NNP final event

On behalf of the Natura 2000 Networking Programme partners, you are cordially invited to attend the Programme's final conference titled "Natura 2000: Success stories and further potential" which will take place in Brussels on 28th November 2007.

Speakers will include Ladislav Miko, Director General, DG Environment and Natura 2000 Ambassadors. For the full programme and booking form, please visit the programme website training page.

For further information contact Emmanuelle Mikosz at enlargement@elo.org or Catherine O‚Neill at coneill@eurosite.org

We look forward to welcoming you in Brussels.

National level Natura 2000 online resources: update

Links to national level information on Natura 2000 can be found via www.natura.org/national_links.html for the following European countries:

Austria + Belgium + Bulgaria + Czech Republic + Denmark + Estonia + Finland + France + Germany + Greece + Hungary + Italy + Malta + Netherlands + Poland + Portugal + Romania + Slovakia + Slovenia + Sweden + United Kingdom

Suggestions for additional links can be posted here.

New Natura 2000 site management case studies

Site case studies for Natura 2000 sites in 14 European countries are now online at www.natura.org/sites.

Austria = Truppenubungsplatz
Bulgaria = Central Balkan
Finland = Rekijokilaakso River Valley
France = Haute Vezere
Germany = Oberes Rhinluch
Greece = Tilos National Park
Italy = Parco Naturale di Rocchetta Tanaro
Malta = Rdum Tal Madonna
Poland = Puszcza Kampinoska
Romania = Vanatori Neamt Nature Park
Slovak Republic = Tatry National Park
Slovenia = Kozjanski Park
Spain = Punta Mora
United Kingdom = Sefton CoastAustria

Extra news resource

Additional news feeds have been created at natura.org, offering news sourced through Yahoo! News covering issues related to Natura 2000, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. View the RSS generated feeds at http://www.natura.org/rss.html.

News from the French Natura 2000 network

Natura 2000 is also a network of committed actors, active in conserving biodiversity. In France, each month, La lettre du réseau Natura 2000 (the Natura 2000 Network Newsletter) is addressed to the community of actors involved in Natura 2000 fieldwork: elected representatives, stakeholders, scientists, managers, public services, etc (around 1000 persons addressed).

The concrete implementation of the network reveals an important need to share experiences, informations, not only at the national level, but also on a European scale. To enrich the European network, we would like to distribute a selection of news about Natura 2000 network life in France three times a year. We published the first newsletter on the 2th of May 2007. Please do not hesitate to give us your feedback, as Natura 2000 is strengthened by its biodiversity but is also enriched by the diversity of competencies. The summary of the fisrt News letter :

French Natura 2000 network life:
The Minister of Ecology opened the National Monitoring Committee; national and regional meetings ; training of elected representatives and technicians from forest municipalities.

Studies - research:
How much are you willing to pay to save biodiversity?
The “History” of Natura 2000 in France, as seen by sociologists.

Building the network, managing the site:
How to determine the perimeter of Chiroptera sites?
The validation of DOCOBs in the Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur region

Communication:
Natura 2000 and the French media in 2006.
Abbreviations and French terms

If you are interrest by thi e-letter, please contact: natura2000@ecologie.gouv.fr

For all information about the Natura 2000 network in France: http://www.natura2000.fr

Article written by Wally Rossell
Ministère de l'écologie et du développement durable.
Direction de la nature et des paysages / Equipe Projet Natura 2000

Natura 2000 site management guidance now available

The report of the 'Train the Trainers' workshop, the first training event organised as part of the Natura 2000 Networking Programme (NNP), is now available.

The first information and training guides are also now available as part of the NNP Site Management Toolkit. Over the coming months this resource will grow to include guidance on thematic Natura 2000 site management issues. At the time of posting, the folllowing items are available for download.

+ A paper addressing misconceptions about Natura 2000
+ Guidance on writing a press release
+ A facilitation guide
+ A guidance paper on conflict resolution
+ A discussion of the importance of stakeholder agreements
+ Guidance for stakeholder management
+ Twinning-lite guidance

Guidelines for Natura 2000 in the marine environment

The European Commission has published "Guidelines for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network in the marine environment - Application of the Habitats and Birds Directives".

The guidelines are available through the European Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/nature_conservation/natura_2000_network/marine_issues/index_en.htm

Twinning-lite: effective networking basics

Twinning-lite is a regular bilateral or multilateral exchange of information, between pre-determined partners, for the purpose of more effectively achieving site management objectives.

It provides a simple, easily adaptable tool for land managers to work in partnership to
exchange experience, increase knowledge and find practical solutions for the improvement of Natura 2000 site management.

A guidance document outlining this easy-to-implement management tool is now available for download via the Natura 2000 Networking Programme website at www.natura.org/toolkit.html

'Training the Trainers'

As part of the Natura 2000 Networking Programme, Eurosite in partnership with EUROPARC and the European Landowners’ Organisation hosted a five-day training event in the Danube Floodplain National Park in Austria from 23rd – 27th April. This successful event involved 30 Natura 2000 Ambassadors from across Europe. The European Commission was represented at the event along with various other speakers and contributors involved with the management of Natura 2000. The training programme explored issues such as stakeholder involvement, effective local level communication, conflict resolution and economic development synergies (identifying funding opportunities) within Natura 2000.

The training was participatory and interactive. By working together the participants discussed the issues involved in managing Natura 2000, shared experiences and developed practical solutions. The training event was a central tool for the successful implementation of the Natura 2000 Networking Programme. As a result of the training event, fifteen follow-up events (along with many other smaller events) will also take place throughout this year. These events will further develop the issues raised in the training and will explore a variety of topics. Training proceedings and an overview of the follow up events will be available shortly at www.natura.org.

National Natura 2000 links

The NNP is building a list of online national level information for Natura 2000. You can view the list here and contribute suggestions for additional links by commenting here, or by contacting gwhitmore(AT)eurosite(DOT)org.

Introduction

This blog will provide an area for particpants of the Natura 2000 Networking Programme (NNP) to find and share information related to programme activities and other points of interest about Natura 2000.

The NNP is a follow-up of the Natura Network Intiative and will build on Natura 2000 communication and information drives with a roll-out programme of training and workshops to facilitate the implementation of good practice natural site management for Natura 2000.

The NNP website is located at natura.org.

For further information, contact gwhitmore(AT)eurosite(DOT)org