Management Planning & Implementation of Communication Measures for Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites in the Maltese Islands Epsilon-Adi Consortium

Transcription

1 Management Planning & Implementation of Communication Measures for Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites in the Maltese Islands Epsilon-Adi Consortium Briefing Meetings, February 2013 CT3101/2011, MEPA, Malta Rural Development Programme for Axis 3 Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Areas Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union, 25% Government of Malta The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Investing in Rural Areas

2 The Project Formulation of management plans or legislative frameworks for all terrestrial Natura 2000 sites in the Maltese Islands. A media and awareness raising campaign aimed at improving recognition of the Natura 2000 sites among the general public 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 2

3 The Team Epsilon International SA Lead partner Adi Associates Local partner Key experts Local & international EMCS - Sub-contractor (Media Campaign) 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 3

4 What is Natura 2000? Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network of protected areas Currently some 850,000 km 2 in 26,000 sites Network covers all Member States 20% of EU territory Largest coherent network of protected areas in the world 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 4

5 Legal basis for N2000 Network set up to ensure survival of Europe s most valuable species and habitats The legislative basis for the setting up of the Natura 2000 network of sites comes from 2 directives: Birds Directive (1979) latest amended 2009 Habitats Directive (1992) Both are central to the EU s policy framework on biodiversity protection 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 5

6 The make-up of N2000 The network is made up of: Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Special Protection Areas (SPA) Natura 2000 applies to Bird Sites and Habitats Sites, which are divided into biogeographical regions It also applies to the marine environment 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 6

7 Biogeographical Regions Alpine Anatolian Arctic Atlantic Black Sea Boreal Continental Macaronesian Mediterranean Pannonian Steppic 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 7

8 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 8

9 Main threats to biodiversity The main threats to biodiversity in the Mediterranean region are: The world s most important tourism destination High pressures from urbanisation especially coastal areas Intensification of agriculture in plains, land abandonment in mid-mountains (sometimes positive) Desertification in some areas Invasive alien species 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 9

10 Land ownership & N2000 N2000 is not a system of strict nature reserves where all human activity is excluded Whereas it will include nature reserves, most of the land is likely to remain in private ownership and the emphasis will be on ensuring that future management is sustainable both ecologically and economically 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 10

11 NATURA 2000 WILL BECOME AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TOOL IN MAINTAINING RURAL DIVERSITY AND THE RURAL ECONOMY 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 11

12 N2000 & Malta The Maltese Islands include 34 terrestrial N2000 sites (and 5 marine sites) 13.5% of the territory (c. 42km 2 ) 27 SAC & 13 SPA The management of these sites and extent of territory present a number of challenges All Management Plans have to be completed by November Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 12

13 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 13

14 Local Protection Natura 2000 sites in Malta are protected under the Flora, Fauna, and Natural Habitats (Protection) Regulations, 2006 MEPA as Competent Authority SPAs of international importance SACs of international importance SACs of national importance 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 14

15 Why Management Plans? Natura 2000 is about people and nature NOT nature without people It recognises the traditional and economic importance of nature to Europeans It respects local and regional natural values It seeks to conserve Europe s natural environment through compatible land uses and sustainable development Generally seeks to ensure continuation of traditional management regimes 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 15

16 What is a management plan? A management plan is a written, circulated and approved document which describes the site and the problems and opportunities for its management It provides commitment and guidance to manage and conserve a protected area It presents the vision for a protected area and details how the site will be managed to achieve the agreed objectives (typically over a 5 year period) 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 16

17 Management Planning Stakeholder involvement and participation 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 17

18 Conservation Objectives Objectives set site-specific target values reflecting ideal site status/favourable conservation status Help in creating the vision for the site Objectives are specific statements of intentions, setting out conditions that management aims to achieve 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 18

19 Vision for N2000 sites Each Natura 2000 site will have its own Vision Statement This is a collective statement which is a direct product of the consultation process It gives the management plan direction and meaning Should include all aspects including those objectives that will not be tackled in the first 5 years 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 19

20 Elaboration of Plans The Plan includes measures that either target features directly or factors that have an influence on a feature Identify time and resource requirements Prioritise measures Strategies may relate to specific features or zones within an area Stakeholder involvement Work plan, funding & operational plan 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 20

21 Stakeholder engagement Awareness raising and education Information gathering - expertise and local knowledge - data and other information - views, opinions and perceptions Active involvement in management plan formulation Ownership of management plan 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 21

22 Engaging owners & users Information dissemination Website information & project updates Site visits Various meetings: information, awareness raising, consultation, participation Locality meetings 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 22

23 Your role? Identifying the issues in relation to your own interest(s) Sharing knowledge and other information about the sites and how they are used Sharing views, opinions and perceptions about current and future use and management Active involvement in management planning for the site(s) 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 23

24 Approval of Plans Adoption of Plan to follow procedure in Environment & Development Planning Act Implementation of Management Plan according to Work Plan and Operational Plan 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 24

25 For more information MEPA: Epsilon-Adi Consortium: Project website: Contact: / Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 25

26 Questions 7-Feb-13 Epsilon - Adi 26