Restoration efforts required for achieving the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives

In association with Restoration efforts required for achieving the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives Database notes and guidelines Prepared for the European Commission DG ENV

Contents 1. INTRODUCTION... 4 2. RESTORATION NEEDS TABLES... 5 2.1 HABITAT RESTORATION NEEDS PER COUNTRY AND BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REGION... 5 2.2 SPECIES RESTORATION NEEDS PER COUNTRY AND BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REGION... 11 3. OBJECTIVES TABLES... 15 3.1 HABITAT OBJECTIVES PER COUNTRY... 15 3.2 SPECIES OBJECTIVES PER COUNTRY... 18 3

1. Introduction This document provides further details and guidelines for the database named Restoration_2015 (downloadable from the EEA website) which provides the accompanying data for the report named Restoration efforts required for achieving the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives. In the following sections, each table in the database and its fields within are described in greater detail than that provided in the database file itself. 1.1.1 Brief background to the associated report The associated report Restoration efforts required for achieving the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives intends to provide a review of 1) the restoration needs for habitat types and species listed in the Nature Directives and 2) of the restoration objectives that EU Member States have set, as well as 3) to give an understanding of the nature and appropriateness of restoration efforts envisaged by EU Member States. 1.1.2 Compatibility The database is built in Microsoft Access, and should be compatible with all versions of Access after and including 1997-2003 versions. 4

2. Restoration needs tables The following two tables provide further information regarding datasets derived from Art. 17 data to quantify habitat restoration, and species recovery needs across the European Union. Each row of data shows the habitat or species per country, per biogeographical region. This level of data is known as an assessment (a row). All columns are taken from the Art. 17 database, unless otherwise stated. For further information see the Art 17 Explanatory Notes & Guidelines for the period 2007-2012. 2.1 Habitat restoration needs per country and biogeographical region Number of columns 17 Number of rows 2772 2.1.1 Table structure Column heading Data type Short description ID Number Unique identifier Country 2-letter ISO country code Marine or terrestrial Whether the habitat type is marine or terrestrial according to biogeographical region Biogeographical region Biogeographical region to which the need apply Habitat code Code for the habitat type (as in Art. 17 reporting) Habitat name Habitat type name (as in Art. 17 reporting) Habitat group Habitat group to which the habitat type belongs (as in Art. 17 reporting) Priority habitat Yes/no Whether the habitat is an EU priority Current area Number Current surface area in km² Structure and functions Conclusion on structure and functions FRA value Number Favourable Reference Area in km² FRA operator Operator used where FRA value is not available Restoration need Number Calculated from FRA and current area Area in Natura2000 - min Number Minimum area in Natura 2000 (in km 2 ) Area in Natura2000 - max Number Maximum area in Natura 2000 (in km 2 ) Data sources Published data source URL URL The dataset in Art. 17 had 3032 assessments. The table below shows which of these were excluded from the final table resulting in 2772 assessments. 5

Number of individual assessments Total number of individual habitat type assessments from Article 17 3032 (assessments per country and per biogeographical region) Excluding assessments where the current area was missing 226 Excluding assessments where the FRA was quantified but smaller 12 than current area Excluding assessments where the < operator was used 22 Total on which analysis is based 2772 (91% of 3032) See report for further details. 2.1.2 ID Unique identifier for each row of data. These ID s do not correspond with those in the Art. 17 database. 2.1.3 Country The country code as given under the Habitats Directive (ISO two digit country code). Each country is identified in the table below. Country Country Code Country Country code Austria AT Latvia LV Belgium BE Lithuania LT Bulgaria BG Luxembourg LU Cyprus CY Malta MT Czech Republic CZ Netherlands NL Denmark DK Poland PL Estonia EE Portugal PT Finland FI Romania RO France FR Slovakia SK Germany DE Slovenia SI Hungary HU Spain ES Ireland IE Sweden SE Italy IT United Kingdom UK In the Art. 17 database this column is called country. 2.1.4 Marine or terrestrial Whether in a terrestrial or marine habitat. This is determined by the biogeographical region. See below. This column is not found in the Art. 17 database. 2.1.5 Biogeographical region The biogeographical region of the habitat type as given under the Habitats Directive. See table below for definitions. Those with a four letter code starting with M are marine. All others are terrestrial. 6

Region code TERRESTRIAL ALP ATL BLS BOR CON MAC MED PAN STE Region name Alpine Atlantic Black Sea Boreal Continental Macaronesia Mediterranean Pannonian Steppic MARINE MATL MBAL MBLS MMAC MMED In the Art. 17 database this column is called region. Atlantic Baltic Black Sea Macaronesia Mediterranean 2.1.6 Habitat code and Habitat group The habitat code as given in the Habitats Directive. The table below shows the nine habitat groups and their single digit code prefix (1, 2, 3 9). For all of the habitat names, see the database and associated report. Habitat code prefix Habitat group 1 Coastal habitats 2 Dunes habitats 3 Freshwater habitats 4 Heath and scrub 5 Sclerophyllous scrub 6 Grasslands 7 Bogs, mires and fens 8 Rocky habitats 9 Forests In the Art. 17 database, the Habitat code column is called habitatcode, and the Habitat group column is called habitatgroup. 2.1.7 Habitat name The full name of the habitat type as given under the Habitats Directive. 7

In the Art. 17 database this column is called habitatname. 2.1.8 Priority habitat Whether the habitat is an EU priority habitat as defined in the Habitats Directive. Priority habitats have a tick (), YES, or TRUE depending on the version of Microsoft Access being used to view the data. Non-priority habitats are left blank. In the Art. 17 database this column is called annex_priority 2.1.9 Current area Current total surface area in (km 2 ) of that habitat, in that country per biogeographical region. Where the current area is unknown, this column is left blank. These unknown area assessments are not used in the calculations of restoration needs. In the Art. 17 database this column is called coverage_surface_area. 2.1.10 Structure and functions This column is used to calculate improvement needs. Structures and functions are combined to provide an overall assessment of the condition of a given habitat. Structures are considered to be the physical components of a habitat type; these will often be formed by species. Functions are the ecological processes occurring at a number of temporal and spatial scales and vary greatly between habitat types. For a habitat type to be considered to have a Favourable Conservation Status the Directive requires its structure and functions to be favourable and its typical species to be at Favourable Conservation Status. Three classes are used to describe the structure and functions of a habitat: FV: Favourable U1: Unfavourable - inadequate U2: Unfavourable - bad In some cases the structure and functions are unknown. In these cases the column is left blank, and improvements needs cannot be quantified for these assessments. In the Art. 17 database this column is called conclusion_structure 2.1.11 FRA value This column is used to calculate restoration needs. The FRA refers to the Favourable Reference Area. This is the total surface area in a given habitat and country per biogeographical region which is considered the minimum necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the habitat type. See the Art 17. Explanatory Notes & Guidelines for the period 2007-2012 for further information. The FRA is reported as a value in km 2. However if the value is unknown then this column is left blank, and where possible an operator is given instead (see below). In the Art. 17 database this column is called complementary_favourable_area 2.1.12 FRA operator This column is used to calculate restoration needs. Operators are used where it is not possible to estimate a value for FRA, but the FRA can be broadly categorised into one of four classes via 8

expert judgement. These operators give an indication of what is needed for the parameter to be favourable. The operators are: >: Greater than >>: Much greater than <: Less than : approximately equal to See section 2.1.13 for how these operators were converted into area estimates. In some cases both the FRA operator and the FRA value are unknown. In these cases both columns are blank, and area based restoration needs cannot be calculated. In the Art. 17 database this column is called complementary_favourable_area_op 2.1.13 Restoration need Where an FRA value is given, restoration (additional area) needs are calculated as the difference between the FRA and the current area, and this value is provided in this column. Where an FRA operator is given instead these area converted into numerical values using the following method: Where the operator is reported, the FRA is assumed to be the same as the current area. So the restoration need is zero. Where the > and >> operators area reported, these operators area converted into quantified FRA values based on the following criteria: o o For >>, a conservative 10% increase is applied to the current area, based on Article 17 guidelines which state that Expert judgement will be required to determine if the operator should be > or >>. If the operator is >>, the current value is very likely to be more than 10% below FRV. For the operator >, it is assumed that the increase to the current area must lie between 0 and 10%. As there are no specific guidelines for this operator in the Article 17 Guidelines, the proportional increase for > was calculated as the median percentage increase (3.7%) of the subset of individual assessments where the FRA is given as an exact figure that ranges between 0% and 10%. Where both the FRA value and the FRA operator are missing, the restoration need is left blank. This column is not found in the Art. 17 database. Rather it is calculated as described above. 2.1.14 Area in Natura 2000 min, and Area in Natura 2000 - max Area in Natura 2000 min provides the estimated minimum area of the habitat type in the assessment which falls within the Natura 2000 network. Area in Natura 2000 max provides the estimated maximum area of the habitat type in the assessment which falls within the Natura 2000 network. Where the minimum and maximum areas are the same, this means that the value is known exactly rather than estimated. In the Art. 17 database these columns are called natura2000_area_min and area in Natura 2000 max respectfully. 9

2.1.15 Data sources Published data sources In the Art. 17 database this column is called published 2.1.16 URL Webpage for the data sources. In the Art. 17 database this column is called envelopeurl 10

2.2 Species restoration needs per country and biogeographical region Number of columns 19 Number of rows 6910 2.2.1 Table structure Column heading Data type Short description ID Number Unique identifier Country 2-letter ISO country code Biogeographical region Biogeographical region Species code Code for the habitat type (as in Art. 17) Species name Habitat name (as in Art. 17) Taxa Taxonomic group (as in Art. 17) Priority species Yes/no Whether the habitat is an EU priority Annex II Whether the species is on Annex II of the Habitats Directive Annex IV Whether the species is on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive Annex V Whether the species is on Annex V of the Habitats Directive Population minimum size Number Estimated minimum population size for the species in that country, in that biogeographical region Population maximum size Number Estimated maximum population size for the species in that country, in that biogeographical region Population size date Date of the population assessment Population size unit Unit in which the population assessment is made. i = individuals FRP value Number Favourable Reference Population Recovery need value Number Difference between the FRP, and the population minimum size Recovery need operator The operator used in the associated report analysis. Where an FRP operator was reported in Art. 17, that is given here, where an FRP value was reported, that was converted into an operator (see below) Data sources Published data source URL URL The dataset in Art. 17 had 7122 assessments. The table below shows which of these were excluded from the final table resulting in 6910 assessments. Number of individual assessments Total number of individual species populations assessments from Art 17 7122 (assessments per MS and per biogeographical region) Minus the assessments where FRP the < operator was used 113 Minus the assessments where the FRP was given as a numerical value but smaller than the current minimum population 99 Total on which the analysis was based See report for further details. 6910 (97% of 7122) 11

2.2.2 ID Unique identifier for each row of data. These ID s do not correspond with those in the Art. 17 database. 2.2.3 Country The country code as given under the Habitats Directive (ISO two digit country code). See section 2.1.3. In the Art. 17 database this column is called country 2.2.4 Biogeographical region The biogeographical region of the species given under the Habitats Directive. See section 2.1.5 for definitions. Those with a four letter code starting with M are marine. All others are terrestrial. In the Art. 17 database this column is called region. 2.2.5 Species code The 4-digit species code as given under the Habitats Directive. In the Art. 17 database this column is called speciescode 2.2.6 Species name The full name of the species as given under the Habitats Directive. In the Art. 17 database this column is called speciesname 2.2.7 Taxa The taxonomic group as given under the Habitats Directive. In the Art. 17 database this column is called tax_group. 2.2.8 Priority species Whether the species is an EU priority as defined in the Habitats Directive. Priority species have a tick (), YES, or TRUE depending on the version of Microsoft Access being used to view the data. Non-priority species are left blank. In the Art. 17 database this column is called annex_priority. 2.2.9 Annex II, Annex IV, Annex V Which annexes of the Habitats Directive the species is listed on. Y = species is listed in the Annex; Y-HTL = species implicit listed in the Annex via a higher taxonomic level; Y-CTC = species is covered by the Annex, difference in scientific name is due to a change in taxon concept (e.g. because previous species concept has been revised and split up in two species); Y-EXCP = species is listed in the Annex with regional exceptions; N = species is not listed in the Annex. In the Art. 17 database these columns are called annex_ii, annex_iv and annex_v. 12

2.2.10 Population minimum size and Population maximum size Population minimum size and Population maximum size provide estimates of the total population size of that species within that country and biogeographical region. In the Art. 17 database these columns are called population_minimum_size and population_maximum_size. 2.2.11 Population size date Provides the year of the population size estimate. In the Art. 17 database this column is called population_date. 2.2.12 Population size unit Provides the unit in which the population was assessed. i=individuals. In the Art. 17 database this column is called population_size_unit. 2.2.13 FRP value This column is used to assess recovery needs. The FRP refers to the Favourable Reference Population. This is the total population of a given species in a country per biogeographical region which is considered the minimum necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the species. See the Art 17. Explanatory Notes & Guidelines for the period 2007-2012 for further information. The FRP value is reported as a value in relation to the population size unit. However if the value is unknown then this column is left blank, and where possible an operator is given instead (see below). In the Art. 17 database this column is called complementary_favourable_population. 2.2.14 Recovery need value Where an FRP value is given, population recovery needs are calculated as the difference between the FRP and the minimum population size. These data are not used in the analysis of the associated report per se, they are converted into a recovery need operator (see below). This column is not found in Art. 17. 2.2.15 Recovery need operator This column is a combination of the operators reported in Art. 17 (in the column named complementary_favourable_population_op of the Art. 17 database), and, where an FRP value is reported, new operators calculated from that FRP value. This values are converted using the following criteria: Where the FRP value is equal to the population minimum size, these are given. Where the FRP value is between zero and 25% greater than the population minimum size, these are given >. Where the FRP value is between greater than 25% more than the population minimum size, these are given >>. 13

2.2.16 Data sources Published data source In the Art. 17 database this column is called published. 2.2.17 URL Webpage for the data sources. In the Art. 17 database this column is called envelopeurl. 14

3. Objectives tables The following two tables provide information about objectives set by EU Member States that seek to improve or restore habitat types or species listed in the Directives. The data within show information extracted from the Priority Action Frameworks (PAFs) within section F which is about strategic conservation priorities for Natura 2000. In a few cases, data from elsewhere is included, for example further information provided by relevant authorities during the process of completing a questionnaire for the project s data collection phase. Where applicable, this is stated clearly in the Data source column. 3.1 Habitat objectives per country Number of columns 15 Number of rows 1437 3.1.1 Table structure Column heading Data type Short description ID Number Unique identifier Country 2-letter ISO country code Habitat code Biogeographical region to which the need apply Habitat name Code for the habitat type (as in Art. 17 reporting) Priority habitat Yes/no Habitat type name (as in Art. 17 reporting) Habitat group Habitat group to which the habitat type belongs (as in Art. 17 reporting) Objective scale Whether the objective is national or regional Scope of objective at biogeographical level Inside/outside Natura 2000 network Where an objective is set specifically for a biogeographical region, this is given Whether the objective has been set for areas inside the Natura 2000 network, outside or both Timeframe Timeframe during which the objective is valid/ has to be achieved Objective category Whether the objective is quantitative, qualitative, measurable, or other Parameter concerned Parameter of conservation status that the objective has been set for: area, structure and functions, (range), overall conservation status, other or not specified Objective details Memo Full details of the objective taken directly from the data source, unless otherwise stated Further information Memo Further information on objective as provided in the data source (such as biogeographical scope, rationale of objective, context of objective) 3.1.2 ID Unique identifier for the row. 15

3.1.3 Country The country code as given under the Habitats Directive (ISO two digit country code). See section 2.1.3. 3.1.4 Habitat code and Habitat group The letter/number of the habitat code as given in the Habitats Directive. The table in section 2.1.6 shows the nine habitat groups and their single digit code prefix (1, 2, 3 9). 3.1.5 Habitat name The full name of the habitat type as given under the Habitats Directive. 3.1.6 Priority habitat Whether the habitat type is an EU priority as defined in the Habitats Directive. Priority habitat types have a tick (), YES, or TRUE depending on the version of Microsoft Access being used to view the data. Non-priority habitat types are left blank. 3.1.7 Objective scale Whether the objective is national or regional, and if so, which region. 3.1.8 Scope of objective at biogeographical level Where an objective is set specifically for a biogeographical region, this is given. Codes and names are given in section 2.1.5. 3.1.9 Inside/outside Natura2000 network Whether the objective has been specifically set for areas within or outside the Natura 2000 network, or both. 3.1.10 Timeframe Timeframe during which the objective is valid/ has to be achieved. 3.1.11 Objective category The category of the objective as defined in the table below. Qualitative Quantitative Measurable Other = objectives whose content is less informative, e.g. increasing the area of habitat X = involve an exact figure, e.g. expected outcome is 400 ha of habitat type 2130. = could be converted into quantitative objectives by using extra data or making assumptions: this can be quantified information that requires additional calculation to be converted into an exact figure (e.g. at least 30 % of all degraded areas are restored ), detailed site information (e.g. hydrological regime is restored in at least 30 Natura 2000 sites ) or indicators Objectives targeting indirect factors affecting conservation status (i.e. specific threats, the policy and legal framework) or which were not specified (e.g. when a habitat type is said to be prioritised for conservation, but no further information is provided) 16

3.1.12 Parameter concerned Parameter that is concerned by the objective as described in the table below. Area Range Structure and functions Overall conservation status Other Not specified = an objective that concerns the habitat s area (e.g. maintaining or increasing the habitat s area) = an objective that concerns the habitat s range (e.g. maintaining or increasing the habitat s range) = an objective that concerns the habitat s quality or that seeks a certain area under good management = an objective that concerns the habitat s status in general (e.g. maintaining or improving the habitat s conservation status) = an objective that concerns other factors affecting the habitat s conservation status (e.g. specific threats, knowledge gaps, the policy and legal framework) = an objective that is not specified (e.g. when the source states that the habitat type is prioritised for conservation action, with no further details) 3.1.13 Objective details Full details of the objective taken directly from the data source (unless otherwise stated). 3.1.14 Further information Further information on objective as provided in the data source (such as biogeographical scope, rationale of objective, context of objective) 3.1.15 Data sources Published data source. In most cases this is the PAF for that country. In the cases of Belgium, Italy and the UK, the PAFs are regional. In the case of Portugal, the objectives do not come from the PAF, which did not contain any, but from the Portuguese national authority. 17

3.2 Species objectives per country Number of columns 21 Number of rows 3066 3.2.1 Table structure Column heading Data type Short description ID Number Unique identifier Country 2-letter ISO country code Species code Code for the species (as in Art. 17) Euring code Bird euring code (as in Art. 12) Bird sp code Bird species code (as in Art. 12) Species name Species name (as in Art. 17) Taxa Taxonomic group (as in Art. 17) Priority species Yes/no Whether the species is an EU priority SAP trigger Whether the bird species is a trigger for a SAP (Special Area of Protection) Annex II Whether the species is on Annex II of the Habitats Directive Annex IV Whether the species is on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive Annex V Whether the species is on Annex V of the Habitats Directive Objective scale Whether the objective is national or regional Scope of objective at biogeographical level Inside/outside Natura 2000 network Where an objective is set specifically for a biogeographical region, this is given Whether the objective has been set for areas inside the Natura 2000 network, outside or both Timeframe Timeframe during which the objective is valid/ has to be achieved Objective category Whether the objective is quantitative, qualitative, measurable, or other Parameter concerned Parameter of conservation status that the objective has been set for (population, habitat for the species, overall conservation status, other, not specified) Objective details Memo Full details of the objective taken directly from the data source, unless otherwise stated Further information Memo Further information on objective as provided in the data source (such as biogeographical scope, rationale of objective, context of objective) Data source Data sources from which the objective has been extracted, in most cases PAFs. 18

3.2.2 ID Unique identifier for the row. 3.2.3 Country The country code as given under the Habitats Directive (ISO two digit country code). See section 2.1.3. 3.2.4 Species code The 4-digit species code as given under the Habitats Directive. 3.2.5 Euring code The 4-digit euring code as given under the Birds Directive. 3.2.6 Bird sp code The 4-digit bird species code as given under the Birds Directive. 3.2.7 Species name The full name of the species as given under the Habitats and Birds Directives. 3.2.8 Taxa The taxonomic group as given under the Habitats Directive. 3.2.9 Priority species Whether the species is an EU priority as defined in the Habitats Directive. Priority species have a tick (), YES, or TRUE depending on the version of Microsoft Access being used to view the data. Non-priority species are left blank. 3.2.10 SAP trigger Whether the bird species is a trigger for a SAP (Special Area of Protection). In some cases this is country and season dependent. As season is not included in this database, where a species is a SAP trigger at all in a given country, those are considered to be triggers. 3.2.11 Annex II, Annex IV, Annex V Which annexes of the Habitats Directive the species is listed on. Y = species is listed in the Annex; Y-HTL = species implicit listed in the Annex via a higher taxonomic level; Y-CTC = species is covered by the Annex, difference in scientific name is due to a change in taxon concept (e.g. because previous species concept has been revised and split up in two species); Y-EXCP = species is listed in the Annex with regional exceptions; N = species is not listed in the Annex. 3.2.12 Objective scale Whether the objective is national or regional, and if so, which region. 19

3.2.13 Scope of objective at biogeographical level Where an objective is set specifically for a biogeographical region, this is given. Codes and names are given in section 2.1.5. 3.2.14 Inside/outside Natura2000 network Whether the objective has been specifically set for species or their habitats within or outside the Natura 2000 network, or both. 3.2.15 Timeframe Timeframe during which the objective is valid/ has to be achieved. 3.2.16 Objective category The category of the objective as defined in the table below. Qualitative Quantitative Measurable Other = objectives whose content is less informative e.g. increasing the population of X = involve an exact figure e.g. population size of 2210 individuals = could be converted into quantitative objectives by using extra data or making assumptions. They can contain quantified information that requires additional calculation to be converted into an exact figure (e.g. to improve the overall conservation status of species X from U2 to U1) Objectives targeting indirect factors affecting conservation status (i.e. specific threats, the policy and legal framework) or which were not specified (e.g. when a species is said to be prioritised for conservation, but no further information is provided) 3.2.17 Parameter concerned Parameter that is concerned by the objective as described in the table below. Population Habitat for the species Overall conservation status Other Not specified = an objective that concerns the species population (e.g. population size increase or baseline) = an objective that concerns the area and/or quality of the habitat of the species (e.g. habitat creation or management) = an objective that concerns the species status in general (e.g. maintaining or improving the species conservation status ) = an objective that concerns other factors affecting the species conservation status (e.g. specific threats, knowledge gaps, the policy and legal framework) = an objective that is not specified (e.g. when the source states that the species is prioritised for conservation action, with no further details) 20