Second webinar on the Habitats Directive

About

Around 90 participants attended the second webinar on the requirements of the Habitat Directive in projects, organised in cooperation with DG REGIO and DG ENVIRONMENT on 29 September 2020. This webinar is part of a series of trainings on the Habitats Directive and project preparation. 

The Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive form the backbone of biodiversity policy and the legal basis for our nature protection network. The aim of the Natura 2000 network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats, listed under both directives.  Projects need to be developed respecting the sites’ integrity.

The first training was delivered with the format of a workshop in December 2019 and the second training as webinar held in June 2020.

 

Target audience

The webinar targeted Managing Authorities in Member States, as well as relevant Environmental Authorities and Project Promoters.

 

Objectives

Panellists from DG REGIO, DG ENVIRONMENT and JASPERS brought to the participants’ attention the key requirements under of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive) in the context of Major Projects’ preparation. A Member States’ experience in setting up Site-specific conservation objectives was presented by a representative of the Romanian National Agency for Natural Protected Areas.

The presentations focused on the importance of Site-specific conservation objectives (SSCO), including setting up of SSCO, undertaking Appropriate Assessment (AA) in view of the SSCO and the necessary completeness of the Major Project application, including Appendix 1 Declaration, also known as Natura 2000 Declaration. During the presentations, panellist had the opportunity to provide the participants with guidance on how to address gaps and challenges during project preparation in relation to SSCO (e.g. lack of SSCO and/or poor quality of SSCO).

In their opening remarks, the guest speakers emphasized the importance of compliance with the specific requirements of the Habitats Directive as a condition for the approval of Major Projects.

The panellist representing DG REGIO shared knowledge built over the two programming periods (2007 – 2013 and 2014 - 2020) and focused on Part F of Major Projects Application Form, related to the analysis of the project’s impact on environment and assessment of impacts on Natura 2000 sites as well as on Appendix 1 Declaration.

Representatives of DG ENVIRONMENT presented the importance of Site-specific Conservation Objectives under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive, by providing an overview of the legal and operational context, recent developments as well as practical considerations in the establishment of SSCO.  

DG ENVIRONMENT particularly emphasised the importance of close coordination of all stakeholders as well as the identification of timely mitigation measures, and had the opportunity to provide practical guidance through the Q&A session that followed.

JASPERS’ panellist spoke about the importance of the availability of key documents and information and provided a brief overview of the main challenges encountered during project preparation under Article 6.3 of the Habitats Directive in relation to Site-specific Conservation Objectives.

The representative of the National Agency for Natural Protected Areas in Romania presented a case study showing the practical aspects of the compliance with requirements under Article 6.3 of the Habitat Directive, focusing on the close cooperation with DG ENVIRONMENT in the establishment of the methodology for Site Specific Conservation Objectives. Q&A sessions followed each intervention.