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1.3.2 TERRITORIAL TRENDS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATURAL HERITAGE

1 Context and objectives

2 Facts and Figures

3 Physical developments and policy responses

4 Enhancing territorial cohesion

5 Recommendations

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1 Context and objectives

• Context: – For sustainable development (balance between economic growth and

natural heritage), the management and protection of natural areas and landscapes is essential

• Objectives– What is the influence of the Management of Natural heritage on Spatial

Development

– Develop policy recommendations to influence spatial developments in the direction of ESDP-objectives (sustainable development)

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2 Europe’s environment: the third assessment

• International context– Europe has a significant responsibility for the conservation of globally

threatened mammals, birds and plant species

– Relevant conventions: UN Convention on Biodiversity, the Bern and Ramsar Conventions, and a number of marine Conventions.

• Importance– Caucasus and the Mediterranean basin global biodiversity prime regions.

– Europe is home to a large range of domestic animal breeds, which account for almost half of the global breed diversity.

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• Threats– half of European breeds are at risk of extinction.

– European trends in farm structure, farm management and farmland species have resulted in species-rich agricultural habitats declining considerably during recent decades.

– increasing land-use pressures from transport, urbanization and intensive agriculture

– diminishing remaining semi-natural remote areas.

– land privatization and restitution (Central and Eastern Europe and EECCA)

Europe’s environment: the third assessment

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THREATS

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THREATENED SPECIES

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• Protection

– region with the highest proportions of breeds are under active conservation.

– 600 different types of designation of protected areas, and more than 65 000 designated sites

– designated sites under national designations in central and eastern European countries represent 9% of the total region area; in western countries this is 15%.

Europe’s environment: the third assessment

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3 Physical developments and policy responses

Spatial developments• continuous pressure on area occupied by natural heritage both in

terms of total area covered and fragmentation• large natural areas found Finland, the Alps, the Cantabrian

mountains, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, Greece and Scotland. – dominance of mountainous regions is obvious.

– relative inaccessible and remote locations of these areas protect against development pressures.

• In rest of Europe natural areas are highly fragmented

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Policy responses• motives for protection: economics and production, natural

functioning, perception, recreation and tourism, science, ethics or intrinsic value politics

• protection started beginning 20th century• role of NGO’s very important (IUCN, WWF)• Natura 2000 is the principal EU policy instrument for the

protection of flora, fauna and habitats• policies on protection of natural heritage have mainly been

focused on the conservation of specific species, gradually enlarging the scope towards conservation of habitats

• concern for biodiversity more integrated into sectoral policies, e.g.: agri-environmental measures and sustainable forestry policies

3 Physical developments and policy responses

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NATURA 2000 BAROMETER 03/04/2003

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• The protection and enhancement of the natural heritage is well served by territorial cohesion.

• Relevant objectives of the ESDP:- polycentric urban development- balanced development- sustainable development

• ESDP and Natura 2000 aim at enhancing the natural heritage by increasing the natural area and by forming an ecological network.

4 Enhancing territorial cohesion

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Policy towards cohesion

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Backbone of ecological network - Hydrological system

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5 Recommendations I

• Intensity elaboration and implementation of Natura 2000. – supports balanced, polycentric, sustainable developments.

– network of natural areas adds to attractiveness of regions.

• Promote preparation of regional spatial development visions, containing strategic actions for: – social/economic positioning, based on

– natural/cultural qualities

to be elaborated in spatial plans for:– polycentric urban, and

– ecological networks.

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Recommendations II

• Intensify integration of Natura 2000 and rural policies (CAP) and water framework directive.

• Elaborate ESDP as a framework for national and regional development visions. ESDP 2 should seek to specify main European development axes and ecological main structure.

• Regional typology should balance social/economic and natural/cultural aspects.

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