Rhodeus Sericeus Amarus Bloch, 1782; Monitoring Elements in the New Natura 2000 Context in Croatia

AbstractThe action framework at the European Union level for the conservation of biodiversity was set up based on the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). One principal element of the implementation of these two significant Directives in Croatia is the set up of a Natura 2000 network of protected areas, a network which should be based on a specific monitoring plan at Croatian national level for each species which is considered of community interest. In this general context, this study suggests a set of monitoring elements for Rhodeus sericeus amarus for the Croatian Continental Biogeographical Region. The suggestions are based on eight selected criteria: Croatian national borders proximity sectors overlay; very good quality populations of Rhodeus sericeus amarus in terms of population density and structure (e.g. protected areas) in characteristic good habitats; habitats which need ecological reconstruction to allow this fish species populations structure ameliorate or natural repopulation; key sectors with importance for connectivity (e.g. lotic sectors between different important sectors, rivers confluence areas, etc.); sectors influenced by human impact like: industrial pollution point sources, sectors influenced by agricultural diffuse sources of pollution, sectors influenced by habitats modifications (watercourses remodeling, watercourses regulation, etc.), geographically extreme monitoring sections in the most-upstream and mostdownstream sections of the rivers, in this species range and in the near outer proximities of these extremes

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Barbus Meridionalis Risso 1827 (Syn. Barbus Balcanicus): Proposal for Monitoring Elements for Croatia, in the Context of Natura 2000

Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research ◽

10.2478/trser-2013-0014 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 163-182

Author(s):

Doru Bănăduc ◽

Angela Curtean-Bănăduc

Keyword(s):

National Level ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Point Sources ◽

Main Element ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

The European Union ◽

Community Interest ◽

Birds Directive ◽

Biogeographical Region ◽

National Border

ABSTRACT The action framework at the European Union level for the protection of biodiversity was established based on the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). One main element of the future implementation of these Directives in Croatia is the establishment of a Natura 2000 network of special protection sites, a network which should rely on a specific monitoring plan at national level for each species of community interest. In this context, the present study proposes a set of monitoring elements for Barbus meridionalis for the Croatian Continental Biogeographical Region. The proposal is based on seven main criteria: proximity of national border, high quality populations, habitats which should be ecologically reconstructed, key habitats/sectors with high importance for connectivity, point sources of industrial pollution, areas/sectors influenced by diffuse sources of agricultural pollution, and areas/sectors influenced by habitat modifications.

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Obligaciones de los Estados miembros en materia de gestión de los Espacios Natura 2000 derivadas de los apartados 1 y 2 del artículo 6 de la Directiva Hábitats

RVAP 118 - Revista Vasca de Administración Pública / Herri-Arduralaritzarako Euskal Aldizkaria ◽

10.47623/ivap-rvap.99.100.2014.104 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 2455-2494

Author(s):

Juan José PÉREZ PÉREZ

Keyword(s):

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

The European Union ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Natura 2000 Network ◽

Ecological Requirements ◽

Wild Fauna ◽

Community Interest ◽

European Court ◽

La Red

LABURPENA: Habitaten Zuzentarauaren bidez, Natura 2000 Sarea sortu zen. Europar Batasuneko kontserbazio-eremu berezien sare ekologiko koherentea da, fauna- eta flora-espezie basatien zein Europar Batasunerako garrantzitsuak diren habitat naturalen kontserbaziorako. Estatu kideek zuzentarauaren 6. artikuluan xedatutako lan batzuk egin behar dituzte. Arau hori funtsezkoa da, Natura 2000 Sareko eremuen kudeaketari dagokionez. Lan honetan, ez zaio heltzen eremu horietan eragina izan dezaketen planen eta proiektuen ebaluazioa egiteko betebeharra aztertzeari, oso espezifikoa baita. Hain zuzen ere, Batzordeko erreferentziazko dokumentazioaren eta Europar Batasuneko Justizia Auzitegiaren jurisprudentziaren azterketa oinarri hartuta, honako hauek azaltzen saiatuko da lan honetan: zer jasotzen den babestu beharreko habitaten eta espezieen eskakizun ekologikoak betetzeko neurrietan, eta zein diren hartu beharreko neurri egokiak habitat eta espezie horiek hondamendi edo aldaketa nabarmenik ez izateko, eta zuzentarauaren helburuak betetzeko. RESUMEN: La Directiva Hábitats crea la Red Natura 2000, una red ecológica europea coherente de Zonas Especiales de Conservación existente en la Unión para la conservación de especies de fauna y flora silvestres y de hábitats naturales de importancia comunitaria. Los Estados miembros tienen que acometer unas tareas contempladas en el artículo 6 de la Directiva, precepto fundamental en cuanto a la gestión de los lugares Natura 2000 concierne. En este trabajo, sin abordar, por su especifidad, la obligación de evaluar planes y proyectos que puedan afectar a estos lugares, y analizando documentación de referencia de la Comisión y la jurisprudencia del TJUE, se intenta explicar en qué consisten esas medidas de conservación necesarias que respondan a las exigencias ecológicas de los hábitats y especies a proteger, así como las medidas apropiadas para evitar, en esos hábitats y especies, deterioros y alteraciones con efectos apreciables en los objetivos de la Directiva. ABSTRACT: The Habitats Directive established the Natura 2000 network, a coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation that exists in the European Union for the conservation of species of wild fauna and flora and natural habitats of Community interest. Member states have to undertake some tasks contemplated in article 6 of the Directive, an essential provision as far as the management of Natura 2000 sites is concerned. This work, without tackling the duty to assess plans and projects that might affect these sites because of their specifity, and analyzing the documentation of reference of Commission and the caselaw of the European Court of Justice, tries to explain those necessary measures of conservation that meet the ecological requirements of habitats and species to protect together with the appropriate measures to avoid in those habitats and species, deteriorations and alterations in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of the Directive.

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The Comparative Analysis of Pressures and Threats to The Natura 2000 Sites for Wild Birds Protection - Case Studies in Wetlands in Romania and Bulgaria

Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research ◽

10.2478/trser-2013-0015 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 183-192

Author(s):

Doina Cioacă

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Infrastructure Development ◽

The European Union ◽

Natural Protected Areas ◽

Birds Directive ◽

Green Corridor ◽

Natura 2000 Site

ABSTRACT The Natura 2000 concept and wetlands protection are relatively new for Romania and Bulgaria, because they are former communist countries and, after the 1990s, had too little value placed on nature conservation in favour of infrastructure development and agriculture. The development of the European ecological network Natura 2000 on these territories has come as an obligation for accession of these countries to The European Union on 01.01.2007. During the period 2006-2009 I made an analysis for the management of protected areas along the Danube Green Corridor, between Romania and Bulgaria, especially for wetlands, similar to the results of the WWF Germany project “Lower Danube - Green Corridor (LDGC): Freshwater protected area management and freshwater restoration in Bulgaria, Romania and trans-boundary conservation along the Lower Danube”. To have a complete view of the situation of the protected areas management between Romania and Bulgaria, along the Lower Danube Green Corridor, and the perspectives for the next years, I carried out some evaluation for more than 20 Natura 2000 sites, which are alike in many ways, such as: the object of protection (Sites of Community Importance, SCI, under the Habitats Directive; Special Protection Areas for birds, SPAs, under the Birds Directive; natural protected areas of national importance for these two countries, or other natural and semi natural areas with the potential to be protected), human activities, pressures and threats, and other aspects. Later, I used these results to make a comparative analysis of the Cernica area (Ilfov County, Romania), to add another argument to include it in the Natura 2000 Network from Romania, as ROSPA0122 Cernica Lake and Forest. This analysis showed that Cernica faces approximately the same pressures and threats as other protected areas and has almost the same efficiency in management planning as the highest assessed Natura 2000 SPAs, respectively Iezer-Călăraşi in Romania and Srebarna of Bulgaria, which is an argument to establish this area as a Natura 2000 site.

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Evaluating European Conservation Areas and Proposal of New Zones of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. Application to Spanish Territories

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11020398 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 398

Author(s):

Víctor Rincón ◽

Javier Velázquez ◽

Javier Gutiérrez ◽

Beatriz Sánchez ◽

Ana Hernando ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Multicriteria Analysis ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

The European Union ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Natura 2000 Network ◽

Geostatistical Methods ◽

Castilla Y Leon

The European Union (EU) ensures the conservation of biodiversity through the Natura 2000 Network, which establishes the classification and selection of protected areas at European level. Unfortunately, member countries cannot make the best zoning decisions for biodiversity conservation because there are no clear and uniform parameters to designate Natura 2000 sites. Due to this, it is convenient to evaluate the importance of the criteria for biodiversity conservation through a general assessment, which could establish relevant criteria that can be analysed through geostatistical methods combined in multicriteria analysis. This paper aims to consider biodiversity importance values taking into account land use, so that it is possible to develop a zoning proposal which verifies or corrects the suitability of the designated areas for the Natura 2000 Network in Castilla y León, Andalucía and Madrid (Spain). The choice of these regions allows us to compare areas with a high variability of population density, making possible to compare the potential protected areas with respect to the population living in each area. This assessment has been performed using basic and easily adaptable criteria of biodiversity conservation, so it could be applied in other European territories. In this way, clear and uniform parameters for zoning will be used, being possible to detect the best protected areas. One of the most important purposes of the Natura 2000 Network is to increase connectivity between territories; our work proposes new areas that could be linked to currently protected territories, to favour the achievement of this purpose of the Natura 2000 Network.

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Identification of areas of very high biodiversity value to achieve the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 key commitments

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e10067

Author(s):

Iulia V. Miu ◽

Laurentiu Rozylowicz ◽

Viorel D. Popescu ◽

Paulina Anastasiu

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Conservation Planning ◽

National Level ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Natura 2000 Network ◽

Spatial Prioritization ◽

Biogeographical Region ◽

Very High ◽

The Eu

Background The European Union strives to increase protected areas of the EU terrestrial surface to 30% by year 2030, of which one third should be strictly protected. Designation of the Natura 2000 network, the backbone of nature protection in the EU, was mostly an expert-opinion process with little systematic conservation planning. The designation of the Natura 2000 network in Romania followed the same non-systematic approach, resulting in a suboptimal representation of invertebrates and plants. To help identify areas with very high biodiversity without repeating past planning missteps, we present a reproducible example of spatial prioritization using Romania’s current terrestrial Natura 2000 network and coarse-scale terrestrial species occurrence. Methods We used 371 terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites of Community Importance (Natura 2000 SCI), designated to protect 164 terrestrial species listed under Annex II of Habitats Directive in Romania in our spatial prioritization analyses (marine Natura 2000 sites and species were excluded). Species occurrences in terrestrial Natura 2000 sites were aggregated at a Universal Traverse Mercator spatial resolution of 1 km2. To identify priority terrestrial Natura 2000 sites for species conservation, and to explore if the Romanian Natura 2000 network sufficiently represents species included in Annex II of Habitats Directive, we used Zonation v4, a decision support software tool for spatial conservation planning. We carried out the analyses nationwide (all Natura 2000 sites) as well as separately for each biogeographic region (i.e., Alpine, Continental, Pannonian, Steppic and Black Sea). Results The results of spatial prioritization of terrestrial Natura 2000 vary greatly by planning scenario. The performance of national-level planning of top priorities is minimal. On average, when 33% of the landscape of Natura 2000 sites is protected, only 20% of the distribution of species listed in Annex II of Habitats Directive are protected. As a consequence, the representation of species by priority terrestrial Natura 2000 sites is lessened when compared to the initial set of species. When planning by taxonomic group, the top-priority areas include only 10% of invertebrate distribution in Natura 2000. When selecting top-priority areas by biogeographical region, there are significantly fewer gap species than in the national level and by taxa scenarios; thusly, the scenario outperforms the national-level prioritization. The designation of strictly protected areas as required by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 should be followed by setting clear objectives, including a good representation of species and habitats at the biogeographical region level.

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Identification of areas of very high biodiversity value to achieve the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 key commitments

10.1101/2020.07.14.202341 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Iulia V. Miu ◽

Laurentiu Rozylowicz ◽

Viorel D. Popescu ◽

Paulina Anastasiu

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Conservation Planning ◽

National Level ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Natura 2000 Network ◽

Spatial Prioritization ◽

Biogeographical Region ◽

Very High ◽

The Eu

AbstractBackgroundThe European Union strives to increase protected areas of the EU terrestrial surface to 30% by year 2030, of which one third should be strictly protected. Designation of the Natura 2000 network, the backbone of nature protection in the EU, was mostly an expert-opinion process with little systematic conservation planning. The designation of the Natura 2000 network in Romania followed the same non-systematic approach, resulting in a suboptimal representation of invertebrates and plants. To help identify areas with very high biodiversity without repeating past planning missteps, we present a reproducible example of spatial prioritization using Romania’s current terrestrial Natura 2000 network and coarse-scale terrestrial species occurrence.MethodsWe used 371 terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites of Community Importance (Natura 2000 SCI), designated to protect 164 terrestrial species listed under Annex II of Habitats Directive in Romania in our spatial prioritization analyses (marine Natura 2000 sites and species were excluded). Species occurrences in terrestrial Natura 2000 sites were aggregated at a Universal Traverse Mercator spatial resolution of 1 km2. To identify priority terrestrial Natura 2000 sites for species conservation, and to explore if the Romanian Natura 2000 network sufficiently represents species included in Annex II of Habitats Directive, we used Zonation v4, a decision support software tool for spatial conservation planning. We carried out the analyses nationwide (all Natura 2000 sites) as well as separately for each biogeographic region (i.e., Alpine, Continental, Pannonian, Steppic and Black Sea).ResultsThe results of spatial prioritization of terrestrial Natura 2000 vary greatly by planning scenario. The performance of national-level planning of top priorities is minimal. On average, when 33% of the landscape of Natura 2000 sites is protected, only 20% of the distribution of species listed in Annex II of Habitats Directive are protected. As a consequence, the representation of species by priority terrestrial Natura 2000 sites is lessened when compared to the initial set of species. When planning by taxonomic group, the top-priority areas include only 10% of invertebrate distribution in Natura 2000. When selecting top-priority areas by biogeographical region, there are significantly fewer gap species than in the national level and by taxa scenarios; thusly, the scenario outperforms the national-level prioritization. The designation of strictly protected areas as required by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 should be followed by setting clear objectives, including a good representation of species and habitats at the biogeographical region level.

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Conservation priorities for terrestrial mammals in Dobrogea Region, Romania

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.792.25314 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 792 ◽

pp. 133-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Iulia V. Miu ◽

Chisamera Gabriel B. ◽

Viorel D. Popescu ◽

Ruben Iosif ◽

Andreea Nita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Conservation Priorities ◽

Terrestrial Mammals ◽

Core Areas ◽

Mammal Distribution ◽

Intensive Sampling ◽

Mammal Diversity

Based on species occurrence records of museum collections, published literature, and unpublished records shared by mammalian experts, we compiled a distribution database for 59 terrestrial mammals populating the extensively protected Dobrogea Region of Romania. The spatial patterns of mammal distribution and diversity was evaluated and systematic conservation planning applied to identify priority areas for their conservation. The spatial analyses revealed that intensive sampling was not directly correlated to mammal diversity but rather to accessibility for inventory. The spatial prioritisation analysis indicated a relatively aggregated pattern of areas with a high or low conservation value with virtually no connecting corridors between them. The significant overlap between Natura 2000 sites and national protected areas induced an over-optimistic vision of the effectiveness and representativeness of existing Natura 2000 network for species found in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. These results represent a key step in identifying core areas for the protection of mammal diversity and dispersal corridors for improved connectivity, and to guide future conservation efforts in increasing the effectiveness of the existing protected areas in the context of environmental changes.

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE “NATURA 2000” EUROPEAN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK IN THE 6th NORTH-WESTERN REGION

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Agriculture ◽

10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:1435 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 63 ◽

Author(s):

M. Proorocu ◽

P. V. Beldean

Keyword(s):

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Western Region ◽

Ecological Network ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Community Interest ◽

Special Protection Areas ◽

Two Stages ◽

North Western ◽

Special Protection

According to the Habitats Directive at European level there was constituted an ecological network entitled “Natura 2000” consisting of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. The “Natura 2000” is composed of sites which include natural habitats of community interest and community interest species habitats. The Special Areas of Conservation has been declared during two stages. During the first stage these were nominated as Sites of Community Importance. In the 6th North – Western Region there were identified 57 Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and 8 Special Protection Areas (SPA). Among the 6 counties of the 6th North – Western Region, the SCI are best represented in Maramureş county, and the SPA in Cluj county.

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National Set of MAES Indicators in Greece: Ecosystem Services and Management Implications

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11050595 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 595 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ioannis P. Kokkoris ◽

Georgios Mallinis ◽

Eleni S. Bekri ◽

Vassiliki Vlami ◽

Stamatis Zogaris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

National Level ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

The European Union ◽

Thematic Maps ◽

Food Material ◽

Data Gaps ◽

Condition Indicator ◽

The Eu

Research Highlights: The developed National Set of Indicators for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) implementation in Greece at the national level sets the official, national basis on which future studies will be conducted for MAES reporting for the achievement of targets within the National and the European Union (EU) biodiversity Strategy. Background and Objectives: Greece is currently developing and implementing a MAES nation-wide program based on the region’s unique characteristics following the proposed methodologies by the European Commission, in the frame of the LIFE-IP 4 NATURA project (Integrated actions for the conservation and management of Natura 2000 sites, species, habitats and ecosystems in Greece). In this paper, we present the steps followed to compile standardized MAES indicators for Greece that include: (a) collection and review of the available MAES-related datasets, (b) shortcomings and limitations encountered and overcome, (c) identification of data gaps and (d) assumptions and framework setting. Correspondence to EU and National Strategies and Policies are also examined to provide an initial guidance for detailed thematic studies. Materials and Methods: We followed the requirements of the EU MAES framework for ecosystem services and ecosystem condition indicator selection. Ecosystem services reported under the selected indicators were assigned following the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services. Spatial analysis techniques were applied to create relevant thematic maps. Results: A set of 40 MAES indicators was drafted, distributed in six general indicator groups, i.e., Biodiversity, Environmental quality, Food, material and energy, Forestry, Recreation and Water resources. The protocols for the development and implementation of an indicator were also drafted and adopted for future MAES studies in Greece, providing guidance for adaptive development and adding extra indicators when and where needed. Thematic maps representing ecosystem services (ES) bundles and ES hotspots were also created to identify areas of ES importance and simultaneously communicate the results at the national and regional levels.

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