03NAT/F/0105

LIFE92NAT/E/14300LIFE92NAT/E/14301LIFE92NAT/E/14302LIFE92NAT/E/14303LIFE92NAT/E/14304LIFE97NAT/E/4180LIFE98NAT/E/5308LIFE00NAT/IRL/7145LIFE02NAT/E/8598 LIFE02NAT/E/8602 LIFE02NAT/H/8627 LIFE03NAT/SK/0098 LIFE04NAT/EE/0072

LIFE94NAT/D/732

LIFE96NAT/E/3118LIFE97NAT/D/0239LIFE99NAT/D/5943

LIFE00NAT/F/7269LIFE02NAT/UK/8527

LIFE98NAT/F/5194LIFE98NAT/F/5197LIFE02NAT/GR/8492LIFE03NAT/F/0100

LIFE93NAT/UK/11700LIFE94NAT/D/734LIFE95NAT/S/0517LIFE96NAT/F/3207LIFE96NAT/E/3090

LIFE96 NAT/E/003102

LIFE97NAT/E/4147

LIFE97NAT/F/4119

Vautour moineGorges de la JonteOiseaux d’eauRauhfußhühnerAmvrakikos

F. cornuda C. ValencianaAVUTARDA EN VILLAFÁFILA- IIHaine

Malvasia ValenciaLa Serena-Sierra De Tiros

Aapa avifaunaLV 2 IBAS

Larus Audouii ValenciaPercnoptèreCrexHubara canariasPirkanmaa birdsAlimocheTilosOtis tarda HUBranta ruficolis

Species action plan.

4 management plans.Forest management plan (including recreation) for the protection of grouse.Inventory of lagoons and other aquatic habitats and management plan for theCormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) .Long and medium-term recovery plan for Fulica cristata.Management guidelines for great bustard.

Management plans for 3 sites and development of monitoring strategy to for birdpopulations in reedbeds.Conservation plan for the white-headed duck.Development of a management model of management for protection of birds inLa Serena.Management plans for bird species in 5 sites covering 48.200 hectares.Preparation of management plan and regulations for 2 sites (covering 16.000hectares) for protection of the lesser spotted eagle, black stork and severalwoodpecker species. The plans include zoning, proposed agro-environmentalmanagement plans and eco-tourism.Management plan for Audouin’s gull.Action plan for Egyptian vultureManagement plan for corncrake.Recovery plan for Chlamydotis undulata.Management plans for 4 Natura 2000 sites.Recovery plan for Neophron percnopterus.Management plan for three priority bird species.9 management plans for areas with great bustard.National action plan for long-term conservation of Branta ruficola in over winteringareas.

LIFE97NAT/F/4120

LIFE97NAT/F/4229LIFE98NAT/D/0439LIFE99NAT/GR/6475

LIFE99NAT/E/6393LIFE99NAT/E/6350

LIFE00NAT/B/7148

LIFE00NAT/E/7311 LIFE00NAT/E/7327

LIFE00NAT/FIN/7060LIFE00NAT/LV/7124

LIFE02NAT/E/8608 LIFE03NAT/F/0103LIFE03/NAT/SI/0077LIFE03NAT/E/046LIFE04NAT/FIN/0076LIFE04NAT/E/067LIFE04NAT/GR/0101LIFE04NAT/HU/109 LIFE04NAT/R/0220

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 45

FloraMicrorreservas floraHabitats and FloraFlora AndaluciaFlora AragonFlora Sierra NevadaAsphodelusQuercus roburEolieAbetine 2Myosotis Bregenz

Angelica palustrisFloraMacalifeCretaplantPinus nigra

Flora

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Management plans for all sites and recovery plans for all plant species.Management plan for part of the project site.Recovery plans for 4 flora species.Management plans for 10 flora species.Management plans for 6 sites.Management guidelines for the target species.A management plan for the site.Management plans for 4 plant species.Abies alba action plan.Management plans for specific aspects on the project site (29 ha), to be includedin the general management plan.Management plans 11 project sites.Management plan for one project site.Management plan of the site “Macalube di Aragona”.Management plan for each micro-reserve.Management plan for the site.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE93NAT/E/11100LIFE94NAT/P/1043LIFE94NAT/E/1203LIFE96NAT/E/3096LIFE98NAT/E/5358LIFE98NAT/P/5229LIFE99NAT/R/6391LIFE99NAT/IT/6217LIFE99NAT/IT/6260LIFE00NAT/A/7069

LIFE02NAT/HU/8630LIFE02NAT/P/8480LIFE04NAT/IT/0182LIFE04NAT/GR/0104LIFE04NAT/R/0225

Unteres Odertal Murcia-Criptohumedales

Nossentiner Heide Elbe NiedersachenNuuksio

Pennine MoorsOberes WaldviertelIsarRieselfelder Münster

Sado/SetúbalAlzetteCabeçãoLesse et Lomme

Termoncarragh FreiraÖlandTrockenrasen Saar Salisbury Plain

Haute Meuse

DamvalleiCBD 2003

PrioloGAPSJämtl/HärjedalenRheinaueMarais PoitevinNORTENATUR

SPAsPerdicera Navarra

SPAsWild NessZepas en Extremadura7 Greek SPAsZEPAS VALENCIA

REFUGIO DE MONTEJONieuwkoopse PlassenZepa La SerenaAlbueraGaviota MurciaWeidmoos

SCIsGuadianaNatural Heritage Management plans

Generics

TYPOLOGY OF PLAN

Management plan for the Natura 2000 site and buffer zone (total 17.000 ha).Preparation of natural resources development plan for the sites “Ajauque-RamblaSalada” and “Saladares del Guadalentín”.Management plan for 6 sites. Management plan for the project area (2.200 ha),.Land use plan for the Nuuksio National Park and other sites. Covers outdoorrecreation, zoning, location of visitor services and environmental education. Development of integrated strategy and action plan for the south Pennine moors.Management plans for several sites covering 1.000 hectares.Restoration plan and management plan for recurring measures.Preparation of general management plan, detailed management plans for particu-lar zones and recreation guide.Management plans for the 5 project sites.Management plan for the entire area to be prepared. Management plan prepared for the project site.Management plans of newly acquired land in the project area and revision ofmanagement plans for already existing protected areas.Management plan for small site.Management plan of project site.24 plans to be prepared or revised.Management plans for 5 project sites covering 290 ha.Preparation of comprehensive land management plans in conjunction with thearmy administration.Management plans of newly acquired land in the project area and revision ofmanagement plans for already existing protected areas.Development of a management plan for a 275 hectare site.Preparation of 17 management plans and best practice manual for managementof Mediterranean estates. Preparation of legally binding management plan for the project site.Preparation of legally binding management plan for the project site.Management plans prepared or revised for 19 of the 31 project sites.Management plan for 3 sites.19 local management plans.Legally binding management plan to be prepared for 2 project sites.

Revision of management plans for two SPAs and revision of 3 hunting management p.Management plans for Special Protected Areas and aquaculture zoning plans.Revised site management plan for a Natura 2000 site.4 management plans for SPAs and 2 Species Management Plans.7 management plans.Preparation of natural resource management plans for the SPAs “Benidorm” and“Columbretes”.Management plan for the SPA “Montejo de la Vega “Special Protected Area”.Development of a strategic plan for the area surrounding the site.Management plan.Management plan and hunting management plan for the SPA “Albuera”.Preparation and adoption of the SPA management plan. Management plan for the SPA (120 ha).

Management guidelines for all Natura 2000 sites.Management guidelines for all Natura 2000 sites.157 management plans produced.

PROJECT NUMBER

LIFE92NAT/D/14530LIFE93NAT/E/11200

LIFE95NAT/D/841LIFE95NAT/D/843LIFE95NAT/FIN/0097

LIFE95 NAT/UK/000824LIFE96NAT/A/3226LIFE96NAT/D/0487LIFE97NAT/D/0238

LIFE98NAT/P/5235LIFE99NAT/LUX/6284LIFE99NAT/P/6441LIFE00NAT/B/7168

LIFE00NAT/IRL/7128LIFE00NAT/P/7097LIFE00NAT/S/7117LIFE02NAT/D/7058LIFE02NAT/UK/7071

LIFE02NAT/B/8593

LIFE03NAT/B/0020LIFE03NAT/E/050

LIFE03NAT/P/0013LIFE03NAT/P/0018LIFE03NAT/S/0070LIFE04NAT/D/0025LIFE04NAT/FR/0087LIFE04NAT/P/0214

LIFE96NAT/E/3114

LIFE96NAT/IRL/3240LIFE97NAT/UK/004245LIFE97NAT/E/004161LIFE97NAT/GR/4243LIFE98NAT/E/5300

LIFE98NAT/E/5361LIFE98NAT/NL/5159LIFE00NAT/E/7348 LIFE03NAT/E/052 LIFE03NAT/E/061 LIFE03NAT/A/0010

LIFE94NAT/P/1043LIFE94NAT/P/1973LIFE95NAT/IRL/0822

LIFE Focus I Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites: the contribution of LIFE-nature projects I p. 47

Hainich

Chênaie verteENEAGrossjöberget, BollnäsNationalpark ThayatalWildflußgebiet Lafnitztal

Pellegrino

Natura 2000

Stora KarlsöHäädemesteBande rhénaneIron Gates Tryggelev Nor/ImageNorth SavoMacin MountainsPiara Craiului IIComanacyBiarmicusUllals AlbuferaKopuNaturaSlovensky Rai National ParkDe Liereman

Natslompsis

Management plan in preparation of designation of site as Natura 2000 area(15.000 ha).2 Management plans.Preparation of three management plans.Management plan.Management plan for the 1.330 hectare Natura 2000 site.Management plan for selected sites and recommendations for the entire Natura2000 site.Management plan and action plan for the sites “Gessi bolognesi” and “MonteSole”.Preparation of pilot management plans for 8 Italian Natura 2000 sites within theAlpine, Mediterranean and Continental biogeographical areas.Revision of existing management plan.Ten year management plan.3 management plans.Management plan for the site.Revision of the management plan. Management plan for 2 sites. Management plan.Preparation of management plans for five selected sites in a national park.4 management plans.Revision of the management plan for the site “Monte Labbro”.Management plan for the restored area within the site “Albufera de Valencia”.Management plan.Management plan to be developed for the entire site (approx. 15.000 hectares).Management plan for the site, covering in particular of tourism and otherrecreational use.Guidelines for the preparation of management plans in Slovenia and theirinclusion in existing national legislation; preparation of six management plans.

LIFE95NAT/D/840

LIFE96NAT/F/3200LIFE97NAT/IT/4159LIFE97NAT/S/4200LIFE98NAT/A/5417LIFE98NAT/A/5420

LIFE98 NAT/IT/005133

LIFE99NAT/IT6279

LIFE00NAT/S/7118LIFE00NAT/EE/7082LIFE00NAT/F/7277LIFE00NAT/R/7171LIFE02NAT/DK/8588LIFE02NAT/FIN/8470LIFE03NAT/R/0026LIFE03NAT/R/0032LIFE04 NAT/CY/000013LIFE04/NAT/IT/173LIFE04NAT/E/048LIFE04NAT/EE/0073LIFE04NAT/SK/244LIFE04NAT/B/0010

LIFE04NAT/SLO/240

Name LIFE (“L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment)

Type of intervention co-financing of actions in favour of the environment in the twenty-five Member Statesof the European Union, in the candidate countries who are associated to LIFE and in certain third countries borderingthe Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.

LIFE is made up of three branches: “LIFE-Nature”, “LIFE-Environment” and “LIFE-Third countries”.

Objectives> with a view to sustainable development in the European Union, contribute to the drawing up, implementation

and updating of Community policy and legislation in the area of the environment;> explore new solutions to environmental problems on a Community scale.

Beneficiaries any natural or legal person, provided that the projects financed meet the following general criteria:> they are of Community interest and make a significant contribution to the general objectives; > they are carried out by technically and financially sound participants;> they are feasible in terms of technical proposals, timetable, budget and value for money.

Types of project> Eligible for LIFE-Environment are innovative pilot and demonstration projects which bring environment-related

and sustainable development considerations together in land management, which promote sustainable waterand waste management or which minimise the environmental impact of economic activities, products and services.LIFE-Environment also finances preparatory projects aiming at the development or updating of Communityenvironmental actions, instruments, legislation or policies.

> Eligible for LIFE-Nature are nature conservation projects which contribute to maintaining or restoring natural habitatsand/or populations of species in a favourable state of conservation within the meaning of the “Birds” (79/409/EEC)and “Habitats” (92/43/EEC) Community Directives and which contribute to the establishment of the Europeannetwork of protected areas – NATURA 2000. LIFE-Nature also finances “co-op” projects aiming to developthe exchange of experiences between projects.

> Eligible for LIFE-Third countries are projects which contribute to the establishment of capacities and administrativestructures needed in the environmental sector and in the development of environmental policy and action programmesin some countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.

Implementation National authorities in the Member States or third countries send the Commission the proposalsof projects to be co-financed (for LIFE-Environment preparatory projects, the applicants send their proposals directlyto the Commission). The Commission sets the date for sending the proposals annually. It monitors the projectsfinanced and supports the dissemination of their results. Accompanying measures enable the projects to be monitoredon the ground.

Period covered (LIFE III) 2000 to 2006.

Funds approximately 638 million for 2000-2004 and 317 million for 2005-2006.

ContactEuropean Commission – Environment Directorate-GeneralLIFE Unit – BU-9 02/1 – 200 rue de la Loi – B-1049 Brussels – Fax: +32 2 296 95 56Internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/home.htm

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ISSN 1725-5619