Resources & links - items

EU nature and biodiversity website

Information about the European Union's nature conservation and biodiversity-related policies and legislation, the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and details of the Natura 2000 network.

Business and biodiversity resource centre

As users and beneficiaries of biodiversity, businesses are increasingly becoming involved in its management. Companies across the world are now taking steps to halt and reverse the trend of the decline of biodiversity. This resource centre can help you find out about the important role which biodiversity plays for businesses. You can see how your sector impacts on wildlife and nature, and what companies are doing to help conserve and manage biodiversity. The site is managed by Earthwatch Institute (Europe).

ECONAT network

ECONAT promotes exchange of experience so as to connect economic activities with biodiversity. ECONAT's exchange include organisations for nature conservation, but it consists mainly of other ones like port authorities, highway agencies, water managers, developers of wind farms, developers of housing, etc. The aim of this exchange is to exchange good practice in and around Natura 2000-sites: combining economic activities with managing and conserving Natura 2000. There is much “learning by doing” in all EU-member states. Good experiences obtained one country, however, reach experts in other countries only with considerable delay, if they reach them at all. Our network facilitates this specific exchange: informally, at practical level, involving experts in their own jobs.

Biodiversity and industry: final recommendations of the EPBRS meeting

Recommendations of the EPBRS meeting of the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy held in Paris under the French Presidency of the EU 19–21 November, 2008 concerning biodiversity and industry.

Natura 2000 Newsletter - focus on business and biodiversity

Issue 24 (July 2008) of the Natura 2000 Newsletter focussed on business and biodiversity. Available in five languages.

Science for Environmental Policy

DG Environment News Alert Service. This service provides scientific information in the field of the main themes of the Environmental Action Programme and relevant to DG Environment policy priorities in support of the knowledge based approach. The sources for this service are provided on one hand by the specialised staff of the contractor, on the other hand by EC officials and are scientific results of achieved or on-going EU funded projects and findings of other research initiatives implemented at international, national and regional levels,... Opinions expressed in the flash articles on this service do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. The news alert is sent weekly.

Naturenet

Naturenet claims to be 'the UK's most popular independent countryside and conservation website'. Naturenet is a voluntary enterprise to provide a good online resource for practical nature conservation and countryside management. Naturenet is intended for those interested in the countryside, its management, and nature conservation. As well as anyone who enjoys visiting the countryside this includes ecologists, rangers, wardens, volunteers, students, tree wardens, biologists, bird watchers, land agents and farmers. We keep an up to date reference section giving a huge range of information about organisations which are involved in this field.

Promoting the Socio-Economic Benefits of Natura 2000

Background Report for the European Conference on ‘Promoting the Socio-Economic Benefits of Natura 2000’ , Brussels, 28–29 November 2002. This report explores the diversity, importance and source of socio-economic benefits from Natura 2000 sites designated under the European Union Habitats and Birds Directives, and lessons in how they can be realised. Report written by Patrick ten Brink, Claire Monkhouse and Saskia Richartz, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), November 2002 and based on a collaborative project involving IEEP and WWF.

ECNC Business and Biodiversity Programme

This programme of the European Centre for Nature Conservation mainstreams nature and biodiversity concerns into economic sector’s policies and operations. Economic activity is one of major drivers of the biodiversity loss; and Europe is still losing biodiversity at an alarming rate. Practically all businesses have an impact on biodiversity, either through their supply chain or through investments they make. ECNC promotes the practical integration of biodiversity issues in the financial and economic sectors and facilitates investment in biodiversity-related business. ECNC also promotes economic thinking in the biodiversity sector and addresses the market-based approach to conservation and viable use of biodiversity and its ecosystem services.

ECNC Nature and Society Programme

this European Centre for Nature Conservation programme seeks to increase understanding of the social and cultural context of conservation and improve skills of policy makers and other stakeholders at all levels in Europe in strategic and interactive communication. It contributes to effective implementation of nature and biodiversity policy through for instance advice on development of effective communication, organization and facilitation of stakeholder consultation processes and training in communication.

Natura 2000 logos

High resolution logos are available to download and use for dissemination purposes. Both the LIFE and Natura logos are now available in vector and raster graphics.

The Natural Capital Initiative (UK)

The link between the health of our environment and the health of our economy is becoming clearer. But we don’t yet understand the true value of all the services the environment provides us with. This means we can’t make well-informed decisions about how to manage the environment. There is a need to start understanding the value of other services the environment provides us with and develop frameworks that let us make better-informed decisions; the ecosystem approach. The Natural Capital Initiative aims to help inform Government’s implementation of this new approach by identifying the gaps in science, policy and its implementation that are preventing an ecosystem approach being applied – and encouraging them to be filled. To achieve this aim we are working with government departments and agencies, NGOs, the private sector and scientific bodies.

EuroNatur

The European Nature Heritage Fund – EuroNatur is a non-profit foundation which stands up for the conservation of the European nature heritage on many different levels, e.g. via special species protection projects, renaturation measures, and site protection as well as political lobbying activities or environmental education. EuroNatur projects are long-term and often cross-border projects aiming not only at the protection of nature, but also at an ecological development of the respective rural areas. Without considering the needs of the people, long-term protection of natural resources is not possible. Therefore, EuroNatur always cooperates closely with regional partner organisations and local residents.

Future for Nature award

The goal of the Future for Nature Foundation is to protect species of wild animals and plants. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation has established the Future for Nature Award. The prize rewards and funds individuals for their internationally outstanding species protection efforts.

PARALIA project

Large European ports are involved in expansion plans while at the same time they are located within or in proximity of protected nature. The plans for port development represent dilemmas between economic development and nature conservation. Nature conservation issues in many of such ports are related to the implementation of the EC Birds and Habitats Directives. The Paralia Nature project was a broad multidisciplinary co-operation between governments, ports, universities, NGO's and knowledge centres in terms of exchange of experiences and information throughout the creation of a thematic network focused on the development of practical and applicable solutions as well as the development of ideas for improvement.

Transport and Natura 2000

On 13 May 2008 at the European Parliament in Brussels, the European Federation for Transport and Environment together with BirdLife International, CEE Bankwatch and EEB launched a groundbreaking report on unifying EU transport and nature conservation policy. The report can be downloaded from this link.

The Potential for Socio-Economic Benefits from Natura 2000 Designations

The promotion of Natura 2000 sites may have an important future role in supporting the fragile economy of remote and rural Scotland, and the aim of this study was to identify the potential socio-economic benefits of Natura 2000 designations. The study reviewed existing literature and research, and described case studies in Scotland and the wider European Union. Published in: Countryside and Natural Heritage Research Programme Research Findings No 3 1999. The Potential for Socio-Economic Benefits from Natura 2000 Designations (1999). GF Broom, JR Crabtree, D Roberts and G Hill. Geoff Broom Associates and Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. ISBN 0-7480-8223-9. Publisher: The Scottish Office.

Nature and Biodiversity News & Views

News & Views is a web-based communication tool. The aim is to present interesting topics relating to nature and biodiversity to the general public. Users can read the topics, then provide their opinions in the form of multi-choice questions and/or free text. They can also read other peoples' views.

Birdlife International (Europe)

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.

Links to Member States' Natura 2000 web pages

A table of links on the EC Europa website providing links to Natura 2000 web pages in the different Member States

Coaliţia ONG Natura2000 România (Romanian Natura2000 NGO Coalition)

A coalition, formed in 2003, which has 50 members, non-governmental organizations in environmental protection. A partnership of organizations that provide representation and power at the national level, acting in these areas: protected areas, biodiversity conservation, implementation of NATURA 2000 network in Romania.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. From 2001 to 2005, the MA involved the work of more than 1,360 experts worldwide. Their findings provide a state-of-the-art scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.

Natura 2000 Networking Programme

The Natura 2000 Networking Programme (NNP) was a project which specified an integrated approach, recognising the essential contributions of different stakeholders responsible for and interacting with Europe's rich diversity of Natura 2000 sites and surrounding areas. Although NNP has now concluded, the website remains an important information source for the stakeholders and managers of Natura 2000.

European Learning Network on Functional AgroBiodiversity (ELN-FAB)

The ‘European Learning Network on Functional AgroBiodiversity’ was founded to exchange knowledge and practical experience across country and language borders, between farmers and policymakers, scientists, businesses and NGOs, to enable fast and effective implementation of best practices. This will help to optimize agrobiodiversity benefits, promote sustainable agriculture and will encourage widespread uptake of biodiversity concepts, thereby also enhancing non-agronomic ecosystem services.

ALTER-Net biodiversity research network

ALTER-Net is a network of 23 partner institutes from 17 European countries. ALTER-Net integrates research capacities across Europe: assessing changes in biodiversity, analyzing the effect of those changes on ecosystem services and informing the public and policy makers about this at a European scale. ALTER-Net has much expertise in the Natura 2000 network, as well as biodiversity in the wider countryside.

Value of natural resources - interactive map

A map-based global database of bibliographic references providing case studies of the economic, livelihood and cultural values provided to people by biodiversity and ecosystems. The map allows users to select different case study types and also to overlay map layers such as protected areas.

SPIRAL - Interfacing biodiversity and policy

The SPIRAL project will contribute to enhancing the connectivity between biodiversity research and policy by generating a series of outcomes and physical products. Many science-policy interfaces are currently being designed and implemented from the national to the international level in response to a wide recognition of a series of gaps in biodiversity governance. In this context, now is a unique opportunity to make a practical difference in the integration of biodiversity research into policy.

Natura 2000 - Addressing conflicts and promoting benefits

This brochure should be helpful to you, especially if you are affected by a conflict situation related to the management of Natura 2000 sites.

SOS Rio Paiva

Portuguese NGO promoting the conservation of Paiva river, one of the well preserved rivers of Europe, and Site of Natura 2000.

CEEweb for Biodiversity's Natura 2000 database

Database on Natura 2000 best practice examples and infringement cases from the CEE region. Also, a study on infringement cases analysing problems and potential solutions of the nature directives' implementation can be found here.

Compensation of loss in natural habitats and species: guidelines

These guidelines provide legal background on Natura 2000 compensation, segments of good compensation measures and examples of good and bad nature loss compensation EU-wide. In general, the word "compensation" means balancing one action (or its effects) with another action. In nature conservation, compensation means balancing the negative effects in the environment with other activities that improve the state of the environment and restore its proper functions. The guidelines on compensation provided by Naturalists Club Poland and CEEweb for Biodiversity provide the detailed concept of compensation of the Nature Directives, its legal background and good and bad compensation practices from various EU countries.

Selected EC legislation and rules important for Natura 2000 site management planning

Guidance for management planners and naturalists involved in the planning process. The guidance by the Naturalists Club Poland and CEEweb for Biodiversity provides detailed information on the legal background of Natura 2000 management for management planners and NGOs

Sectoral experience with Natura 2000 (project)

This project aims to contribute to removing barriers and increasing support for Natura 2000 by economic sectors by fact finding, learning from each other and demonstrating sector-specific solutions for dealing with barriers. It will in particular contribute to greater knowledge by economic sectors (agriculture, forestry, tourism and recreation) in the Netherlands and other EU Member States on how to deal with barriers posed by Natura 2000 and investigate whether these barriers can create opportunities

Natura 2000 (N2K) International - LinkedIn group

A group on the social network for professionals, LinkedIn, where people with a professional interest in Natura 2000 can exchange ideas and information. Note that to access the group you will need (a) a LinkedIn account and (b) your request to join will need to be approved by the group owner.