ECNC

 

ECNC, together with the Council of Europe’s Natural Heritage and Biological Diversity Division, holds the Secretariat of the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN). This Secretariat facilitates the implementation of the PEEN as part of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS). In October 2009 ECNC attended (as part of the PEEN Secretariat) the final meeting of the Committee of Experts for the development of the Pan-European Ecological Network, in Strasbourg, France. ECNC provided expert input into the preparations for the conference: ‘Post-2010 Biodiversity Vision and Target: the Role of Protected Areas and Ecological Networks in Europe’ organized by the Council of Europe and the Spanish EU Presidency in January 2010. ECNC produced a background paper for delegates on 'Integrating socio-economic aspects and building alliances with users' to be included in the conference material and available from http://www.ecnc.org/file_handler/documents/original/download/402/Food-for-thought-public-document-Conf2010Madrid-2-.pdf

Funding: Council of Europe

 

The aim of the project, which was completed in April 2009, was to design, implement and provide a platform for the future management of the ecological network for the Carpathians. ECNC participated in the Project Steering Committee to monitor the project implementation process and give guidance to the implementation in order to secure the project outcomes, meet the policy needs and wishes of responsible ministries of Romania, Ukraine and Serbia and of the Carpathian Convention, as well as to monitor the coherence and compatibility of the Ecological Network for the Carpathians with the Pan-European Ecological Network and with the implementation process of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS).

This project was an excellent example of a cross-boundary ecological network being promoted across a biogeographic region, with a number of interesting innovations such as a 'threats map' to identify areas of greatest opportunity for implementation of the network.

The final outputs of the project were the Carpathian Biodiversity Information System (CBIS), to be used as a base for designing an ecological network for the Carpathians based on the best available information concerning the distribution of biodiversity elements (habitats, species). The ecological network will serve as an important tool for governments and the Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention in the planning of sustainable development in the region.

Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BBI-Matra).
Partners: Wageningen International (the Netherlands; lead partner); Orbicon A/S (Denmark); DAPHNE-Institute of Applied Ecology (Slovakia); Alterra (the Netherlands); Carpathian Convention Bureau; Carpathian EcoRegion Initiative (CERI; Slovakia); WWF-Danube Carpathian Programme.
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/european-ecological-networks-completed-projects?action=detail&id=62
http://carpates.org
Photo: Dan Retegan.

 

Spatial planning is a decisive sector in the planning of land use in space and therefore in the implementation of ecological networks. SPEN was one of the first comparative studies on the interaction between policy on spatial planning and ecological networks in Europe. This aim of this project, which was coordinated by ECNC, was to fill this gap in research. The project aimed at mapping the level of interaction between policy on spatial planning and ecological networks in Europe and in five selected countries (Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain) and at stimulating the involvement of spatial planning in the further development of ecological networks in Europe.

The project was completed in January 2009, and there has been considerable interest in its results. The knowledge and experience gained by ECNC in this and another ECNC-coordinated project, Knowledge for Ecological Networks (KEN), was shared during the workshop ‘Towards a green infrastructure for Europe: integrating Natura 2000 sites into the wider countryside’ (March 2009, Brussels). The workshop, attended by policymakers, researchers, NGO representatives and other stakeholders, aimed to determine an EU response to recent developments in the field of ecological connectivity, and to identify actions that would be most effective at EU level.

The SPEN project was also presented at a workshop held as part of a European Commission DG Environment study: ‘Reflecting environmental land use needs into EU policy: preserving and enhancing the environmental benefits of land services’ (July 2009, Brussels). The presentations generated debate on issues such as the balance between a science-driven approach and the involvement (and role) of stakeholders, the importance of legislation and regulation, the role of spatial planning and the need to move from strategy to delivery.

In November 2009 Econnect partners and a range of experts met in Grenoble for an international workshop to explore and share knowledge for the implementation of ecological corridors within and beyond the Alps. ECNC presented on aspects of practical delivery and stakeholder participation. The participants were particularly interested in the recommendations, conclusions and examples of best practice included within the ECNC publication: Making the connection! Guidelines for involving stakeholders in the implementation of ecological networks (available from http://www.ecnc.org/publications/technicalreports/making-the-connection).

Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Directorate Knowledge Management.
Partners: Syzygy (the Netherlands); Orbicon A/S (Denmark); Leibniz Institute of Ecological and Regional Development (IÖR, Germany); Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic (AOPK; Czech Republic); Terra (Spain).
More details:  http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/european-ecological-networks-completed-projects?action=detail&id=59
http://www.ecologicalnetworks.eu
Photo: Wikimedia commons, geograph.org.uk.

 

The main objective of this project, coordinated by ECNC, is to develop a National Ecological Network in Macedonia as part of the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN). The project started in July 2008, and will run until 2011.

In 2009 ECNC and the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) prepared and published a background document presenting information on the need for the establishment of the National Ecological Network in Macedonia. This document was presented at the first National Workshop, held at Lake Dojran, FYR Macedonia on 23 and 24 April 2009, and attended by over 30 participants. The ecological networks concept was presented for the first time to the representatives of all relevant sectors responsible for its successful future implementation. The workshop provided a defining point for all sectors to come together and to begin cooperating and working together, utilizing the NEN as a vehicle. The practical delivery of the ecological network was considered by visiting some of its future sites.

In accordance with the developed Public Relations and Communication Strategy (PRCS), a project logo and visual design were prepared and several publications were made: a campaign folder; project leaflet; bear poster promoting the idea of the corridor for Brown bear in Macedonia; and a calendar for 2010 promoting the ecological network concept. In addition, a teddy bear for raising awareness about the Brown bear in pre-school children was acquired. It was used as a part of the educational activities MES initiated as a pilot project with a kindergarten in Skopje. The project was promoted at several national and international events, including in a number of TV programmes on Macedonian television.

Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BBI-Matra).
Partner: Macedonian Ecological Society (MES; FYR Macedonia).
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/european-ecological-networks-ongoing-projects?action=detail&id=63