NATURA 2000 implementation in Bulgaria

1
NATURA 2000 implementation in Bulgaria

• Andrey Kovatchev
• Natura 2000 Expert, BALKANI Wildlife Society,
  Bulgaria

2
2002 - 2004
DEPA project - Green Balkans Federation NGOin
cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and
Waters
Budget 500 000 Euro Non systematic approach
field inventories of preliminary identified
territories (CORINE Biotops Sites, protected
areas, expert opinion) on 12.5 of the countries
territory Lack of division between pSCIs and
pSPAs. At the end based on best expert opinion
identified as potential NATURA 2000 sites on 34
of the countries territory. 16 of them studied.
3
1994 - 1996
Nature Parks
CORINE Biotops project
4
Map of potential NATURA 2000 sites at the end of
2004
16 of the countrys territory studied by the end
of 2004.
Jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj Hhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhkkkk hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
34 of the countrys territory coverage of all
potential sites.
5
2005 - 2006
Division of work on the designation of pSCIs and
pSPAs

• Projects financed by Bulgarian Government
• for inventory of pSCIs and coordination of this
  action with other projects Green Balkans
  Federation NGO, budget 700 000 EURO
• for inventory of pSPAs and coordination of this
  action with other projects Bulgarian Society for
  the Protection of Birds (BirdLife Bulgaria),
  budget 150 000 EURO

6
Contribution of other projects with international
financing overall more than 2 500 000 EURO
2005 - 2006

• Project of NGO coalition NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria
  public contribution, PIN MATRA
• Projects of WWF DCP in Danube basin
• GEF project Conservation of globally important
  biodiversity in the Rhodope landscape
• Project Prime Butterfly Areas of Butterfly
  Conservation Europe (Wageningen) and National
  Natural History Museum, PIN MATRA program
• Project of Forestry Institute of the Bulgarian
  Academy of SciencesInventory and strategy for
  protection of old growth forests in Bulgaria,
  PIN MATRA
• Development of Brown bear action plan,
  coordinated by BALKANI Wildlife Society, PIN
  MATRA and BBI MATRA
• Development of Chamois Action Plan 2007 -2016,
  implemented by Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation
• Project of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on new
  Bulgarian Red Data Book
• A number of smaller projects

7
2005 - 2006

• Till October 2006 - submitted scientific
  proposals
• for pSCIs covering 35 of countrys land
  territory
• October November 2006 - working group initiated
  by NGOs
• Participants NGOs, key experts, Ministry of
  Environment and Waters, Ministry of Agriculture
  and Forestry
• Tasks to complete sufficient scientific list of
  pSCIs according to the criteria of Stage 2
• Results Optimization of submitted documentation
  to 225 sites occupying 28,6 of countrys land
  territory

8
2005 - 2006
Comparison - version 20 October (35) and version
20 November (28,6)
NGOs submitted proposals - Green Balkans
Federation, BALKANI Wildlife Society, WWF DCP
Bulgaria, Center for Environmental Information
and Education, Association of Parks
9
hhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh
hbbbbbbbbbbbbhhhhhhhhhhhh
2005 - 2006
hhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh
hbbbbbbbbbbbbhhhhhhhhhhhh
NGOs submitted proposals - Bulgarian Society for
the Protection of Birds
10
2007
Political process of designation of NATURA 2000
network

• Delayed decision of the Council of Ministers
• The decision on list of pSCIs and pSPAs is made
  on 15 February 2007 one and a half months
  after EU accession date
• The decision is made available to public on 5
  March 2007.
• The decision is to cut both list of sites leading
  to drastic insufficiencies in both lists.
• The decision is justified on purely economic
  grounds. It stipulates future exclusion from
  borders of SPAs and SACs of all areas with
  development demands and spatial plans appeared to
  date of issuing of designation order.

11
List of SPAs excluded (red) and adopted
(green)
12
List of pSCIs excluded (red) and adopted (green)
13
Every week protests for NATURA 2000 in front of
the Council of Ministers
2007
Soap opera
Coins to pay EU sanctions
Species left outside of NATURA 2000
Political umbrella
14
After 1 year of an NGO campaign almost all
proposed sites adopted in December 2007 and
submitted in EU SPAs and pSCIs
2007

• Number of other street protest for protection of
  NATURA sites and against different threats
• Campaign within government letters, position
  papers, meetings with Ministers

• Written statements and submission in Brussels,
  meetings with representatives of EU Commission
  and with the European Commissioner Stavros Dimas
  (April 2007)(with support of international
  networks)? - network so week that even
  biogeographical seminar could not be started

15
Overlapping between pSCIs (28,6) and SPAs
(23,4)together 34,5
hhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhh
16
2007
Political process of designation of NATURA 2000
network

• Final differences scientific proposal
  political decision (despite 1 year delay)
• pSCIs missing site Rila buffer question
  lefto to be decided by the biogeographical
  seminars
• SPAs significantly reduced sites Pirin, Rila,
  Central Balkan, Rhodopi Zapadni and Kaliakra.
  Started in 2007 infringement procedure by the
  European Commission. In 2010 with the exception
  of Kaliakra (still pending) all sites finally
  designated in near original scientific borders by
  the Government in order to prevent appeal in the
  Court of justice.

17
Biogeographical seminar

• Habitats Directive
• Art. 4 (1) and Annex III Stage 1- National list
  (pSCIs)
• Art. 4 (2) and Annex III Stage 2 Assessment by
  the Commission in agreement with Member State
  (biogeographic seminars followed by bilateral
  negotiations)
• Formal requirement to select SCIs from a larger
  list of pSCIs (criteria in Stage 1 define broader
  set of zones)
• Reality during biogeographical seminars to
  assess insufficiencies in the official Member
  state proposals and identify places for upgrading
  with new sites to achieve coherence

18
Biogeographical seminar

• Preparation - the European Topic Centre on
  Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) (important to be
  lobbied by the NGOs)
• official advisory scientific body, participating
  at the seminar
• Preliminary technical and scientific analysis of
  the pSCIs
• Preparation of the official documentation prior
  the seminars
• a. The reference lists for each biogeographical
  region
• b. The Natura 2000 standard data forms of all the
  sites proposed by the Member States for the
  biogeographical region
• c. Maps of sites proposed - each habitat/species
  per biogeographical region
• d. A summary table - each habitat/species per
  biogeographical region ,
• - the number of sites proposed by each Member
  States
• - the coverage (indicated by )
• - Coherence analyses, first preliminary
  conclusions and comments

19
Biogeographical seminar

• Criteria stage 2 for selecting SCIs (Annex III
  Habitats Directive)-
• relative national value
• migration routes of species
• cross-border ecosystem (internal Community
  frontiers)
• total area of the site
• number of habitats and species in the site
• global ecological value (unique aspect of its
  features) of the site

20
Biogeographical seminar

• Stage 2 - criteria in Hab. 97/2 rev. 4 18/11/97
• Pre-selection phase 20-60 Rule
  (biogeographical region) applied during the
  seminar.
• The habitats/species which occurrence is covered
  to an extent
• higher than 60 are considered, in principle, as
  sufficiently represented
• lower than 20 are considered, in principle, as
  insufficiently represented
• between 20 and 60 are the subject of a
  case-by-case analysis
• For priority, rare, endangered species and
  habitats lowest required threshold for coverage
  in the region is 60!

21
Biogeographical seminar

• Hab. 97/2 rev. 4 18/11/97
• Case by case "phase (biogeographical region)
• Priority criterion - at least one priority
  habitat or species
• Uniqueness criterion - containing the only
  significant example of a non priority habitat or
  species
• High-quality criterion - having a high national
  value for at least one non-priority habitat or
  species
• High-diversity criterion - containing a
  significant number of non-priority habitats
  and/or species
• Network coherence criterion - playing a role to
  ensure the coherence (as well structural as
  functional) of the Natura 2000 Network -
  migration routes, ecological corridors, relic
  localisations, cross-border ecosystems, bordering
  a major protected area, restoration measures for
  at least one priority habitat or species
• Safeguard clause criterion safeguarding
  sufficient coverage

22
Biogeographical seminar

• The seminar
• The seminars discuss
• reference lists per biogeographical regions
• the sufficiency of each species and habitat,
  according to the agreed reference lists
  separately for each biogeographical region

23
Biogeographical seminar

• Criteria used during the biogeographical seminar
• Simplified and reversed criteria of Hab. 97/2
  rev. 4 18/11/97 to answer the question - is the
  submitted list of pSCIs sufficient?
• Pre-selection criterion 20-60 widely used
  (low coverage)
• Geographical insufficiency/gap missing sites in
  certain area with proven distribution or at the
  border of natural distribution
• Missing locality for rare species with few
  localities
• Missing best/representative locality or several
  best/representative localities
• Missing locality/site playing role of stepping
  stone bio-corridor ecological coherence (site
  should host species permanently in order to be
  accepted)
• Not presented important variation (subtype,
  subspecies)

24
Biogeographical seminar

• Possible decisions on sufficiency
  habitats/species review
• SUF (Sufficient) No further sites needed
• IN MAJ (Insufficient major) No sites proposed at
  present. A major effort to designate sites is
  needed.
• IN MOD (Insufficient moderate). One or a number
  of additional sites (or maybe extension to sites)
  required.
• IN MOD GEO - means that additional site(s) are
  required in certain region to eliminate
  geographical gap.
• IN MIN (Insufficient minor) - habitat/species
  should be noted on sites already proposed for
  other habitats/species
• CD (Correction of data) Data needs to be
  corrected/completed/deleted
• Sci Res (Scientific reserve) A definite
  conclusion is not possible need to
  investigate/clarify a scientific issue

25
Biogeographical seminar

• Participants
• European Commission
• ETC/BD
• Independent experts invited by the Commission
• National Governments and their experts
• NGOs (through Habitats Forum)
• Observers
• Decisions consensus leaded by the chairmen from
  the Commission, input from the ETC/BD and
  independent experts crucial (lobby them!!)

26
Biogeographical seminar

• NGOs - how to prepare prior seminars
• Ensure good unofficial cooperation
  scientists/NGOs (scientists are not always in a
  position to say freely everything, but NGOs could
  be)
• Establish good communication with the Commission
  and ETC/BD on the topic as soon as possible
• Choose as fast as possible your representatives
  (knowledgable and trustable), 1-3 persons for the
  seminar through consensus
• Lobby through European Habitats Forum members
  (WWF-European Policy Office, CEEWEB, BirdLife)
  and directly through the Commission to receive
  invitation for these persons
• Prepare alternative NGOs assessments, shadow
  lists and reports and distribute them as early as
  possible

27
Biogeographical seminar

• NGOs - how to prepare prior seminars
• Make critical analyses of the Governmental
  proposal
• b. Revise reference lists they should be truly
  presented in the biogeographical region/ or
  missing species/habitats
• c. For every or for most important habitat and
  species from the reference list
• make an assessment of coverage and coherence of
  the official list
• try to propose a shadow list of sites
• prepare a report with maps (shadow list,
  localities of the species, habitats etc) and
  submit it to the secretariat of the convention
  and the ETC prior the seminar (as early as
  possible)

28
Biogeographical seminar

• NGOs shadow lists could be a
• Complicated map - containing detailed NATURA 2000
  data base and border of sites (in some countries
  NGOs developed official proposals)
• Simplified map - polygons (GIS or even GOOGLE
  EARTH) accompanied with a simple EXCEL table with
  a referent list of species and habitats for each
  polygon
• Or even a map of localities for particular
  species and habitats
• The shadow list is our demand for enlarging the
  network there was no case in other EU countries
  NGOs to be satisfied by the Governmental proposal.

29

Biogeographical seminar

• NGOs assessment of coverage
• Number of localities covered
• of distribution - simple overlapping with UTM
  grids or similar simplified methods
• Maps of distribution
• Deductive models of suitable habitats (for
  species) using free GIS layers

30
2006-2007
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case

• Preparation by NGOs
• Mapping species and habitats in 2006 and 2007
• Forest habitats full forestry inventory (1 5
  000 scale) and assessment of the type of habitat
  by modeling of forestry data
• Grasslands partial inventory and modeling in
  scale 1100 000 (CORINE Land Cover based)
• Species distributional data available for most
  of the species (presence/absence) and deductive
  models of suitable habitats developed in scale
  1100 000 (problems old data or scarce data
  especially for invertebrates)
• In 2007 critical reassessment of all network on
  systematic basis on the base of developed GIS
  maps!!

31

2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case

• The documentation prepared by the NGOs in 2008
• Analyses of coverage made for most of species and
  habitats
• b. A report for 23 species and 9 habitats for
  which network was regarded to be insufficient for
  biogeographical region concerned. Maps and GIS
  accompanied every individual report.
• c. Reports sent to the ETC in 10 April 2008, 2
  months prior to the seminar included in the
  preliminary official analyses of the ETC
• d. BG RO NGO preparation meeting in the end of
  April 2008.
• e. Biogeographical seminars for BG and RO June
  2008. NGO participation 3 experts (through
  European Habitats Forum)

32
2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Continental region - coverage within the official
list of sites 54.5 NGO assessment of
sufficiency Insufficient Moderate
Low coverage priority habitat with less than 60
coverage in the region. Geographical coherence
There are no sites in the area of Surnena Sredna
Gora Mountain.
33
2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Alpine region - coverage within the official list
of sites 39 NGO assessment of sufficiency
Insufficient Moderate
Low coverage glacial relict, endangered species
Geographical coherence There are no sites in
the area of Rila Mountain (missing site Rila
buffer).
34
2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Alpine region - coverage within the official list
of sites 67,25. NGO assessment of sufficiency
Insufficient Moderate

• Justification of the NGO assessment
• Missing sites of high quality Missing high
  quality site Rila buffer
• Geographical coherence Low coverage of the
  species in Rila Mountain region only about 30
  of the population is covered by the submitted
  sites. Almost all summer habitats of the species
  in the Mountain are outside the protection as
  these sites are mostly encompassing alpine belt.
• Ecological coherence Missing site "providing
  bio-corridor habitats

35

2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Continental and Alpine regions - coverage within
the official list of sites 49
NGO assessment of sufficiency Insufficient
Moderate

• Geographical coherence edge of distribution

of the species along the Struma and Mesta
Rivers. Lack of pSCIs in Surnena Sredna
Gora Mountain.

• Ecological coherence stepping stones along river
  valley of Struma River

36

2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Example of NGOs BG-RO cross-border analyses
(sent to the ETC and Commission in May 2008)
map of sites
37
2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Example of NGOs BG-RO cross-border analyses
(sent to the ETC and Commission in May 2008)
list of species in cross - border sites
      Krajmorska Dobrudzha(130) Padurea Hagieni Cotul Vaii (157)
Plant 2125 Potentilla emilii-popii D
Plant 2253 Centaurea jankae  
Plant 2327 Himantoglossum caprinum  
Invert 1060 Lycaena dispar  
Invert 1078 Callimorpha quadripunctaria  
Invert 1083 Lucanus cervus
Invert 1087 Rosalia alpina  
Invert 1088 Cerambyx cerdo  
Invert 1089 Morimus funereus  
Invert 4027 Arytrura musculus   Missing in the national reference list
Invert 4033 Erannis ankeraria Missing in the national reference list
Amp/Rep 1219 Testudo graeca
Amp/Rep 1279 Elaphe quatuorlineata  
Mammal 1302 Rhinolophus mehelyi  
Mammal 1304 Rhinolophus ferrumequinum  
Mammal 1305 Rhinolophus euryale  
Mammal 1310 Miniopterus schreibersi
Mammal 1335 Spermophilus citellus
Mammal 2609 Mesocricetus newtoni
Mammal 2633 Mustela eversmannii
Mammal 2635 Vormela peregusna  
38

2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
Results despite high of the network number of
moderate and minor insufficiencies and correction
of data, as well as scientific reserves
State of progress in reaching sufficiency for the
Habitat Directive Annex I habitats and Annex II
species, June 2008
39
2008
Biogeographical seminar Bulgarian case
December 2008 DG Env. - decision for adoption BG
sites as SCIs
40

• Thank you for your attention
• Andrey Kovatchev
• BALKANI Wildlife Society
• kovatchev6_at_gmail.com
• www.balkani.org