FRANCE

The NATURA network in France covers 12.74% of the country’s territory (1 758 protected areas). There are 1364 Site of Community Importance (SCI) zones and 392 Special Protection Areas (SPA) zones in the country. The management of protected areas in France is based on contractual relations with independent operators, controlled by local stakeholder committees. In 1998 the Ministry of the Environment introduced the contractual system for management of Natura 2000 sites. The target management document is equivalent to a management plan and is prepared by a protected area operator. The approval and formalization of the Document are the responsibility of the prefect of the respective area. In most cases, operators appoint a manager of the protected area as a paid expert position. The work done is regularly reported to the Steering Committee under the chairmanship of the Prefect, which includes the main stakeholders. This type of “local forum of nature” has a different composition (average for the country 27 members). In the last century, much of the wetlands in France have been destroyed, putting many plant and animal species under threat of extinction. Among the identified reasons for the negative trends are increased urbanization, drainage activities, extreme climatic events, invasive species and others. In 2010, the French Parliament adopted Law 2010-788 on National Engagement for the Environment. The law confirms details and implements France’s sustainable development goals. Chapter IV of the Biodiversity Act sets out measures to ensure better functioning of ecosystems and restoring ecological water quality.

GERMANY

There are 4557 SCI zones and 742 SPAs in the country, which is a very large number compared to other Member States. On the other hand, many of the proposed sites are small and the total percentage of NATURA network territories cover 15.45% of the territory of the country. In Germany, there is no unified national legislation for planning the management of protected areas, relying heavily on the direct application of European directives. Some of the provinces fully implement the management planning approach. In Saxony, for example, detailed management plans have been prepared for all SCI and SPA zones. Other provinces have adopted a different approach – management plans are only available for NATURA 2000 sites where conflicts may arise or environmental contracts can be introduced as a key tool for the management of protected areas. The competence to protect the wildlife and the environment in Germany is divided between the federal government and the provinces. Types of habitats are protected by rules established in the 1986 amendment to the Federal Nature Conservation Act (1976). It should be borne in mind that federal law allows the provinces to exclude protected habitats when the adverse effects on protected areas can be compensated or where the proposed activity is of greater public interest. Provinces have the right to add a new habitat to the federal list. Over the past 60 years, 57% of the peat soil and marshes in Germany have been destroyed due to drainage and agricultural activities, forestry and urbanization.

GREECE

There are 241 SCI zones and 202 SPA zones in Greece. As a whole, the Natura 2000 network in Greece covers 27.2% of the country’s land territory and 6.1% of its territorial waters, placing Greece on the sixth place in Europe as a percentage of the NATURA 2000 protected area. A National Biodiversity Strategy for the period 2014-2029 was adopted at the end of 2014, with a five-year action plan being developed and approved. In 2011, Law No. 3937 “Biodiversity Act” was adopted, replacing the old regulation of 1986 and provides the legal framework for the protection and management of NATURA 2000 sites. The law aims to modernize and simplify biodiversity conservation procedures. A five-year management plan is foreseen for each area, which is approved by an order of the Minister of the Environment. The management plan shall include a description of the necessary organizational and operational measures for the protection of the zones, specify the conditions and limits for carrying out activities, set out guidelines and priorities for the implementation of projects, activities and measures for the effective protection, management and restoration of the protected areas. An action plan is also being developed for each management plan. Apart from a presidential decree, SPAs can be designated, special environmental studies or reports being developed for their management and conservation. The existing legislation and the new legislation provide for different forms of management of protected areas:

• Establish management bodies for one or more zones that are registered as private legal entities and work under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, which is part of the Ministry of Reconstruction of Production, Environment and Energy since January 2015
• Assigning responsibilities to existing sectoral public administration bodies;
• Establishment of special coordination offices within the centrally designated regional authorities.

The most prominent model is the assignment of governance bodies, which is accompanied by a number of problems – duplication of responsibilities with public administration structures, lack of a stable operational and financial framework. Towards the end of 2014 28 managing bodies have been set up to handle 55 Special Area of Conservation (SACs) and 55 SPAs. Of all protected areas, only two have developed and approved management plans.

The new legislation and strategic framework envisage the establishment of a National System of Protected Areas to replace the governing bodies and other forms of government that currently exist and which fail to prove their effectiveness. The structure and the way of functioning of the National System are still being discussed and, until a final decision is taken, the governing bodies will continue to perform their functions.

POLAND

In Poland, 849 SCI zones and 145 SPA zones are registered, and the Natura 2000 network in Poland covers 20% of the country’s territory. The main authorities responsible for the management of the NATURA 2000 network are the Directorate-General for Environmental Protection and the Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection. Other authorities with important powers are the Directors of the National Plans, the Maritime Administration and the District Forestry Directorates. The responsibilities and powers of individual institutions are defined in the Nature Conservation Act. The Directorate-General monitors the operation of the zones by keeping a record of the data required to ensure the protection of the zones. Monitoring includes the issuing of recommendations and guidelines for the protection and operation of the NATURA 2000 sites, the requirement and definition of the scope of information on the protection and operation of the zones and the control of the implementation of the management plans and the NATURA 2000 conservation plans. Regional directors coordinate the operation of the areas in their area of responsibility and supervise most of the sites. The management of the protected areas, which totally or partially overlap with national parks, is carried out by the respective park administration. The main tools for the management of the NATURA 2000 areas are the Environmental Impact Assessment System and the planning of protection measures. Each NATURA 2000 site must have a planning document in the form of a plan of conservation measures or a management plan. They are developed by regional environmental protection directorates, national parks or maritime administrations. As a whole, negative attitudes to NATURA 2000 prevail in Polish society, which is still perceived as a barrier to the development of local communities (37,38). The reason for these moods is undoubtedly the originally adopted approach of “top” decision-making without effective public consultation and enabling stakeholders to participate actively in decision-making.

SCOTLAND

Scotland has 243 SCI zones and 153 SPA zones. As a whole, the Natura 2000 network in Scotland covers 15% of the country’s territory. Scottish Natural Heritage is a government structure designed to ensure nature conservation and promote sustainable use and management of natural resources. The organization has seven regional structures across the country and provides advice and guidance on the management of protected areas, as well as organizing and supervising and monitoring the management of protected areas. Scotland’s Natural Heritage implements programs to monitor the status of each area. They are monitored to determine if nature conservation interests achieve their intended objectives. Objectives are measurable and objectively verifiable, and if it is found not to be achieved, further studies are undertaken, corrective actions are prescribed, regulatory changes are recommended, All protected areas are included in the monitoring program. Different schemes to finance activities in protected areas are used, as well as compensation for owners, for example through small grants from the Scottish Natural Heritage, funding from the Scottish Rural Development Program, the LIFE Program of the European Union, In some cases, Scotland’s Natural Heritage is authorized to conclude agreements with landowners and landholders and to compensate them for additional costs or lost revenue as a result of the agreed land management program.

MALTA

The Natura 2000 network in the country covers 12.97% (234.00 sq. km) of the island’s territory. 32 SCI zones and 13 SPA zones are registered in Malta. Typical for Malta are the leading role of the specialized administration and the structured process of working with stakeholders at local and national level. Management plans for protected areas are being prepared with extensive public consultations. Stakeholder workshops are held during the collection period separately for each protected area. National and local public events are used: interactive public exhibitions, radio games and roundtables, facilitators to encourage citizens to give their opinions. Following the development of the management plans, a public discussion is taking place on the latest options, which is the official step towards completing the process.