Nature and Society 2007
Connecting people and nature
Countdown 2010 in Zagreb
The main objective of this interdisciplinary project, combining the latest insights into urban biodiversity from social and natural sciences, was to raise understanding and awareness of urban biodiversity, both as a valuable component of European biodiversity in its own right, and as a means to generate support for, and active involvement in, the 2010 targets among the urban population, NGOs and local authorities. The project was established as a partnership between NGOs, the research community and local authorities in Zagreb in support of urban biodiversity. ECNC coordinated the project in cooperation with ICLEI, the City of Zagreb, the Croatian Ornithological Society, the Croatian Natural History Museum, and the Division of Biology of Zagreb University.
A community-based monitoring scheme for urban biodiversity in Zagreb was implemented, involving citizens as volunteers in biodiversity monitoring. This scheme resulted in an initial inventory of urban biodiversity with a special focus on the occurrence in Zagreb of species of international importance, such as species listed in the Annexes of the Bern Convention, the Habitat Directive and the Birds Directive. An awareness-raising campaign in Zagreb on urban biodiversity and the links between the biodiversity of Zagreb and the wider ecological context as well as the 2010 targets involves the local media, and also included an ‘urban biodiversity’ photo competition for the general public. This two-year project was completed in November 2007.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (BBI-Matra).
Partners: ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives); City of Zagreb, (Croatia); Croatian Ornithological Society (COS); Division of Biology of Zagreb University (Croatia); Croatian Natural History Museum (NHM).
Communicating for nature conservation in the Balkan Region
Capacity building and pilot projects in Croatia and FYRO Macedonia – Phase 2
Phase two of the project involved the implementation of pilot projects focusing on stakeholder involvement and communication in Neretva Delta (Croatia) and Mavrovo National Park (FYRO Macedonia). The pilot projects gave the participants in each country the chance to apply the lessons learned during the workshops held in April, May, June and September 2007. The pilot projects illustrated the value of communication in real life and gave the participants the chance to gain practical experience, as well as addressing concrete problems in nature conservation. In addition, to ensure continuity beyond the project lifespan and to extend the capacity-building effort beyond the direct group of participants, the most talented workshop participants were selected as in-country communication trainers. Phase 2 of the project was completed in December 2007. Phase 3 of the project will involve the establishment of an in-country training programme, supported by reference and training materials. This will ensure the kick-off of in-country capacity-building programmes run by national organizations without outside help.
Funding: Norwegian Government.
Partners: State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP), Croatia; Ministry for the Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP), FYRO Macedonia.
LARA: Mobilizing a network of regional and local authorities around the 2010 biodiversity target
The project ‘Global challenges call for local solutions’ (‘Local and Regional Authorities for Biodiversity 2010/LARA 2010’), which is coordinated by the Countdown 2010 Secretariat, aims to facilitate and encourage action, promotes the importance of the 2010 biodiversity target and assesses progress towards 2010. ECNC contributed to the Countdown 2010 by communicating the 2010 biodiversity target and by involving more European local and regional authorities in the initiative by involving Budapest, Hungary, and Zagreb, Croatia. ECNC is helping to integrate these two model regions into a European network of five LARA Countdown 2010 model regions of active and committed biodiversity and nature conservation.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Partners: Countdown 2010 Secretariat (Coordinator); IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature; ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives).
More details: www.countdown2010.net/lara
Knowledge for ecological networks – KEN
Legislation, policy and planning of ecological networks are quite well developed across Europe, but the actual implementation of corridors, buffer zones and core areas lags behind. One of the reasons is the complex process of consultation with stakeholder groups. Through a series of desk and case studies for six European countries (Croatia, Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom) and international workshops and focus group meetings, this project seeks to understand the role different stakeholder groups play in the practical implementation of ecological networks in Europe. The expected outcome will be a better understanding of the processes and the development of innovative approaches to a better and more effective participation of the different stakeholders in the implementation of ecological networks.
In 2007 a start was made on developing country studies in order to identify the current status of knowledge by conducting a survey and interviews with relevant stakeholders. ECNC is coordinating this two-year project, which started in March 2007.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Partners: Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia); Centre 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).
Biodiversiteit werkt in de regio (Biodiversity works at the regional level)
Local and regional authorities can play a key role in promoting the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity. However, the smaller municipalities in particular have limited capacity and knowledge about the opportunities that integrating biodiversity objectives in their policy and implementation can offer. The aim of this project is to collect examples of good practice and disseminate them among local and regional authorities (provinces, water boards and municipalities). The best biodiversity initiatives will be awarded a prize.
Local and regional stakeholders from the south-western provinces of the Netherlands met in Dordrecht on 12 December 2007 for a workshop, chaired by Mr Wim van Gelder (photo right), former Queen’s Commissioner in the Province of Zeeland, and Vice-Chairman of NatureNet Europe. Workshops were held on the themes of ‘communication and awareness’, ‘financing biodiversity’ and ‘biodiversity projects in urban areas’. The workshop resulted in the collection of valuable practical information.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VROM).
More details: www.vrom.nl/biodiversiteitwerkt
Countdown 2010 in Zagreb
The main objective of this interdisciplinary project, combining the latest insights into urban biodiversity from social and natural sciences, was to raise understanding and awareness of urban biodiversity, both as a valuable component of European biodiversity in its own right, and as a means to generate support for, and active involvement in, the 2010 targets among the urban population, NGOs and local authorities. The project was established as a partnership between NGOs, the research community and local authorities in Zagreb in support of urban biodiversity. ECNC coordinated the project in cooperation with ICLEI, the City of Zagreb, the Croatian Ornithological Society, the Croatian Natural History Museum, and the Division of Biology of Zagreb University.
A community-based monitoring scheme for urban biodiversity in Zagreb was implemented, involving citizens as volunteers in biodiversity monitoring. This scheme resulted in an initial inventory of urban biodiversity with a special focus on the occurrence in Zagreb of species of international importance, such as species listed in the Annexes of the Bern Convention, the Habitat Directive and the Birds Directive. An awareness-raising campaign in Zagreb on urban biodiversity and the links between the biodiversity of Zagreb and the wider ecological context as well as the 2010 targets involves the local media, and also included an ‘urban biodiversity’ photo competition for the general public. This two-year project was completed in November 2007.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (BBI-Matra).
Partners: ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives); City of Zagreb, (Croatia); Croatian Ornithological Society (COS); Division of Biology of Zagreb University (Croatia); Croatian Natural History Museum (NHM).
Communicating for nature conservation in the Balkan Region
Capacity building and pilot projects in Croatia and FYRO Macedonia – Phase 2
Phase two of the project involved the implementation of pilot projects focusing on stakeholder involvement and communication in Neretva Delta (Croatia) and Mavrovo National Park (FYRO Macedonia). The pilot projects gave the participants in each country the chance to apply the lessons learned during the workshops held in April, May, June and September 2007. The pilot projects illustrated the value of communication in real life and gave the participants the chance to gain practical experience, as well as addressing concrete problems in nature conservation. In addition, to ensure continuity beyond the project lifespan and to extend the capacity-building effort beyond the direct group of participants, the most talented workshop participants were selected as in-country communication trainers. Phase 2 of the project was completed in December 2007. Phase 3 of the project will involve the establishment of an in-country training programme, supported by reference and training materials. This will ensure the kick-off of in-country capacity-building programmes run by national organizations without outside help.
Funding: Norwegian Government.
Partners: State Institute for Nature Protection (SINP), Croatia; Ministry for the Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP), FYRO Macedonia.
LARA: Mobilizing a network of regional and local authorities around the 2010 biodiversity target
The project ‘Global challenges call for local solutions’ (‘Local and Regional Authorities for Biodiversity 2010/LARA 2010’), which is coordinated by the Countdown 2010 Secretariat, aims to facilitate and encourage action, promotes the importance of the 2010 biodiversity target and assesses progress towards 2010. ECNC contributed to the Countdown 2010 by communicating the 2010 biodiversity target and by involving more European local and regional authorities in the initiative by involving Budapest, Hungary, and Zagreb, Croatia. ECNC is helping to integrate these two model regions into a European network of five LARA Countdown 2010 model regions of active and committed biodiversity and nature conservation.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Partners: Countdown 2010 Secretariat (Coordinator); IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature; ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives).
More details: www.countdown2010.net/lara
Knowledge for ecological networks – KEN
Legislation, policy and planning of ecological networks are quite well developed across Europe, but the actual implementation of corridors, buffer zones and core areas lags behind. One of the reasons is the complex process of consultation with stakeholder groups. Through a series of desk and case studies for six European countries (Croatia, Estonia, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom) and international workshops and focus group meetings, this project seeks to understand the role different stakeholder groups play in the practical implementation of ecological networks in Europe. The expected outcome will be a better understanding of the processes and the development of innovative approaches to a better and more effective participation of the different stakeholders in the implementation of ecological networks.
In 2007 a start was made on developing country studies in order to identify the current status of knowledge by conducting a survey and interviews with relevant stakeholders. ECNC is coordinating this two-year project, which started in March 2007.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Partners: Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia); Centre 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).
Biodiversiteit werkt in de regio (Biodiversity works at the regional level)
Local and regional authorities can play a key role in promoting the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity. However, the smaller municipalities in particular have limited capacity and knowledge about the opportunities that integrating biodiversity objectives in their policy and implementation can offer. The aim of this project is to collect examples of good practice and disseminate them among local and regional authorities (provinces, water boards and municipalities). The best biodiversity initiatives will be awarded a prize.
Local and regional stakeholders from the south-western provinces of the Netherlands met in Dordrecht on 12 December 2007 for a workshop, chaired by Mr Wim van Gelder (photo right), former Queen’s Commissioner in the Province of Zeeland, and Vice-Chairman of NatureNet Europe. Workshops were held on the themes of ‘communication and awareness’, ‘financing biodiversity’ and ‘biodiversity projects in urban areas’. The workshop resulted in the collection of valuable practical information.
Funding: Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VROM).
More details: www.vrom.nl/biodiversiteitwerkt
