2005 - Communicating the Pan-European Ecological Network - ECNC

Advisory services and supportIn Greece, a respondent highlighted the fact that for stakeholders groups, such as farmers, there are fewadvisory services or support set up to help them think about alternative futures that involves protectingnature. For example using the Common Agricultural Policy, second pillar funding, to fulfil Natura 2000 obligations.Therefore due to lack of information about Natura 2000 in this country, it is seen as a restraint withno opportunities.Local level support for international policiesOne of the respondents in the Netherlands observed that the attitude of the policymakers of the differentregions can be a constraint to international cooperation, accepting the fact that whilst it may not be thetask of a local authority to get involved in international concepts, the challenge is that their work remainsfocused on the local level with very little interest in the wider international cooperation level, which is neededfor processes like PEEN.Arguments against the ecological network conceptArguments against the concept of ecological networks have been raised on issues such as animal healthor food safety in The Netherlands. For example, one argument is that ecological corridors will spread animaldiseases. Other arguments state that the concept is not viable for an equal balance between economyand ecology or that people do not want wild animals reintroduced back into areas. Arguments existregarding the reintroduction of species, particularly those potentially ‘dangerous’ wild animals. Howeverthis is where the integration of other scientific disciplines, such as the social sciences can help in theimplementation of the ecological network concept.Imposition of an ecological network modelSpecific potential barriers identified for the implementation of ecological networks included commentsabout the imposition of an ecological network model from other countries. For example in the UK it wasthought that if a model of an ecological network is felt to be imposed from the European level then it willbe ineffective in the creation of a network. It is important to realise that whilst all countries can learn frommodels, physical, political and societal structures differ between countries and therefore each countryneed their own model which is built by that country.RegionalisationRegionalisation in countries such as the UK can be seen as a barrier and an opportunity to ecological networks.It is a barrier in respect of biodiversity having a lower level of priority at a regional government levelthan a national level, and therefore with increasing powers at the regional level can mean biodiversity andecological networks taking an even lower priority than it has at present. However it can also be seen asan opportunity in respect of the fact that regionalisation can encourage spatial planning at a regional levelto include ecological networks and this can provide an opportunity for the creation and operationalizationof ecological networks at the ground level.Changes in thinking “traditional conservation approach’’This was an issue highlighted in the UK, and concerns the current perceptions of nature conservation bythe nature conservation sector in Europe. The traditional conservation approach to nature protection isbased upon protection of designated areas. This approach needs to change if it is to encompass the conceptof ecological networks and the wider landscape use approach. Some interviewees in the UK thoughtthat nature conservationists are reluctant to move away from the designated area approach, incase itresults in lesser protection for nature. Concerns also exist in the nature conservation sector regarding theeffect of changing approaches that may mean lack of credibility to policymakers, stakeholders and thepublic. This reflects the fact that nature conservationists are also a target group that need to be involvedfurther in the PEEN concept.Integration of sectors, policies and government departmentsLack of integration of different sectors involved in policies that impact upon the land and nature causesmany problems for nature protection and the concept of ecological networks. This is also reflected by the50