2.5 Survey Responses in the Context of the ETC/NC Projects

Nature Conservation projects on biodiversity assessment

Information contained in the survey that was relevant to the ETC/NC projects MN2 (state and trends of biodiversity in Europe) and MN3 (support to Natura 2000) was evaluated. The analysis is mainly based on answers related to Article 7 of the Convention, complemented as appropriate by those to Articles 6 and 8. However, since the stated aim of this study had been to avoid duplication of work, and, since questions linked to Articles 7 and 8 (monitoring and in situ conservation) had already been sent to the Member Countries of the EEA for the work programme of ETC/NC in 1995, it was agreed not to put detailed questions concerning monitored objects (species, habitats, sites, patterns), nor monitoring objectives and methodologies in the CBD survey.

Concerning the link to project MN2, some information about future national plans and measures will be helpful in updating the EEA Catalogue of Data Sources (CDS). There is currently an ETC/NC project on site-based data collection methodologies, the results from which will prepare a workshop to be held in 1997, on "Indicators for Biodiversity Status and Change". The coherence between the key (target) species mentioned in replies concerning Article 7 and national programmes on monitoring using indicator species has to be established. The question of terms (translation, scientific concepts) has to be stressed again.

Concerning the link to project MN3, seven countries mentioned the Habitats Directive (which establishes the Natura 2000 network) as a national contribution to either Article 7 or 8, or both. Two countries (Norway and Iceland) which are not members of the EU were not concerned. Meanwhile it might be subject to interpretation whether application of the EU Directives would become part of the national implementation of the CBD, since all EU Member States are obliged to apply the Habitats Directive.

This survey has highlighted the fact that the National Focal Points for the CBD and for the EEA are not necessarily the same, and those of the CBD more frequently overlap with the National Reference Centres on Nature Conservation of the EEA Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET). Mutual information held between these parallel networks should be shared, for the benefit of all.