Banka staništa: načela i uvjeti

Banka staništa, kao jedan oblik naknade biodiverzitetu, u nekim zemljama (SAD, Australija, Njemačka…) postoji već godinama. U izvješću Efteca definirana je kao „tržište za nabavu kredita za biodiverzitet i potraživanje za one kredite koji nadoknađuju štetu biodiverzitetu (dugovanja)“. Banka staništa istodobno predstavlja prijetnje i mogućnosti za biodiverzitet.
O uvjetima za banku staništa pročitajte na http://ngonatura2000.blogspot.com/2010/09/essential-principles-and-conditions-for.html

Win-win poslovne situacije zahvaljujući biodiverzitetu

Intergracija biodiverziteta u poslovne planove privatnog sektora širom svijeta mogla bi uvelike doprinijeti win-win poslovnim situacijama. Rezultat je to izvješća koji je financirala Europska komisija, a koji otkriva značajan razvoj eko-produkata i usluga, te pokazuje kako biodiverzitet može pružiti odlične poslovne mogućnosti na tržištu koje bi do 2050. godine mogle vrijediti između dva i šest trilijuna dolara. Objavljeno je sedam ključnih prijedloga za poslovanje te poziv knjigovođama i financijerima da razviju zajedničke standarde za ocjenjivanje utjecaja biodiverziteta i da u tu svrhu razviju nova sredstva.
Više o tome možete pročitati na http://ngonatura2000.blogspot.com/2010/09/biodiversity-new-report-highlights-win.html

Two Very Interesting Speeches on Biodiversity

At the beginning of this September the EU Belgian Presidency high-level conference "Biodiversity in a changing world" was held in Ghent, Belgium. A very important speech on the theme of biodiversity and the EU position was given ahead of COP10 at Nagoya by Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik. Just a day before Potocnik’s speech, on September 7th, another very important speech was delivered by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In the speech he said the following: "To build a resource-efficient Europe, we need to look beyond energy. In the 20th century the world enjoyed phenomenal resource-intensive growth. We saw in the 20th century globally a four-fold growth in population accompanied by a 40-fold growth in economic output. But in the same period we also increased our use of fossil fuels 16 times, our fishing catches 35 times, our water use 9 times. And our carbon emissions increased 17 times…."

Barroso’s speech you can find here
Potocnik’s speech you can read here

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

The Importance of Habitats Directive Article 6

“The management of Natura 2000 sites is essential for their conservation. But to be successful it requires, in the first instance, the active involvement of the people who live in and depend upon these areas. The measures for managing Natura 2000 sites are given in Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. However, as this is a concise legal text, many of the key concepts are not easy to understand. I consider it important that we have a clear and accessible understanding of these key provisions of the directive as this will provide the basis for it to be applied throughout the Community on an equal footing.“ Margot Wallström, Member of the European Commission for the Environment 1999-2004.

Habitats Directive Article 6 is very complex and important. In the following text we therefore present its role in a wider framework, leaving detailed analysis and practice examples for next issues of the newsletter “Natura 2000 in the western Balkans”.
A key role in Natura 2000 sites management
Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) Article 6 is important for the implementation of the integration principle because of encouraging Member States to manage Natura 2000 sites in a sustainable way. Article 6 designates activities that can affect Natura 2000 sites negatively, providing opportunities for certain exceptions in specific circumstances.
A key part of the Habitats Directive
Article 6 applies to habitats and species protection. It defines the frame for conservation and protection of Natura 2000 sites; includes proactive, preventive and procedural demands. That refers to Special Protected Areas (SPAs) defined by Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and to Sites of Community Importance based on the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
Makes provision for the establishment of necessary conservation measures
Article 6 is focused on positive and proactive interventions. In Article 6 special accent is on prevention: “Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid, in the special areas of conservation, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated“. It sets out a series of procedural and substantive safeguards governing plans and projects likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site.
Confers favorable conservation status
Article 6 is directed towards biodiversity conservation and improvement by regeneration or sustaining certain habitats and species in “favorable conservation status” within Natura 2000 sites. At the same time, it takes care of economic, social, cultural and regional demands as a way to achieve sustainable development.

Many questions about the importance of this Article have been raised by EU Member States. At first sight it seems general and not well defined, but analysis in conjunction with other Articles of the Habitats Directive make it understandable and ready for implementation. The European Commission has produced many guidelines with methodology for regulation of Article 6. These help to understand the Article and to use it properly. For instance:
Managing Natura 2000 sites: The provisions of Article 6 of the 'Habitats' Directive 92/43/EEC;
Assessment of plans and projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites;
Guidance document on Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC.
The Commission is preparing a guidebook for certain sectors for usage of Article 6. One of them - Non-energy mineral extraction and Natura 2000 - is available on the EC website.
Milka Gvozdenovic