As an initiative of environment agencies from Switzerland, Austria and Germany a new platform was launched: The Environment Observation Conference. More than 20 authorities of 6 nations stand behind it. The 1st resolutions have been published here. The working groups work mainly by electronic means. Since June 2007, the Conference is organised by the Environment Observation and Balance Council (EOBC). The 3rd conference will be in 2008, Berne. To the 4th conference in 2010 - to be held in the ch-de-fr Upper Rhine region - for the first time also participants others than public bodies will be invited. ... [Information of the supplier]
The EuMon project attempts to provide a European framework that standardizes, focuses and coordinates existing monitoring programs by comparing and integrating existing methods and monitoring schemes of species and habitats of community interests. The most successful methods in terms of cost effectiveness, regional robustness will be selected and tested for their European wide applicability. EuMon will pay special attention that existing monitoring programs can incorporate these methods and will give recommendations how new and successful monitoring programs can be established.Special consideration for implementing monitoring programs will be paid by studying the social effects of monitoring regimes, because the relationship between amateurs and professionals are meant to be most important for implementing a successful monitoring regime.The establishing of the NATURA 2000 network is one of the main actions on a European level to halt biodiversity loss. Therefore it is a prerequisite to evaluate its ability to maintain biodiversity. Additionally EuMon will develop methods to name the responsibility of EU Member states for the species and habitats of Community interests living under their protection.A comprehensive database on monitoring schemes and recommended methods will be established and made accessible via an Internet portal. ... [Information of the supplier]
In Germany, the states (Länder) are responsible as a matter of principle for the selection of sites for the NATURA 2000 system of protected areas. Site selection in marine areas was initially only possible within the territorial waters bounded by the 12 nautical mile limit, but not in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, 12-200 nautical miles), in which the sovereign powers of Germany are limited to certain activities. However, the amendment to the German Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz) in April 2002 created the statutory basis for implementing NATURA 2000 in the marine areas of the EEZ: The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety(BMU) and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) are now responsible for site selection, designation and administration of these areas. The BMU and the BfN are promoting an extensive programme of research. The following pages present that programme’s outcomes. These provided an essential decision-making basis for the identification and demarcation of sites of special ecological value in the EEZ of the North and Baltic Seas. ... [Information of the supplier]
