Regional meeting “Natura 2000 & Water Framework Directive ”

Regional meeting about links between ecological network Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive was held at the beginning of July in Podgorica. The meeting was organised within the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montengro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“ funded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Participants from governmental and public authorities responsible for water sector and nature conservation in Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Croatia were present at the meeting, including the most active members from NGOs alliances that are supporting Natura 2000 – Natura 2000 Info Centre form Montenegro and Natura 2000 Resource Centre form Serbia. NGO members have shown respectful understanding and knowledge about recent situation in the region; they were informed about transposition progress of EU directives and challenges in the implementation.

It was a good opportunity for participants to find out more about objectives of Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Birds and Habitat Directive (BHD), while Mr Sergiy Moroz, from WWF European Policy Office was introducing existing synergy and links between WFD and Natura 2000, as well as deadlines when objectives under the three directives should be reached for all water depending Natura 2000 sites. Together with differences and similarities of directives, some concrete examples were presented – conservation measures and common monitoring system.

Mr Fernando Magdaleno from the Spanish Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs introduced examples about management and environmental flows in protected areas & Natura 2000 sites in Spain, as one of obligation that comes with EU Membership.How to reconcile environmental protection and socio-economic development is always an issue, and Ms Angela Klauschen, from WWF Mediterranean Programme office, had explained potential use of exemptions under both, WFD and Natura 2000 sites. It was also shown that EU legislation does not prevent new developments if applied correctly (relationship between HD Art. 6.3 & 6.4 and WFD Art. 4.7).

Example of the Schelde Estuary, at the border of Belgium and the Netherlands, demonstrate that the integrated planning and management at the level of ecosystems allows achieving objectives of the three directives. The participants had opportunity for group work and to exchange information on transposition of EU legislation, and (non)existence of implementation mechanisms at national level, also to identify common constrains.

Countries of the WB region have unique opportunity to use EU experience and to avoid mistakes of other EU countries in order to implement directives faster, more effective, and with less related costs.Working groups had difficult task to identify common priorities and to recommend next steps. This task was successful with a little support from Duška Dimović and Andrea Štefan, both from WWF.
Presentations from the meeting could be downloaded here:http://croatia.panda.org/dinarski_luk/natura_2000_u_srbiji_i_u_crnoj_gori/
Andrea Stefan, WWF

Undiscovered Croatia

This year’s study tour of the students from University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna was organised in Croatia. On 9-14 May students travelled across Croatia in order to encounter its natural characteristics and learn more about the nature protection system, current issues and challenges in this area.

A poster with a title “The undiscovered side of Croatia” attracted 30 students from University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna to step into an “environmental protection adventure”, together with their assistants, their lecturer Wolfgang Suske and his coworkers. The journey started with their arrival to Zagreb and a visit to the State Institute for Nature Protection where the constitution of nature protection system was explained together with the role and work of each related institution. A warm welcome and relaxed atmosphere encouraged students to raise up additional questions on the scientific role of the Institute, cross-border cooperation, intersectoral cooperation and the role of NGOs. After a short discussion, with a handful of educational materials, the group continued their trip towards the Lonjsko Polje nature park. This largest wetland protected area, not only in Croatia but also in the entire Danube river basin, left a strong impression with its unique characteristics and cultural heritage. Traditional system of cattle breeding, specific architecture and the mutual benefit of a harmonious coexistence between nature and people, can best be explained over a plate of warm “posavski čobanac” – a tasty traditional dish. That is why, after a good meal in his backyard, our host Mr Josip – with the help of park employees – opens up a discussion on the restoration of the traditional wooden houses, possibilities and obstacles in local development. The next destination was National park Plitvička jezera. Even though this park is very famous and mainly visited because of the phenomenon of its lakes and waterfalls, the students’ visit was more oriented towards its “undiscovered” value – grassland biodiversity, especially heathlands. “What are the ways to succeed in producing a high quality internationally awarded local product in a rural and protected area such as this?” – The discussion continues while Mr Ivan brings out some more cheese in the olive oil from his own production. He is the owner of the olive oil producing family farm located just a short walk away from the canyon of River Krka. The National park Krka experienced through the life of local people looks completely different. Reed beds and big variety of bird species – the Vransko Jezero nature park is the only large swamp area in the Mediterranean part of Croatia and one of our last destinations. The study tour ends on Pag island, where future Natura 2000 sites are visited as well as the famous salt production company Solana Pag. After a short tour, our kind guide reflects on the planned construction of the Pag-Košljun channel and its negative impact on the environment, local livelihoods and the company’s future. The fact that it is possible to build up economic success on traditional knowledge and protection of natural resources is best seen in the Gligora cheese factory. By collecting milk from the local shepherds, it keeps the island’s traditional sheep breeding thriving and also thus protecting its biodiversity. Transition to modern technology was accomplished through the Sapard programme, what makes this story an example of a successful pre-EU accession funding. It is really hard to sum up and describe all of the so far “undiscovered” experiences and knowledge that students took back home after the end of the study tour. If it was to judge according to the students’ interest and questions that they asked our local hosts and nature protection employees and the honest, comprehensive answers they got in return, it can without a doubt be said that this journey widened the horizons on both sides.

Marija Martinko, Suske Consulting

Photos: Klaus Fürnweger

The study tour to Croatia

20 NGO representatives from Serbia and Montenegro gathered in Zadar, Croatia in May 2011 for a study tour planned within the project “Partnership Actions for Biodiversity Protection in Western Balkan”. After study tour to Brussels in September 2010, it was second study tour within this IPA project, and it lasted for three days.

The main purpose of the study trip was for the participants to gain as much as possible knowledge and insights into various aspects of the process of establishment of Natura 2000 in Croatia. Representatives from two key state institutions, Ministry of Culture and State Institute for Nature Protection, responsible for overall legislative harmonization and necessary technical preparations for establishing Natura 2000 network in Croatia explained roles of their institutions, work done so far, on-going efforts and the challenges that lie ahead. Concrete suggestions were also provided to the participants.

Equally important was participation of representatives of two local state institutions, Public Institution for the Management of Protected Nature Areas of Zadar County and Nature Park “Vransko Lake”. Their presentations further elaborated challenges in managing future Natura 2000 sites from a local perspective and thus emphasized important issues such as raising awareness of local stakeholders and their inclusion in decision making processes.

In addition to presentations from state institutions, Association Sunce and Association “Lake” made presentations of their involvement in the efforts of establishing Natura 2000 network in Croatia, explaining this process from an NGO standpoint. Among other topics covered were: Public participation in development of legal framework for nature conservation in Croatia as well as in inter-sectoral cooperation in development of management of protected areas. Similarly, on the second day NGOs from Serbia and Montenegro introduced their ongoing efforts regarding Natura 2000 and presented challenges that lie ahead.

Afternoon session consisted of three working groups in which all the participants brainstormed on several topics, mainly related to upcoming challenges in both countries and potential activities for the recently established Natura 2000 NGO networks in Serbia (Natura 2000 Resource Center) and Montenegro (Natura 2000 Info Center).

The lectures took place in the Impact center in Zadar. But, for the final day of the tour, all the attendees left that beautiful coastal city for an excursion to National park Krka, part of the future Natura 2000 network. There they visited Burnum roman military camp and the beautiful and unique Krka waterfalls. A day in the nature was the most beautiful conclusion of a fruitful stay in Croatia.

Srdjan Uljevic, Sunce

Water resources in the Natura 2000 network

Kopacki rit nature park, Croatia © David Strobel / WWF

Many see the protection of water only as a chemical protection of water quality, while forgetting the physical and biological characteristics of water, which are equally important. Only when all three characteristics are balanced, can we talk about the good condition of water. This way of thinking comes from the traditionalist and technically-oriented approach to "management" of water. Some 200-300 years ago rivers started to adapt to the needs of humans in agriculture, urbanization, construction, recreation, etc. Hundreds of years ago, cities were located on hills, away from the river, which is not the case anymore. People have moved closer to the rivers and thus begun to create pressure on them. This is why many of the rivers are on the border of their tolerance efficiency. All this has become very evident over the past fifteen years, with devastating floods, drought… some rivers are dried up, underground aquifers are contaminated. It is believed that in future the situation will be even worse...

Croatia has systematically controlled fresh water since 1876 when the "Society for the regulation of the river" was opened in Osijek. Since then, the river in Croatia has systematically changed and adapted to the needs of industry, navigation, construction, power generation, water supply and drainage. Many rivers and tributaries were turned into sewers for municipal and industrial water, and in the reservoir to produce electricity. Under the greatest influence in Croatia are major rivers like the Drava, Sava, Kupa, Cetina or Neretva that provide multiple benefits to the economy. But in recent years, the emergence of consumerism and rapid "development" mean that rivers are rapidly exploited, habitats are disappearing, biodiversity and natural features are reduced. The remains of the former floodplains of Sava only remind us how the system of the river Sava used to look, and what kind of services and opportunities it offered. Not only extremely high biodiversity, but also direct and indirect services - flood, felled timber, clean water, fertile soil, economically exploitable species, pleasant climate, the filling of underground aquifers, recreation, etc.

Wetlands are habitats of high biodiversity and in all EU countries, including Croatia, are recognized as part of the Natura 2000 network. For Croatia, which still, in spite of numerous changes and degradation, has species and habitats from annexes of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, we can say that almost all the rivers and streams are potential candidates for the Natura 2000 network. Currently designated areas of national ecological network, when Croatia becomes a member state, most of these rivers will become Natura 2000 sites. Although most people are quite proud of that fact, others are aware that this is a limiting factor for many activities, especially "management" of water and its commercial exploitation.

Today's modern society has become aware of the fact that rivers have their limits. They also have many ecological functions that, if ignored, cause deterioration in quality of life and increase in the prices of all services. We also realized that without an integrated approach, where the environmental and social functions of water have equal status with economic functions, there won’t be any sustainable development, or development in general. Unfortunately, current Croatian water management, especially in practice, fails to adopt the principles and objectives of integrated water management and to learn from the mistakes of the “west”. They still only plan and implement the technocratic approach; they plan to "arrange" the "disordered" rivers and streams. "Arrange" in this sense means a river that loses its natural dynamics of functions such as flood defence, the river that was controlled and geometrically correct which gets it by uniformed channel through which water flows uniformly. In such a river wildlife is disappearing, there are no habitats, conditions are unfavorable for most river species of plants and animals. The protection of all these areas under the National Ecological Network and Natura 2000 network this way is threatened.

In order to find a compromise between different needs, a very close and urgent cooperation between nature protection sector, environmental protection, forestry, agriculture, the economy in general and Water Management sector is needed. This would create the future conservation and use of water resources and aquatic ecosystems, where no one sector will have priority and where they will provide quality of life for people, for the willow tree and for the smallest bird.

Irma Popovic Dujmovic

Marine Natura 2000 Sites in Split-Dalmatia County

„In order to successfully plan nature conservation in both of its two components, development and protection of natural values, one must have valid spatial data. Without knowledge of biodiversity and its spatial distribution wise decisions can not be made and mistakes, even inadvertent, sometimes with serious and long-turn consequences can not be avoided.” – Tatjana Bakran-Petricioli, Marine Habitats – Monitoring and Mapping Handbook

Effective nature conservation of any area is indeed impossible without the existence of data. When we speak in terms of nature conservation basic data includes the knowledge about the distribution of species and habitats. For comparison, natural resources management in the absence of basic data is the same as closed eye navigation. Sooner or later it will lead to stranding with a strong chance of causing irreversible damage. Unfortunately, knowledge of the geographical distribution of biodiversity in Croatia is limited, especially when it comes to the Adriatic Sea. There are various reasons for such situation.

Photo: Crab Maja squinado on red gorfonian (Antonio Rossetti)

They vary from lack of funds and qualified experts to physiological constraints that prevent prolonged stay under the sea. Overcoming these problems will be a long and extensive task, but the improvement made over the last few years gives us reason for optimism. Various organizations, governmental (primarily State Institute for Nature Protection), research institutes, private companies and NGO-s have contributed to the national census of the marine habitats and species.

Photo: Nudibranch Flabellina affinis (Antonio Rossetti)

NGO Sunce started the process of collecting data on marine biodiversity in 2005 on the island of Vis. Since then we have conducted a number of research surveys, primarily in Lastovo Islands Nature Park (mapped more than 120 locations) followed by research in Dugi otok, Mali Lošinj and Brijuni National Park. Considering that proposals for NATURA 2000 protected areas network are currently being made in Croatia, we decided to make a study on marine biodiversity in some parts of Split-Dalmatia County. The study was conducted throug

hout 2010 with the emphasis on potential NATURA 2000 sites. Thus, we examined the seabed south of the island of Brac and, in the smaller extent, of the island of Solta. We also examined the area of Pakleni otoci near Hvar and finally location Vrulja near the town of Omiš.

During the research, as was expected, we found diversity of species and habitats, especially at locations such as Pakleni otoci where coralligenous communities and communities of semi-dark caves with dense settlements of gorgonians dominate the rocky seabed. At Vrulja we have determined the presence of endangered marine species such as corals Corynactis viridis and sponges Axinella cannabina and Geodya cydonium. On the other hand we have also found serious damage (caused by fishing gear or anchoring) to Posidonia meadows, the most important marine habitat in the Mediterranean. Invasive green algae Caulerpa racemosa was also found.

Based on these findings, we have prepared an expert study in which we propose the inclusion of some parts of the studied areas (island Vodnjak Veliki and Vrulja area) in the protected areas under the Nature Protection Act and enlargement of the existing Ecological network to cover some biologically very valuable sites like Kampanel shallows. We also believe that it is necessary to introduce no-take fishing zones and regulate diving activities in these locations. Such measures would contribute to restoration of fish stock in a wider area, better conservation of habitats and species and it would as well contribute to the development of controlled diving tourism.

Photo: Moray eel (Antoni Rossetti)

Another important aspect of these projects is training of volunteers, mostly biology students, for habitat mapping and species recognition. In this way we increase the number of people skilled for such work and the process of marine research and protection is accelerated, which is of a strategic importance for Croatia. In order to protect the Adriatic Sea and its natural resources we need to understand its functions and processes. The fact that a marine census of the Adriatic has not been done so far shows a careless attitude towards our greatest natural resource.

Mosor Prvan, NGO Sunce

Wolfgang Suske: NGOs are Watchdogs for the Correct Implementation of Natura 2000

One of the best Natura 2000 experts, Viennese Wolfgang Suske, is currently working on several projects in Serbia, Romania, Croatia and Austria, through his firm Suske Consulting. He works on the rural development and social aspects of Natura 2000 projects as well as financing tools of Natura 2000 and the process of appropriate assessment of the most important articles of Birds and Habitats Directives. As a communication expert Suske has worked on projects in Romania and Malta, he was a team leader of the project “Implementation of Natura 2000 in Croatia”, and today he is an expert of a Twinning project in Serbia. Suske also lectures at the University of Natural Resources in Vienna, and the Klagenfurt University.

How many countries have you worked in as an expert for Natura 2000?
In the last 5 years I have worked in 15 countries, mostly in training courses and seminars for authorities or NGOs, but also for freelance offices and experts.

What can you say about your experience with the implementation of Natura 2000 – whether in Austria or other countries?
In Austria we were unable to start a professional participation process in time. We waited for the moment that farmers, foresters and other stakeholders asked for better and clear information. And we tried to use tactics in the designation process. It was interesting that big investors forced us to stop that because infringement procedures caused legal uncertainty – and for investors that is the biggest problem.

Do you have any brilliant advice for the countries that will implement Natura 2000 in the near future?
It might sound strange – but the brilliant idea is to sit together and develop this Natura 2000 network. To discuss together the importance of our nature, the added value of protected rivers, grasslands and forests but also the challenges for the social and economic sectors within regions. This is the key: to learn from each other and to build up the network on this cooperation.

What do you see as the biggest obstacles in the phase of implementation?
In many countries it is the deficit of human resources – for organization and administration of the designation, participation, management, development of financing tools, etc. If the implementers are weak – mostly because they are understaffed – you spend time with infringement procedures or complaints from the European Commission or investors. If the implementors are strong, Natura 2000 can become a great success story.

How important is the role of NGOs in Natura 2000?
I think in the area of nature conservation NGOs have never had a bigger role than with Natura 2000. They are watchdogs for its correct implementation and they can help a lot in management. In nearly all funding programs NGOs are potential applicants.The European Commission definitely counts on NGOs and are ready to listen to critical comments and constructive proposals.

Both Serbia and Montenegro have their own NGO networks – in Serbia more than 50 NGOs are involved, in Montenegro about 30. But communication seems to be their biggest problem up to now. As an expert for communication, do you have any advice for them? In general, what might be the best way to communicate when discussing Natura 2000?
Communication is no miracle. Each day we learn what kind of communication works and fails. The task of an expert might help to make those experiences visible. For the NGO network I have to start with a compliment: their organisation so far has been great. For Natura 2000 they should more and more clarify their own role. For each separate NGO. What can they support and what not. Where can they help – and where they need help. This should be exchanged face to face, especially during this phase.

You are an expert on a Twinning project in Serbia. Do you see any progress in work with institutions?
I see progress – of course. The Ministry and NGOs have had some very good meetings and outcomes with the team of the Twinning Project. It is nevertheless a process which demands patience from each side. We as a team have to learn to deal with the specific situation in Serbia. That makes us to experts: to start with listening. And the authorities have to deal with a lot of additional work – and, as I mentioned before limited resources. I admire the good will and the commitment of the institutions here.

What does the public in Austria think about Natura 2000?
Last year we started an evaluation project, a survey. We asked farmers and authorities “what they think now about Natura 2000”. The result was unexpected: more than 80% of those interviewed see Natura 2000 in a positive or neutral light.
Petra Boic Petrac

Jasminka Radovic, SINP Croatia: Start with preparations ASAP!

Seven years ago, just upon establishment of the State Institute for Nature Protection, Croatia started with preparations for Natura 2000. Detailed preparation, the process of implementation, possible problems and the best advice were the main topics of our interview with Jasminka Radovic, Head of the Department for Nature Impact Assessment in SINP.

With the precious experience you have thanks to the preparations for implementation of Natura 2000 in Croatia, what would be your advice for the countries in the neighbourhood?
My main advice is: start ASAP! Natura 2000 is the biggest and most demanding obligation of nature protection in the process of accession to the EU. Therefore it is crucial in that period to focus all efforts on preparation of the best available proposals of this network. It is important to include all scientific and expert capacities in the country to collect existing data about endangered species and habitats. New data should be collected with field work, and all this should be the basis for determination of Natura 2000 sites. My advice is to invite NGOs from the very beginning. Later on, they will have great importance in future negotiations and evaluation of Natura 2000 proposals together with the European Commission.

Ms. Radovic answered the following questions:
- How can a country prepare best for implementation of Natura 2000
- In what phase is implementation of Natura 2000 in Croatia
- Did you have any problems during PHARE project “Implementation of Natura 2000 in Croatia”
- What is most important in the process of implementation of Natura 2000
- Why is Natura 2000 so important in nature protection
- Do you already know the percentage of Croatia that would be proposed for Natura 2000

The whole interview is available in local language.