ECNC

Local and regional authorities play a key role in promoting the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity, but may have limited capacity and knowledge about the opportunities offered by the integration of biodiversity objectives in their policy and implementation. The aim of this project, which was finalized in 2009, was to collect examples of good practice and disseminate them among local and regional authorities.

In 2009 further examples of inspirational and innovative examples of local biodiversity-related projects were collected and described. The project descriptions were prepared for inclusion in the online database on the website of the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, which has a section dedicated to biodiversity: http://www.vrom.nl/biodiversiteitwerkt/. The aim of this online projects database is to inspire and inform local and regional authorities (municipalities, provinces and water boards) about the possibilities offered by the integration of biodiversity into their policies and actions.

A 60-page full-colour booklet – Biodiversiteit werkt in de regio! – on functional biodiversity projects was published. This publication, written for the interested layman, generated great interest and is already in its first reprint. ECNC organized a national conference ‘Time’s up for biodiversity’, held in November 2009. The conference brought together about 150 participants representing 93 Dutch public and private conservation organizations. The conference discussed practical ways to sustainably use and protect biodiversity and find new ways to communicate effectively about the results. This was also the occasion to launch the National Biodiversity Coalition, a group of 54 Dutch organizations that coordinates activities in the context of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity (see below). The conference proceedings were prepared by ECNC.

Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM).
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/nature-and-society-ongoing-projects?action=detail&id=2
http://www.vrom.nl/biodiversiteitwerkt

 

ECNC was closely involved in the process leading to the formation of the National Biodiversity 2010 Coalition. The Coalition’s goal is to communicate about biodiversity to a wide range of audiences in the Netherlands during the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.

The Coalition was launched in Amersfoort, the Netherlands on 4 November 2009 at the National Biodiversity Meeting 'Time's up for biodiversity', which was organized by ECNC as a final output of the ECNC project 'Biodiversity works in the region’ (see above).

The Coalition's 'Amersfoort Declaration' was signed by twenty representatives of local and regional authorities, charities and businesses, including ECNC. By signing the Declaration, organizations express their commitment to working towards the Coalition's goals. Many other organizations within the Netherlands announced their willingness to sign in the near future as well. The Amersfoort Declaration (in Dutch) can be found at http://www.biodiversiteit.nl/2010.

Funding: Senter Novem.
Partners: Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment; Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality; CREM (the Netherlands).
More details: http://www.biodiversiteit.nl

 

ECNC coordinated this European project, which started in March 2007 and ended in June 2009. Through a series of desk and case studies for six European countries (Croatia, Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and international workshops and focus group meetings, this project sought to understand the role different stakeholder groups play in the practical implementation of ecological networks in Europe.

In 2009 a two-day stakeholder workshop was organized in Vught, the Netherlands. It brought together 50 participants from 10 European countries. The results from the country studies were presented and discussed, and facilitated sessions explored the barriers to and opportunities for ecological network implementation. The practical results of the project were summarized in the full-colour publication Making the connection! Guidelines for involving stakeholders in the implementation of ecological networks. A website for the project (http://www.ecologicalnetworks.eu) was launched; it includes all relevant information, contacts, data and knowledge generated during the implementation of this project.

Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Partners: Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia); Center for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research (ZALF; Germany); Croatian State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP; Croatia); Natural England (United Kingdom); Alterra (the Netherlands); Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN; Switzerland).
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/nature-and-society-completed-projects?action=detail&id=11
http://www.ecologicalnetworks.eu

 

The overall objective of the project is to promote best practices for achieving an appropriate balance between potentially conflicting interests and uses of Natura 2000 sites in order to ensure both the engagement of the population and respect of the ecological value of the site.

ECNC’s role is to collect topical information from the field through the organization of regional workshops for experts, practitioners and policymakers.

In June 2009, ECNC organized a workshop in Brussels, for European-level organizations. The workshop concluded that better communication, clear and transparent decision-making processes, early involvement of key stakeholders, recognition of other users’ needs and engagement of local people and communities in developing site management plans, in order to create a sense of ownership and pride, are essential ingredients for avoiding conflicts in the Natura 2000 Network. The workshop results were integrated with the
outcomes of a desk study conducted by Alterra (project leader), and provided the background for three regional workshops.

The first regional workshop was held in Szentendre, Hungary on 9 December 2009. The workshop was organized by ECNC, and was attended by 16 stakeholders representing interest groups from various sectors and organizations dealing with the management of Natura 2000 sites. The workshop concluded by drawing the main learning points from experiences and elaborating messages for the future implementation and management of the Natura 2000 Network. The participants considered communication about the process and nature conservation in general to be vital, as well as the adoption of effective participatory approaches at all levels, including scientists and decision makers.

Funding: European Commission, DG Environment.
Partners: Alterra (project leader; the Netherlands); Eurosite (the Netherlands).
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/nature-and-society-ongoing-projects?action=detail&id=88
Photo: Stakeholder workshop on conflict management in the Natura 2000 network. © ECNC.

 

The EAZA European Carnivore Campaign aims to contribute to the conservation of European carnivore species by raising public awareness and by raising funds for selected conservation projects, including those that will only indirectly lead to carnivore conservation (awareness conferences/workshops, discussion workshops, etc.).

In 2009 ECNC provided input into the campaign’s committee, the involvement of children and the development of PR activities.

Funding: ECNC core funding.
Partners: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA; the Netherlands); Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE); Coordinated Research Projects for the Conservation and Management of Carnivores in Switzerland (KORA); IUCN Countdown 2010 (represented by ECNC).
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/nature-and-society-ongoing-projects?action=detail&id=12
http://www.carnivorecampaign.eu

 

The project 'Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Local Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans (SEE-BAP)' promotes a comprehensive and integrated approach to biodiversity and ecosystem services for the sustainable development of rural municipalities and their local communities in the Western Balkans. The project introduces biodiversity and the benefits it provides to local communities in terms of goods and services as a cross-cutting issue in local development policies and actions. The project is being carried out in ten municipalities in six Southeast European countries.

In September 2009, the project team made its first visits to the partner municipalities. The partner municipalities are being offered support in developing and implementing local biodiversity action plans (LBAPs), which identify the main biodiversity conservation issues and search for opportunities for sustainable development associated with their conservation. To introduce and initiate the process of developing LBAPs, two regional workshops were organized in October 2009 with the specific aim of increasing local knowledge about sustainable economic development opportunities through the benefits of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and increasing interest, awareness and capacity regarding biodiversity and sustainable development. The participants for the first workshop came from the municipalities of Goražde & Srebrenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Pljevlja & Žabljak (Montenegro); and Čajetina & Bajina Bašta (Serbia). The second workshop involved the municipalities of Peshkopia (Albania); Dragash (Kosovo under UNSCR 1244); and Rostusa & Mavrovo (FYR of Macedonia). The results of this workshop were used in designing and producing a Handbook for Local Biodiversity Action Plans. LBAPs will serve as an important asset for future planning and sustainable use of the resources in the region.

Funding: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Partners: Regional Environmental Center (REC) and its offices in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
More details: http://www.ecnc.org/programmes/nature-and-society-ongoing-projects?action=detail&id=79
Photo: ECNC.