Annexes to COM(2015)219 - Nature in the EU - Report on the status of and trends for habitat types and species covered by the Birds and Habitats Directives for the 2007-2012 period - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2015)219 - Nature in the EU - Report on the status of and trends for habitat types and species covered by the Birds and Habitats ... |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2015)219  |
| date | May 20, 2015 |
Figure 12 — Trends in the conservation status of Annex I habitats assessed by MS as unfavourable (for habitats with more than 75 %, 35-75 % and less than 35 % of their area covered by Natura 2000)
The overall conservation status of habitats and species cannot be attributed to Natura 2000 coverage. However, for both habitats and species with unfavourable status, the trend in conservation status20 is closely associated with Natura 2000 coverage. The proportion of assessments with a deteriorating status is higher in situations of low coverage (0-35 %) than where there is high (75-100 %) coverage. By contrast, those with relatively higher Natura 2000 cover are more likely to show stable assessments. This underlines the crucial role of the network in stabilising conservation status.
An interesting example can be found in Poland, where 80-90 % of the threatened calcareous grassland habitat type 6210 is covered by the network. This habitat was often abandoned or poorly managed in the past. It has recently witnessed an improvement in status thanks to the implementation of conservation measures in Natura 2000 sites that included removing shrubs, mowing and in some cases extensive grazing. These actions, largely funded by the European Regional Development Fund, have led to a gradual increase in the area of this grassland habitat as well as reduced fragmentation. This in turn has helped the recovery of the endemic spotted souslik Spermophilus suslicus, the population of which is almost entirely located in Natura 2000 sites. It is a clear example of how human activities, also with an economic purpose, if implemented sustainably can be beneficial for the conservation of habitats and species.
6.2. Trends for Species dependent on the SPA network (Birds Directive)
A higher proportion of Annex I bird species, which have the designation of SPAs as a key measure, show increasing breeding population trends (Figure 13) compared with species that are not included in this Annex. This suggests that targeted conservation action for these species, in particular the management of SPAs, is having a positive effect on their populations. Annex I species and subspecies for which EU Species Action Plans had been developed, and which have priority for funding under the LIFE programme, show an even higher proportion of increasing population trends.
Approximately 35 % of Annex I species that have been decreasing over the long term show increasing or stable trends in the short-term. This is clearly a sign of stabilisation and in some cases of improvement in their status. However, 45 % of those that are declining in the long term are also declining in the short term, suggesting that considerable attention and effort is still required to reverse these declines.
Figure 13 — Long-term (since 1980) breeding population trend (%) by Annex
The Eurasian Crane Grus grus, an emblematic Annex I species, whose breeding, roosting and wintering areas receive special protection from Natura 2000, and which has been subject to many targeted conservation actions, has experienced a remarkable recovery in numbers and range since the Birds Directive entered into force at the beginning of the 1980s.
7. Conclusions
This is the second conservation status assessment under the Habitats Directive, enabling the first comparative EU level assessment to be made. An added advantage is that significant improvements have been made in the knowledge on the status of and trends for protected species and habitats since the last reporting period. Moreover, there has been a similar reporting exercise under the Birds Directive, enabling a comprehensive status and trends assessment of all species covered by EU nature legislation to be made for the first time.
Some species and habitats covered by the legislation are showing signs of recovery, as illustrated by success stories in different parts of Europe. There are clear indications that the Natura 2000 network is playing a major role in stabilising habitats and species with an unfavourable status, especially where the necessary conservation measures have been implemented on an adequate scale.
However, the overall status of species and habitats in the EU has not changed significantly in the period 2007-2012, with many habitats and species showing an unfavourable status and a significant proportion of them deteriorating still further. Much stronger conservation efforts are therefore needed to achieve the EU 2020 biodiversity Target 1. Some species groups, such as freshwater fish and habitats such as grasslands or wetlands, are of particular concern. Significant pressures and threats from changes in agricultural practices and continuing changes in hydrological conditions, as well as over-exploitation and pollution of the marine environment, need to be tackled to reverse these trends.
The effective management and restoration of the Natura 2000 areas is central to achieving the objectives of the directives. Despite progress in establishing the network, insufficient progress has been made in introducing conservation objectives and measures that fully respond to the needs of the protected habitats and species. Only 50 % of sites were reported as having comprehensive management plans by end 2012. EU funding instruments, which provide opportunities to support the management and restoration of Natura 2000, were not sufficiently used21.
The conservation status of species and habitats can be improved through targeted action, as has been demonstrated, for example, by the LIFE Nature programme and by tailored agri-environmental actions co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The Commission is working with Member States and stakeholders at EU biogeographic level to promote the exchange of experience and good practice on management and restoration. Such improvements will continue to reap significant economic benefits from the extensive ecosystem services provided by the Natura 2000 Network. Benefits, estimated at between € 200-300 billion for terrestrial sites alone, include carbon storage, mitigation of natural hazards, water purification, health and tourism22. These should continue to encourage further investment in the network.
In the framework of REFIT (the Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme), the Commission recently initiated a ‘fitness check’ of the nature directives to assess whether these directives are fit for purpose. The fitness check will look at a wide range of issues related to the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value of the legislation. This State of Nature report will provide important input to the fitness check, especially as regards the effectiveness of the legislation. The results will also feed into the mid-term review of the Biodiversity Strategy.
1 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament ‘Wise use and conservation of wetlands’-
COM(1995) 189 final, 29.05.1995.
2 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds.
3 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.
4 Downloadable from the EEA’s Biodiversity Data Centre (http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/dc)
5 EEA report No 2/2015 — State of nature in the EU: Results from reporting under the nature directives 2007-2012.
6 A habitat type or species is prospering (in both quality and quantity) and has good prospects to do so in the future as well.
7 A change in management is required to return the habitat type or species to favourable status but there is no danger of extinction in the foreseeable future.
8 The status of a habitat type or species is far from good or even in serious danger of becoming extinct (at least regionally).
9 The report refers to EU27 as it relates to the time before the accession of Croatia
10 A 12 year trend period was agreed with Member States as 6 years would be too short a period to detect meaningful population trends.
11 Short-term trend period: 2001-2012, long-term period: 1980-2012
12 BirdLife International (2004) Birds in the European Union: a status assessment. Wageningen, The Netherlands: BirdLife International.
13 See the EEA report No 2/2015 — State of nature in the EU: Results from reporting under the nature directives 2007-2012 for more details.
14 Including those that remained ‘unknown’
15 Member States had to rank each reported threat/pressure in terms of its significance as ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’.
16 See Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources COM(2012) 673 and Commission Communication on the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive: Actions towards the ‘good status’ of EU water and to reduce flood risks COM(2015) 120.
17 http://biodiversity.europa.eu/maes
18 Sites under the Habitats Directive are proposed by the Member States and initially known as ‘Sites of Community Importance’ (SCIs) before being formally designated as SACs — data in this report refer to both.
19 Financing Natura 2000 — Investing in Natura 2000: Delivering benefits for nature and people, SEC(2011) 1573 final, 12.12.2011.
20 and also short-term population trend for species.
21 Financing Natura 2000 — Investing in Natura 2000: Delivering benefits for nature and people, SEC(2011) 1573 final, 12.12.2011.
22 Estimating the Overall Economic Value of the Benefits provided by the Natura 2000 Network, IEEP (Dec. 2011)
EN EN