Brussels, 02/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Ensuring that Natura 2000, the pan-European ecological network, can provide effective protection for flora and fauna by 2016, is “mission possible” if all EU countries follow the lead of the front runners. That was the conclusion of a report published on 2 February by the EEB (European Environmental Bureau) on the 20th anniversary of directive 92/43/EEC, known as the habitats directive. “A large number of sites under the Natura 2000 network are still left completely unprotected. Although there has been good progress in a few countries, most have yet to start managing and protecting their areas seriously”, said EEB biodiversity expert Sarolta Tripolszky.
According to the report, Sweden and France are leaders as they have each demonstrated that delivering quality protection in time is possible. Sweden has developed management plans for more than 95% of its Natura 2000 sites. Though France has only completed plans for half of its sites, there is wide consultation on these plans with site owners and other stakeholders, which leads to good financing and monitoring, the report highlights. Of the new member states, Poland is expected to catch up quickly as it has put forward a timetable to develop plans for half of its sites by 2013.
Other member states are not, unfortunately, doing so well. Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain, for instance, which all should have created and put the network under protection by 2000, have not managed to draw up plans for more than 5-15% of their sites.
EEB Secretary General Jeremy Wates said that “investing in Natura 2000 and biodiversity can deliver a powerful contribution to job creation, enhancing growth and achieving climate and biodiversity objectives. However this won't be possible without the effective contribution of the EU budget to developing management plans and carrying out the necessary management actions”. The EEB is, therefore, calling for a five-fold increase in the EU's environment fund (LIFE - Financial Instrument for the Environment), which currently represents 0.2% of the EU budget. The EEB is also calling for the common agricultural policy, the multiannual financial framework and regional funds to all make a fair contribution to the implementation of Natura 2000. (AN/transl.rt)