challenge of implementing the European network of protected areas Natura 2000

Established under the European Union (EU) Birds and Habitats Directives, Natura 2000 is one of the largest international networks of protected areas. With the spatial designation of sites by the EU member states almost finalized, the biggest challenge still lying ahead is the appropriate management...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation biology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 260 - 270
Main Authors: Kati, Vassiliki, Hovardas, Tasos, Dieterich, Martin, Ibisch, Pierre L, Mihok, Barbara, Selva, Nuria
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Blackwell Scientific Publications 01.02.2015
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Wiley Periodicals Inc
Subjects:
Biodiversity
birds
biólogos de la conservación
Community involvement
conservación trasnacional
conservation areas
conservation biologists
Conservation of Natural Resources - legislation & jurisprudence
Contributed Papers
cuestionario
Directivas Europeas
Ecosystem
Environmental education
Environmental impact
European Directives
European Union
experts
gobernación
governance
habitats
issues and policy
Local communities
manejo de áreas protegidas
NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations
politics
protected area management
Protected areas
Public awareness
Quality control
questionnaire
questionnaires
Scientists
Stakeholders
Surveys and Questionnaires
transnational conservation
trees
Wildlife conservation
Europe
questionnaire
Directivas Europeas
biólogos de la conservación
conservation biologists
cuestionario
transnational conservation
conservación trasnacional
European Directives
gobernación
protected area management
governance
manejo de áreas protegidas
ISSN:0888-8892, 1523-1739, 1523-1739
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Established under the European Union (EU) Birds and Habitats Directives, Natura 2000 is one of the largest international networks of protected areas. With the spatial designation of sites by the EU member states almost finalized, the biggest challenge still lying ahead is the appropriate management of the sites. To evaluate the cross‐scale functioning of Natura 2000 implementation, we analyzed 242 questionnaires completed by conservation scientists involved in the implementation of Natura 2000 in 24 EU member states. Respondents identified 7 key drivers of the quality of Natura 2000 implementation. Ordered in decreasing evaluation score, these drivers included: network design, use of external resources, legal frame, scientific input, procedural frame, social input, and national or local policy. Overall, conservation scientists were moderately satisfied with the implementation of Natura 2000. Tree modeling revealed that poor application of results of environmental impact assessments (EIA) was considered a major constraint. The main strengths of the network included the substantial increase of scientific knowledge of the sites, the contribution of nongovernmental organizations, the adequate network design in terms of area and representativeness, and the adequacy of the EU legal frame. The main weaknesses of Natura 2000 were the lack of political will from local and national governments toward effective implementation; the negative attitude of local stakeholders; the lack of background knowledge of local stakeholders, which prevented well‐informed policy decisions; and the understaffing of Natura 2000 management authorities. Top suggestions to improve Natura 2000 implementation were increase public awareness, provide environmental education to local communities, involve high‐quality conservation experts, strengthen quality control of EIA studies, and establish a specific Natura 2000 fund.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12366
ark:/67375/WNG-56BCH561-G
ArticleID:COBI12366
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ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
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ISSN:0888-8892
1523-1739
1523-1739
DOI:10.1111/cobi.12366