The forest management plans as tools for the implementation of the Protection and Conservation Measures of Basilicata Natura 2000 Network sites: the SAC “Abetina di Laurenzana” (PZ)

Abstract The article describes threats to habitat and species conservation areas in the Region of Warmia and Mazury, which are part of the Natura 2000 network. Standard Data Forms were analysed to reveal the presence of the highest level threats in two-thirds of the evaluated sites. Most of the identified threats were associated with forest management, agriculture and hydrological conditions.

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Hindrances to Effective Implementation of the Habitats Directive in Italy: Regional Differences in Designating Special Areas of Conservation

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12062335 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 2335

Author(s):

Sabrina Lai

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Planning System ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

The European Union ◽

Conservation Measures ◽

Management Plans ◽

Birds Directive ◽

Development Plans

“Natura 2000” is a coordinated network of protected areas that stretches across the European Union in compliance with two directives (the so-called “Habitats Directive” and the “Birds Directive”) that underpin the Union’s policies on biodiversity conservation. This study is aimed at assessing the implementation of the network by qualitatively analyzing how Special Areas of Conservation are being designated. Such designation process, which is being implemented, although with great delay, in a number of member states, entails the establishment of site-specific conservation measures that may be included within appropriate management plans or other development plans. A systematic documental analysis of official acts establishing Special Areas of Conservation and approving conservation measures and management plans was performed by taking Italy as a case study. The analysis focuses on four key topics, as follows: use of conservation measures and appropriate management plans; multi-level governance of the Natura 2000 sites, in terms of involved institutions and tiers of government; stakeholders’ inclusion in the designation process; and the relationship between conservation measures and the wider spatial planning system. The results show significant differences regarding the implementation of the Natura 2000 network and highlight potential general hindrances to completing the designation process in the European Union.

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Participativni pristop pri pripravi upravljavskih načrtov na primeru izbranih gozdnih habitatnih tipov in živalskih vrst ob Muri

Acta Silvae et Ligni ◽

10.20315/asetl.126.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 126 ◽

pp. 41-52

Author(s):

Andreja Ferreira ◽

Petra Goršelj ◽

Špela Planinšek

Keyword(s):

European Commission ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Forest Owners ◽

Site Specific ◽

Conservation Measures ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Management Plans

For Natura 2000 areas, the European Commission proposes the drafting of management plans that include site-specific objectives and conservation measures based thereon. In order to avoid potential subsequent conflicts, the process needs to involve all stakeholders early on and in a sensible manner. In the framework of the project GoForMura, management plans for the Natura 2000 forest sites in the study areas of Gornja Bistrica and Murska Šuma in the Prekmurje region were drafted as model plans. The participation of stakeholders, in particular forest owners and managers, was given special attention in the drafting of what were the first such documents.

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A GIS-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS IN TURKEY

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal ◽

10.30638/eemj.2010.124 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 929-937 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fatih Sivrikaya ◽

Emin Zeki Baskent ◽

Ugur Sevik ◽

Caner Akgul ◽

Ali Ihsan Kadiogullari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Forest Management ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Support System ◽

Management Plans

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Twenty-Three Years of Land-Use Changes Induced Considerable Threats to the Main Wetlands of Sardinia and Sicily (Italy) along the Mediterranean Bird Flyways

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13060240 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 240

Author(s):

Alessandro Ferrarini ◽

Marco Gustin ◽

Claudio Celada

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Global Level ◽

Natura 2000 Network ◽

Stopover Sites ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Agricultural Areas

Biodiversity loss has multiple causes, but habitat degradation through land-use change is the predominant driver. We investigated the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network in preserving the main wetlands of the two largest islands of the Mediterranean region, whose conservation is critical for many avian species at European and global level, in a 23-year period (1990–2012). In Sardinia, the surroundings of 22 wetlands were affected by an increase in artificial areas (+64 ha/year) and decrease in agricultural (−54 ha/year) and natural (−17 ha/year) ones. In Sicily, the surroundings of 16 wetlands were impacted by an increase in agricultural areas (+50 ha/year) and decrease in natural and semi-natural ones (−62 ha/year). Results show that the Natura 2000 policies were effective in preserving wetlands (no shrinkages detected in both regions), but their surroundings experienced intense processes of degradation and artificialization in all the sub-periods considered (1990–2000, 2000–2006, 2006–2012), whose effects are now threatening waterbirds and wetland integrity. The enlargement of the existing Natura 2000 sites, the creation of new ones and the speedup of the application of the rules of the Habitats and Birds Directives seem necessary to counteract the rapid land-use changes around these important stopover sites.

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Natura 2000 sites and fisheries in German offshore waters

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsn193 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 155-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Søren Anker Pedersen ◽

Heino Fock ◽

Jochen Krause ◽

Christian Pusch ◽

Anne L. Sell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammals ◽

Fishery Management ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Management Measures ◽

Favourable Conservation Status ◽

Management Plans ◽

Natura 2000 Site ◽

Environmentally Sound ◽

Fishing Impacts

Abstract Pedersen, S. A., Fock, H., Krause, J., Pusch, C., Sell, A. L., Böttcher, U., Rogers, S. I., Sköld, M., Skov, H., Podolska, M., Piet, G. J., and Rice, J. C. 2009. Natura 2000 sites and fisheries in German offshore waters.–ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 155–169. The principal objective of sites selected as part of Natura 2000 is to achieve or maintain a favourable conservation status of habitats and species named in the EU Birds and Habitats directives. In the German exclusive economic zone, the habitat types protected by this legislation are sandbanks and reefs; protected species include marine mammals, seabirds, and specific migratory fish species. The ICES project Environmentally Sound Fishery Management in Protected Areas (EMPAS) aims to answer two questions: (i) To what extent do specific fishing activities significantly threaten attainment of the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 sites? (ii) What management measures would reduce these conflicts and how effective would they be at helping to ensure the favourable condition of these sites? Assessments of fishing impacts on Natura 2000 sites require basic data on the conservation status of individual habitats and species, as well as data for fine-scale distributions of ongoing fishing activities. This paper describes and discusses the process used by the EMPAS project in developing fishery-management plans for each Natura 2000 site in German offshore waters.

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Forest fuel management for wildfire prevention in Spain: a quantitative SWOT analysis

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wf12203 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 373 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Eva Marino ◽

Carmen Hernando ◽

Rosa Planelles ◽

Javier Madrigal ◽

Mercedes Guijarro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

Swot Analysis ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Fire Suppression ◽

Fuel Management ◽

Mediterranean Countries ◽

Forest Fuel ◽

Management Plans ◽

Additional Funding

Spain is one of the Mediterranean countries most severely affected by wildfires during the last 30 years, despite enhanced fire suppression efforts. At present, forest area is increasing more in Spain than in any other European country, and also has one of the highest densities of fire ignitions. However, forest management plans have been developed for only 13% of Spanish forest areas. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of forest fuel management for wildfire prevention in Spain. Different fuel management techniques, including mechanical treatments, prescribed burning and controlled grazing, were considered. A quantitative SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis was performed, based on a thorough documentation review and on the opinions of forest fire experts. Results enabled the identification of obstacles that hinder the implementation of effective fuel management, and suggested strategic recommendations to overcome them. New opportunities related to rural development activities (e.g. promotion of ‘FIRESMART’ products) would be highly relevant in fire-prone forest areas. These opportunities should provide additional funding for sustainable forest management and could foster fuel management activities that would directly involve and benefit rural populations.

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A comparison of avian habitat in forest management plans produced under three different certification systems in Ontario, Canada

Wildlife Society Bulletin ◽

10.1002/wsb.397 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 142-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David Euler

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Management Plans

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