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Training on species monitoring – Biškek, Kyrgyz Republic, 19 – 20 March 2014
REPORTING PURSUANT TO
ART. 17 OF THE
HABITATS DIRECTIVE
Petr Roth
UBA Vienna
ART. 17 OF THE HABITATS DIRECTIVE
“Every six years …MS shall draw up a report on the
implementation of the measures taken under this Directive.
It shall include … information concerning the conservation
measures referred to in Article 6 (1) as well as evaluation of
the impact of those measures on the conservation status of
… habitat types of Annex I and species in Annex II and the
main results of the surveillance referred to in Article 11. The
report … shall be forwarded to the Commission and made
accessible to the public.”
REPORTING – FOCUS ON 3 ITEMS:

conservation measures for Natura 2000 (Art. 6.1)

impact of those measures on conservation status of
habitats & species

main results of Art. 11 surveillance
THUS, THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING IS:

to show how Natura 2000 contributes to the HabDir
objectives

to see what is the conservation status of all phenomena
of the Directive
Output:

“Composite report” for all the EU pursuant to Art. 17(2)
COMPOSITE REPORT
Art. 17.2: „The Commission shall prepare a composite
report…“
 http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52009
DC0358:EN:NOT
EU REPORTING UP TO NOW
First reporting in 2001: EU 15
 mainly general info on status of Natura 2000 preparation,
no information on conservation status
Reporting 2007 (for 2001 - 2006): EU 25
 Mainly conservation status assessment
Reporting 2013 (for 2007 - 2012) : EU 27
 Mainly conservation status assessment + contribution of
Natura 2000
CONSERVATION
STATUS
OBJECTIVE OF THE DIRECTIVE
Habitats Directive Art. 2:

The aim of this Directive is to contribute towards ensuring
bio-diversity through the conservation of natural habitats
and of wild fauna and flora in the EU

Measures taken pursuant to this Directive shall be
designed to maintain or restore, at favourable
conservation status, natural habitats and species of
wild fauna and flora of Community interest.
CONSERVATION STATUS

Conservation status of a species means the sum of the
influences acting on the species concerned that may affect
the long-term distribution and abundance of its populations
within the EU
FAVOURABLE CONSERVATION STATUS

The conservation status of a species will be taken as
‘favourable’ when:
population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it
is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of
its natural habitats
and
 the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely
to be reduced for the foreseeable future
and
 there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat
to maintain its populations on a long-term basis

COMPONENTS OF CONSERVATION STATUS
Species
Range
Population
Habitat for the species
Future prospects
CONSERVATION STATUS

is a policy-dependent, agreed quantity, not an ecological
term

is not linked to particular sites (except for endemics) – no
direct relationship to the Natura 2000 network!

is to be recorded separately for individual biogeographical
regions in the country
CONSERVATION STATUS ASSESSMENT
IN REPORTING FORM
Reporting format (by EEA & ETC/BD) – developed through a
complex process:

meeting Directive´s requirements

meeting political agenda

reflecting different attitude of MS
REPORTING FORM 2013
adopted by the Habitats Committee in May 2011
binding for EU 27


5 annexes: 3 forms, 2 matrices
Guidance document – issued by ETC/BD
CONSERVATION STATUS ASSESSMENT
– SPECIES („TRAFFIC LIGHTS“)
COMPONENT
Favourable
('green')
Unfavourable
- Inadequate
('amber')
Unfavourable
- Bad
('red')
Unknown
(insufficient
information)
Range
defined
any other
combination
defined
insufficient
information
Population
defined
any other
combination
defined
insufficient
information
Habitat for the
species
defined
any other
combination
defined
insufficient
information
Future
prospects
defined
any other
combination
defined
insufficient
information
OVERALL
ASSESSMENT
OF THE CS
All 'green'
OR
three 'green'
and one
'unknown'
One or more
'amber' but no
'red'
One or more
'red'
Two or more
'unknown'
combined with
green or all
“unknown”
RANGE
CONSERVATION STATUS
Range
Favourable
('green')
Stable (loss and expansion in
balance) or increasing AND not
smaller than the 'favourable
reference range'
Unfavourable - Bad
('red')
Large decline: Equivalent to a loss
of more than 1% per year within
period specified by MS
OR
more than 10% below favourable
reference range
DEFINITION
= spatial limits within which the species occurs, includes
permanent occurrences + migration routes (not
vagrant/occasional occurrences)

Dynamic concept, range can:


decrease
expand (naturally, or due to reintroduction/restoration)
MAPS
DISTRIBUTION MAP

The distribution map should provide information about
the actual occurrences of the habitat type or species

It is based on the results of a comprehensive national
mapping or inventory of the habitats and species
wherever possible
RANGE MAP
Format of data defined by INSPIRE guidelines:

Grid format

10 x 10 km ETRS 89 grid cells in the ETRS LAEA 52 10
projection (EPGS code: 3035). Only for some species widely ranging but poorly known (i.e. Cetacens) - maps
of 50 x 50 km
REFERENCE GRIDS (EXAMPLE OF HR)
Terrestrial – 828 grid cells
(further devided in
biogeographical regions)
DISTRIBUTION X RANGE
Example: Italy
DISTRIBUTION X RANGE (CZ)
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
range
distribution
POPULATION
CONSERVATION STATUS
Population
Favourable
('green')
Population(s) not lower than
‘favourable reference population’
AND reproduction, mortality and
age structure not deviating from
normal (if data available)
Unfavourable - Bad
('red')
Large decline: Equivalent to a loss
of more than 1% per year
(indicative value MS may deviate
from if duly justified) within period
specified by MS AND below
'favourable reference population'
OR
More than 25% below favourable
reference population
OR
Reproduction, mortality and age
structure strongly deviating from
normal (if data available)
POPULATION SIZE
It should be possible to report the population size estimate as:
 number
 range (minimum & maximum)
 class (predefined)
Reporting format gives a possibility to report on problems
encountered to provide population size estimation. This
information will serve the future development of the use of
population units.
TREND X FLUCTUATION

Trend is a directed change of a parameter over time.
Trends should ideally be the result of a regression of a time
series.

Fluctuation (or oscillation) is not a directed change of a
parameter, and therefore fluctuation is not a trend.
POPULATION STRUCTURE

Information on reproduction, mortality and age structure

Unnaturally low recruitment or unnaturally high mortality
would indicate an unfavourable population structure.

The lack of young individuals in many monitored local
populations may also indicate an unfavourable population
structure.
HABITAT FOR
THE SPECIES
CONSERVATION STATUS
Habitat for the
species
Favourable
('green')
Area of habitat is sufficiently
large (and stable or
increasing) AND habitat quality
is suitable for the long term
survival of the species
Unfavourable - Bad
('red')
Area of habitat is clearly not
sufficiently large to ensure the long
term survival of the species
OR
Habitat quality is bad, clearly not
allowing long term survival of the
species
HABITAT FOR THE SPECIES
The reporting format asks for the following:

habitat area

habitat quality

trend

information on data quality

reasons for change

optional: area of suitable habitat for the species
FUTURE PROSPECTS
CONSERVATION STATUS
Future prospects
(as regards to
population, range
and habitat
availability)
Future prospects
(as regards range,
area covered and
specific structures
and functions)
Favourable
('green')
Main pressures and threats to
the species not significant;
species will remain viable on
the long-term
Unfavourable - Bad
('red')
Severe influence of pressures and
threats to the species; very bad
prospects for its future, long-term
viability at risk.
The habitats prospects for its
future are excellent / good, no
significant impact from threats
expected; long-term viability
assured.
The habitats prospects are bad,
severe impact from threats
expected; long-term viability not
assured.
FUTURE PROSPECTS

If the future prospects are not good (e.g. the population of a
species is likely to decrease) then the species/habitat
cannot be at favourable conservation status.

Details not requested in the report – only assessment. The
most subjective component of CS – evaluated using expert
judgement (approach used most often for the 2001-2006
report).
FUTURE TRENDS

Dependent on threats which will have a negative influence
x action plans, conservation measures and other provisions
can have positive influence.

Assessment has to take into account whether positive and
negative influences (threats) will be in balance for the
respective parameter of the habitat type or species under
consideration or whether the one will exceed the other.
ASSESSMENT TABLE
Parameter
Range
Population
Habitat
Future Prospects
Future Trend
Future Status
Prospects
ASSESSMENT TABLE
Examples:
Parameter
Future Trend
Future Status
Prospects
Range
Stable
On
Good
Population
Stable
Above
Good
Habitat
Stable
Above
Good
Future Prospects
Parameter
FV
Future Trend
Future Status
Prospects
Range
Decreasing
Under
Bad
Population
Decreasing
Under
Bad
Habitat
Decreasing
Unknown
Unknown
Future Prospects
U2
Thank you for your attention.