Red Natura 2000: margen de apreciación estatal, evaluación de la importancia comunitaria de los lugares y situación actual de la red en Gipuzkoa

2013 ◽  
pp. 379-420
Author(s):  
Juan José PÉREZ PÉREZ
Keyword(s):  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Member States ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Margin Of Appreciation ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
La Red ◽  
Selection Of

LABURPENA: Natura 2000 Europako sare ekologikoa da, habitat naturalak eta espezieak babesteko helburua duen Habitat Zuzentarauak diseinatutakoa. Sorreran, hainbat fase desberdintzen dira. Hasierakoan, estatu kideek sarearen barne egon daitezkeen lekuak hautatzen dituzte, herrialdearentzat duten garrantzia balioetsita, eta Batzordeari leku horien zerrenda aurkezten diote. Ondoren, Batzordeak leku horiek sarean sartu edo ez erabakitzen du, daukaten garrantzi komunitarioaren arabera. Lan honetan, estatu kideek hasierako fasean lekuen zerrendak osatzeko daukaten hautemate errealeko marjina aztertzen da, bai eta Batzordearen ondorengo esku hartzea ere, informazio-eskasiak erabat baldintzatzen duena. Era berean, sarea Gipuzkoan zein egoeratan dagoen aztertzen da, duela gutxi leku batzuk Babes Bereziko Eremu izendatu baitira. RESUMEN: Natura 2000 es la red ecológica europea diseñada por la Directiva Hábitats, norma que persigue un objetivo de conservación de hábitats naturales y de especies. En su creación se distinguen varias etapas. La inicial consiste en una selección por los Estados miembros de los lugares que pueden integrar la red, evaluando su importancia nacional y proponiendo una lista a la Comisión, Institución que seguidamente efectúa una nueva selección de lugares mediante una evaluación de la importancia comunitaria de los mismos. En este trabajo se analiza el margen de apreciación real para configurar las listas nacionales de lugares del que disponen los Estados miembros en esa etapa inicial, y la posterior intervención de la Comisión, condicionada por su falta de información. También se describe la situación de la red en Gipuzkoa, cuando su creación llega a la etapa final con la reciente designación de algunos lugares como Zona Especiales de Conservación. ABSTRACT: Natura 2000 is the European ecologic network designed by the Habitats Directive and it pursues the objective of conservation of natural habitats and species. In its creation, several stages are to be distinguished. The initial one lies in one selection of the sites that might be part of the network elaborated by the Member States, assessing their national relevance and proposing a list to the Commission, and this institution will subsequently do a new selection of sites after an evaluation of those. In this work we analyze the real margin of appreciation when elaborating the national lists of sites by the Member States in that initial stage, and the following intervention of the Commission, which is constrained by its lack of information. It is also described the situation of the network in Gipuzkoa, when its creation is at the last stage with the recent designation of some sites as Special Areas of Conservation.

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

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.

The Appropriate Impact Assessment and Authorisation Requirements of Plans and Projects likely to have significant impacts on Natura 2000 sites

elni Review ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. 7-22
Author(s):  
Nicolas de Sadeleer
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Member States ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
Council Directive ◽  
The Eu

In 1979 the EU enacted the Birds Protection Directive, and in 1992 a sister directive, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the “Habitats Directive”). In addition, a clear commitment to halting the loss of biodiversity in the EU has been made in the Commission’s Communication on Halting the Loss of Biodiversity by 2010 - and Beyond. The aim of this article is to shed a light on the procedural requirements laid down under Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive, a key provision for implementing the EU’s system of protecting and preserving biological diversity in the Member States. The contribution examines the assessment procedure and the authorisation scheme. It also takes a look at the possibility for the Member States to authorise a plan or a project adversely affecting the integrity of a protected site. Furthermore, the article examines the relationship between the different impact studies provided for under EU environmental law.

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

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.

Marine Natura 2000 and Fishery – The Case of Sweden

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Christiernsson ◽  
Gabriel Michanek ◽  
Pontus Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Member State ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Exclusive Economic Zone ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Member States ◽  
Fishing Vessels ◽  
Fisheries Policy ◽  
The Common ◽  
Economic Zone

Fishing operations likely to have a significant effect on a marine Natura 2000 area shall be subject to prior assessment and authorisation according to Article 6.3 of the Habitats Directive. This provision, partly also article 6.2, and in particular the cjeu case law, implies that this prior control should be applied rather often in practice, even for recurrent fishery irrespective of when the first fishing operation occurred in an area. Article 11 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation entails that Sweden and other Member States apply Article 6 of the Habitats Directive within the entire exclusive economic zone, to both own and foreign fishing vessels. A Member State is also, under certain preconditions, empowered to impose restrictions on fishery not supported by article 6 of the Habitats Directive, especially within the 12 nautical miles zone. A Member State is not formally hindered from excluding fishery from prior assessment and authorisation if instead general requirements on fishery in legislation can ensure that no future fishing operation is likely to have a significant effect on the Natura 2000 area. However, cjeu case law indicates that it would be difficult to fulfil that precondition.

scholarly journals Public Participation in the Establishment and Management of the Natura 2000 Network—Legal Framework and Administrative Practices in Selected Member States

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herwig Unnerstall
Keyword(s):  
Public Participation ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Legal Basis ◽  
Natura 2000 Network ◽  
Member States ◽  
Administrative Practices ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe Natura 2000 network is one of the most important instruments for biodiversity conservation in the EU. Public participation at its establishment and its management is an idea often promoted for improving implementation and hence conservation results. The Habitats Directive being the legal basis for the network does not pay attention to the issue of public participation—leaving the task to the Member States. This paper analyses and compares the legal basis and administrative practices of a number of Member States in regard to public participation at different stages of development of the network. It distinguishes different of types of public participation and makes a preliminary evaluation of them.

scholarly journals Szata roślinna obszaru ochrony siedlisk i gatunków Natura 2000 Pakosław − współczesne przemiany i problemy ochrony [Recent changes of plant cover on special area of conservation Natura 2000 Pakoslaw (Central Poland)]

2013 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 125-214
Author(s):  
Romuald Olaczek ◽  
Maria Kurzac
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Peat Bog ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Swamp Forest ◽  
Special Area

Special area of conservation of the Natura 2000 Pakoslaw includes peat bog (about 400 ha) and forest fragment on a neighboring hill nature reserve (28.55 ha). There are 4 species of plants: <em>Adenophora liliifolia, Ligularia sibirica, Liparis loeselii, Ostericum palustre</em> and several types of natural habitats, among others: wet meadows, transitional peat-bog, thermophilous oak forest, which requires the protection of the European Union Habitats Directive. In the peat bog flora, numbering 296 species, are present glacial relicts. The aim of study was to investigate the current status of flora and vegetation and the direction and pace of change as the basis for the active protection. This paper describes the geological, hydrological and anthropogenic environmental factors and their impact on the flora and plant communities. Particular attention was paid to accelerate the process of secondary and progressive ecological succession during the last 50 years, resulting in displacement of grasses and sedges communities willow thickets and later by alder swamp forest. Species and natural habitats of the site are threatened and need to improve their conservation status.

The Ruling of the Court of Justice in Sweetman: How to avoid a death by a thousand cuts?

elni Review ◽  
2014 ◽  
pp. 2-12
Author(s):  
Hendrik Schoukens
Keyword(s):  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Future Application ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Advocate General ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
The Future ◽  
Vulnerable Habitats

This paper analyses the ECJ Sweetman-Case and new developments in the judicial fixation of the scope of Art. 6(3) Habitats Directive about the permissibility of industrial or infrastructural interventions in Natura 2000 areas. It examines the exact content of the decision, along with the highly readable opinion of Advocate General Sharpston. After briefly having addressed the relevant factual background to the case, the wider implications of this ruling on the future application of the substantive protection rules laid down in the Habitats Directive are discussed. Throughout the analysis, this contribution argues that the Court’s ruling should be welcomed since it provides an additional safeguard for the EU’s most vulnerable habitats since, if applied on a broader scale, it might help to reduce the slow incremental decline of Europe’s most valuable natural habitats and species.

Ongoing Activities and Natura 2000

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik Schoukens
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Member States ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
Legitimate Interests ◽  
Natura 2000 Site

The recent figures on the conservation status of EU protected habitats and species underscore the obvious need for a more stringent application of the protection rules included in Article 6 of the Habitats Directive on ongoing activities, such as dredging, recreation and forestry, with adverse effects on Natura 2000-sites. However, all too often the Member States refrain from scrutinizing harmful forms of existing use in already heavily degraded Natura 2000-sites. The economic concerns tied to the continuation of existing use often prevail over restoration considerations. This paper showcases that, despite submissions to the contrary, legitimate interests and legal certainty cannot, as such, preclude the application of the protection rules contained in Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in relation to ongoing activities. Whilst granting the Member States some leeway as to the application of the ex ante assessment rules to ongoing activities, the Court of Justice puts forward the protection duty enshrined in Article 6(2) of the Habitats Directive as bottom-line in relation to all possible ongoing activities which could lead to deterioration and/or significant disturbance of a Natura 2000-site. However, the recent case-law illustrates that many Member States are struggling with the effective implementation of the latter obligation.

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

1970 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Proorocu ◽  
P. V. Beldean ◽  
I. Oroian
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.

scholarly journals The contribution of Earth observation technologies to the reporting obligations of the Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 network in a protected wetland

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Regos ◽  
Jesús Domínguez
Keyword(s):  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Ensemble Classification ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Classification Algorithms ◽  
Kappa Index ◽  
Change Analysis ◽  
Natura 2000 Network ◽  
Member States ◽  
European Habitats Directive

Background Wetlands are highly productive systems that supply a host of ecosystem services and benefits. Nonetheless, wetlands have been drained and filled to provide sites for building houses and roads and for establishing farmland, with an estimated worldwide loss of 64–71% of wetland systems since 1900. In Europe, the Natura 2000 network is the cornerstone of current conservation strategies. Every six years, Member States must report on implementation of the European Habitats Directive. The present study aims to illustrate how Earth observation (EO) technologies can contribute to the reporting obligations of the Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 network in relation to wetland ecosystems. Methods We analysed the habitat changes that occurred in a protected wetland (in NW Spain), 13 years after its designation as Natura 2000 site (i.e., between 2003 and 2016). For this purpose, we analysed optical multispectral bands and water-related and vegetation indices derived from data acquired by Landsat 7 TM, ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI sensors. To quantify the uncertainty arising from the algorithm used in the classification procedure and its impact on the change analysis, we compared the habitat change estimates obtained using 10 different classification algorithms and two ensemble classification approaches (majority and weighted vote). Results The habitat maps derived from the ensemble approaches showed an overall accuracy of 94% for the 2003 data (Kappa index of 0.93) and of 95% for the 2016 data (Kappa index of 0.94). The change analysis revealed important temporal dynamics between 2003 and 2016 for the habitat classes identified in the study area. However, these changes depended on the classification algorithm used. The habitat maps obtained from the two ensemble classification approaches showed a reduction in habitat classes dominated by salt marshes and meadows (24.6–26.5%), natural and semi-natural grasslands (25.9–26.5%) or sand dunes (20.7–20.9%) and an increase in forest (31–34%) and reed bed (60.7–67.2%) in the study area. Discussion This study illustrates how EO–based approaches might be particularly useful to help (1) managers to reach decisions in relation to conservation, (2) Member States to comply with the requirements of the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), and (3) the European Commission to monitor the conservation status of the natural habitat types of community interest listed in Annex I of the Directive. Nonetheless, the uncertainty arising from the large variety of classification methods used may prevent local managers from basing their decisions on EO data. Our results shed light on how different classification algorithms may provide very different quantitative estimates, especially for water-dependent habitats. Our findings confirm the need to account for this uncertainty by applying ensemble classification approaches, which improve the accuracy and stability of remote sensing image classification.

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