Europes ecological backbone.pdf

Protected areas
Box 9.5 Cantabrian mountains-Pyrenees-Massif Central-Western Alps Initiative (cont.)
There are also positive trends. Protected areas
have significantly increased, due to Natura 2000,
and now cover about 38 % of the Initiative area.
However, the heterogeneity of legal protection
categories, weak integration of sectoral policies,
and insufficient international cooperation undermine
conservation effectiveness. Forest expansion,
cropland reduction, and rural depopulation are
increasing ecological permeability for forest species,
including large mammals. Ungulate reintroduction,
restocking, and population growth provide the
necessary prey for large carnivore recovery,
which is already taking place, for example the
spontaneous expansion of wolf and lynx populations
and the recovery of the Cantabrian brown bear.
Map 9.5
Existing and proposed protected
areas within the Cantabrian
mountains-Pyrenees-Massif
Central-Western Alps Initiative
To identify the geographical scope of the Initiative
and its ecological viability, a GIS-based analysis
was undertaken: 1) delimitation of the mountain
ranges and linkages among them; 2) analysis of
fragmentation processes and man-made barriers
both within the mountain ranges and between
them, identifying critical points; 3) analysis of the
distribution of the existing protected areas coverage
(Map 9.5); 4) a SWOT analysis. The Initiative has
been led by Caixa Catalunya Savings Bank, through
its Social Work Foundation, under the auspices of
Existing and proposed protected areas (PA) within the
Cantabrian Mountains-Pyrenees-Alps Initiative
Existing PAs Natura 2000
the Council of Europe, with support from the IUCN, Europarc Federation, Eurosite, European Commission
DG XI, and Spanish regional and provincial governments. Since 2005, several regional and provincial
governments have adopted ecological connectivity strategies or consistent regional land-use plans,
including sound systems of ecological corridors.
Lessons learned include: the power of 'thinking big', based on bioregional and ecosystem criteria,
overcoming proposals limited by political and administrative barriers; the capabilities of civil society and
private organisations to promote and lead international initiatives followed by both public powers and
private organisations, when key international organisations provide support; the need for a wide multi-scale
and multi-sectoral approach, aimed towards all sectors that may have an impact on ecological connectivity,
avoiding a narrow conservation biology focus. The Initiative provides a framework for promoting new and
stronger cooperation projects at both national and international levels, aimed toward rebuilding a 'green
infrastructure' of continental significance.
Source:
Miquel Rafa and Josep M. Mallarach (Foundation Caixa Catalunya, Spain).
change and protected areas, they must take a
long-term view. This needs to include integrated
management of the wider landscapes including
protected areas (as for example, in the many
biosphere reserves in mountains areas), supported
by better integration across sectors. At the policy
level, adaptation to climate change may imply
more flexible planning mechanisms for classifying,
reclassifying and declassifying protected-area
networks, and updating the species and habitats
classified under the Birds and Habitats Directives
(Araújo, 2009).
186 Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountains