NATURA 2000 vs HUNTING - THREAT OR OPPORTUNITY?

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NATURA 2000 vs HUNTING -THREAT OR OPPORTUNITY?
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NATURA 2000

• GOAL
• Conservation of biodiversity in UE through
• protection of habitats types threanated and/or
  representative
• for designated bioregions
• protection of rare and threanated species of
  plants and animals
• RULE
• Integration of nature conservation with various
  forms of human activities

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NATURA 2000
An idea of the networks is based on

• Traditional conservation measures
• Defined methodology of network designation
• Procedure of network element verification
• Introduction into the network functioning the
  rule of integration
• of nature conservation with various forms of
  human activities

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NATURA 2000

• Stages of designation of NATURA 2000 network
• Elaborating list of sites on a country level
• Identification of sites of a Community
  importance
• Designation of Special Areas of Conservation
  (SAC) Habitat Directive
• Designation of Special Protection Areas (SPA)
  Bird Directive

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BIRD DIRECTIVE

• COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 79/409/EEC on conservation of
  wild birds
• This Directive relates to the conservation of all
  species of naturally occurring birds in the wild
  state in the European territory of the Member
  States to which the Treaty applies.
• It covers
• the protection
• management
• and control of these species
• And lays down rules for their exploitation.

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BIRD DIRECTIVE19 articles 5 annexes
Tasks to conduct for Member States

• Shall take the requisite measures to preserve,
  maintain or re-establish a sufficient diversity
  and area of habitats for all the species of birds
  (article 3).
• The species mentioned in Annex I shall be the
  subject of special conservation measures
  concerning their habitat in order to ensure their
  survival and reproduction in their area of
  distribution (article 4). It means creating
  Special Protection Areas.
• Shall take the requisite measures to establish a
  general system of protection for all species of
  birds (article 5).
• Shall take measures to regulate and control trade
  of birds (article 6).
• Shall take measures that birds hunting does not
  jeopardize conservation efforts in their
  distribution area (article 7).

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BIRD DIRECTIVE
Annex I

• BIRD SPECIES WHICH REQUIRE SPECIAL CONSERVATION
  EFFORTS
• (181 species)
• Threatened species
• Species vulnerable to their habitat changes
• Rare species (small, local populations)

For these species, Member States shall create
Special Protection Areas (SPA)
In Poland we have 124 species from Annex I (69
breeding species).
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HABITAT DIRECTIVE
on the conservation of natural habitats and of
wild fauna and flora (24 articles 6 annexes)
GLÓWNY CEL Utrzymanie róznorodnosci biologicznej
w obrebie terytorium panstw czlonkowskich Unii
Europejskiej (art. 2.1) poprzez ochrone
zagrozonych i rzadkich typów siedlisk
przyrodniczych oraz gatunków zwierzat i roslin
Cele szczególowe - utworzenie sieci Natura 2000
dla ochrony okreslonych typów siedlisk
przyrodniczych oraz siedlisk gatunków (art. 3-11,
zal. I-III) - utworzenie ogólnego systemu ochrony
gatunków (art. 12-16 i 22, zal. IV-VI), za
wyjatkiem ptaków
Uwaga Obecny ksztalt nadaly Dyrektywie
Siedliskowej poprawki wprowadzone dyrektywa
97/62/WE, przystosowujaca do rozwoju technicznego
i naukowego dyrektywe 92/43/EWG
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NATURA 2000 sites in Poland
Ongoing activities
285 sites were selected (180 OSO i 181 SOO)
Area of suggested sites ranges from lt 1 ha to 166
000 ha
Sites covered about 15 country area.
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NATURA 2000 sites in Poland
A network would involve
ALL NATIONAL PARKS
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NATURA 2000 sites in Poland
A network would involve
86 AREAS OF LANDSCAPE PARKS (71 in total or major
parts and 15 in some part)
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NATURA 2000 in Poland
A network would involve
526 nature reserves
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How Natura 2000 network can support currently
existing system of protected areas?

• Considerably increase EFFECTIVELY protected area
  of the country
• Creates opportunity to protect some areas, which
  were disputed for long time
• Creates opportunity to protect some ecosystem
  types to larger extent comparing to current
  situation

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Example - protection of river valleys
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Minuses of Natura 2000

• Controversial lists of species which are objects
  of conservation.
• Controversial idea of favourable conservation
  status of a habitat. What about a natural
  dynamics of habitats?
• Methodology of designing sites is not detailed
  enough.
• Lack of coherency of the network (mainly lack and
  no legal status for ecological corridors)
• Financial constraints (larger areas larger
  costs covered by a country)
• Financial constraints (system of financing within
  a country).

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Share of SAC in EU(data from 2004)
Srednia dla EUR 15 14,3 propozycja
Polska 10,4 ? 3,7
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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (HUNTING) and NATURA 2000
SITES
Starting point for any disussions on
consequencies of establishing a Natura 2000 site
for wildlife management there is a requirement
that using for hunting purposed will not decrease
conservation status of habitats or species for
which a site was established. Underlying
assumption is that if a given site has still
keeps so hight nature values under human use it
would imply that current way of use is fulfilling
requirements to protect habitats and species
Potential threats from wildlife
management/hunting might be direct and indirect.
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• Direct threaths (consequencies of harvesting
  itself and harvest activities)
• harvesting of game species which are objects of
  protection on Natura 2000 sites which might
  negatively influence the species number and
  population structure
• killing (by mistake) individuals from species
  which are objects of protection on Natura 2000
  sites
• frightening animals during hunting (higher level
  of human presence and penetration ove the area)
• - harvesting of game species which make a
  food base for species which are objects of
  protection on Natura 2000 sites.

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• Indirect threaths (consequencies of activities
  aiming at increasing quality of hunting grounds)
  
• - introduction of alien species disturbing
  existing nature ecosystems
• - changing internal structure of habitats

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Harvesting vs protection of Natura 2000 sites In
Poland, there are 18 species of mammals listed in
Annex II of Habitat Directive. However, none of
them is a game species in Poland.
Concerning birds, only 1 species listed in Annex
1 of the Bird Directive is a game species in
Poland (hazel grouse Bonasia bonasa). Species
which require establishing Natura 2000 sites are
not species which require strict (full)
protection. Their survival depends on effective
conservation of their habitats and habitats
should be targets of conservation. So harvesting
of these species is not forbidden, however it
harvesting should be on such a level to maintain
a stable population in a given area.
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Harvesting vs protection of Natura 2000
sites IMPORTANT a species should be carefully
monitored and when a negative trand in number is
found, a respective measures should be taken
(including also limitation and finishing of
harvest). Hazel grouse population in Poland is
in a good shape (ca 70-90 000). So currently,
there are no indicators to stop hunting.
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Harvesting vs Natura 2000 sites Some species
require establishing Special Areas of
Conservation (to protect their habitas), eg.
European beaver, wolf. Currently, they are under
full protection. Several special permits to
kills a certain number of these species are
issued annually, due to economic damages they
cause. In Natura 2000 sites such control
activities will be still possible, under the
condition that populations of these species will
still be maintained in a favourable status. It
would be useful if Special Areas of Conservation
for these species were designated in locations
where there will be small conflicts with human
interests.
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Harvesting vs Natura 2000 sites Killing (by
mistake) individuals from species which are
objects of protection on Natura 2000 sites.
Hunter Ethical Rules Harvest only game
species, shooting protected species is against
ethics. .. Shoot only when you recognized a
game....
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Harvesting vs Natura 2000 sites Frightening
animals during hunting (higher level of human
presence and penetration of the area, shooting,
etc.). It may mainly concern birds in nesting
period. Birds which are frightened too often may
not return to nest finally. Mammals should be
effected to much less extent.
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Harvesting vs Natura 2000 sites Harvesting of
game species which make a food base for species
which are objects of protection on Natura 2000
sites. It may mainly concerns large carnivores
(wolf, lynx). Overhunting red deer and roe deer
in such Natura 2000 sites which will be
designated for their conservation can desrease
the natural prey base for these carnivores. In
such a case a certain limitation of ungulate
harvest might be considered. What we know now
is that roe deer is key prey for the lynx. That
is why roe deer number monitoring can be expected
in sites designated for lynx conservation. If
population too low, harvest will be limited.
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• Increasing quality of hunting grounds vs Natura
  2000 sites
• A major management taks on grounds used for
  hunting is creating good quality habitat and food
  conditions. Especially important is increasing
  quality and quantity of food base.
• Small meadows inside forests. Here, the only
  concern might be of use of pesticides.
• Browsing sites where various species of trees and
  shrubs attactive for ungulates are planted.
  Often, alien species are untortunately used, eg.
  Robinia pseudoaccacia, . sumak octowiec,
  moszeniec poludniowy. .
• Seed sites where tree species producing
  nutritionous seeds are planted (Quercus,
  Aesculus). Often, the North American Quercus
  rubra is used. Alien species will be not allowed,
  only native species.

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• Increasing quality of hunting grounds vs Natura
  2000 sites
• Water habitats better shelter for water fowl.
• Leaving some parts of high grass and reed.
  Planting some trees and shrubs along banks of
  rivers and lakes.
• In ponds and lakes intensively used for fish
  production where plant cover is regularly
  removed, these activities should not be conducted
  in period of bird nesting. Also at this period a
  water level should be maintained on a relatively
  stable level.
• In field habitats maintaing small water bodies
  in a good shape and renaturalisation of larger
  water bodies left after gravel or sand
  exploitation.

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Increasing quality of hunting grounds vs Natura
2000 sites No conflict supplementary winter
feeding of ungulates, limiting number of feral
and stray dogs and cats, introduction of
individuals from captivity (threatened species)
to restitute/restock small natural populations.
Recently, threatenedalso means hares and
partridges. Possible conflict if a negative
impact would be expected for structure of local
native ecosystems, for example due to
introduction of alien species.
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SUMMARY (1) Designation and later operation
Natura 2000 sites should not have any major
effect on wildlife management on these sites.
We can expect same minor changes concerning
allowed hunting seasons - in Poland there is
still allowed some traditional hunting on some
species during reeding season, for example
woodcock males, which is againt a rule of
sustainable use of nature resources - a rule
that hunting should be conducted after a season
of nesting and after period when mathers still
take care for youngs. In Poland season for ducks
is open too early, especially in northern part of
the country where many duck females in the mid of
August still take care for young (still not able
to fly).
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SUMMARY (2) Establishing of Natura 2000 sites can
be even profitable for wildlife management. For
example, promotion of extensive agriculture
should have a positive effect on recover of small
game (hares, partridges) number. These species
require a mosaic structure of fields, high
variability in crop types, and numerous shelters
left (bushes, groups of trees, small bogs and
places with water). Additionally, field
observations by hunters might be an important
supplementary source of knowledge on these sites
and provide monitoring data. Fighting illegal
harvesting (which is an important threat for
several species under protection in Natura 2000
sites) is already an ongoing activity of
hunters. Activity of hunters to restore
populations/species gives hopes for their
participation in future programs of species
restitution and habitat renaturalisation within
Natura 2000 network.