2005 - Communicating the Pan-European Ecological Network - ECNC

Methodological Outline●●●●●A Desk Study of Literature including review of research reports and policy documents, in order to analysethe current policies at an international and a national level that support the concept of a PanEuropean Ecological Network (PEEN). The Desk Study also identified requirements for Communication,Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA), within the policies and policy strategies. The deskstudy is attached as an annex (see Annex II).Interviews in selected countries and at a European level to analyse the implementation and communicationof the ecological network concept including the support for and opposition to ecological networks.Interviews involved policymakers, conservation NGOs, researchers/scientists and also includeda particular focus on non-conservation stakeholders.Analysis of interviews and assessment of the impact of the results on the communication of PEEN.Reassessment and validation of conclusions from Phase I concerning the challenges and opportunities ofPEEN in light of the new information from the desk study report (see Annex II) and the interview analysis.Provision of recommendations for a communication strategy in support of PEEN.Selection of CountriesThe countries for analysis were chosen according to the various regions of Europe that they represent. Afurther criterion was to include EU Member States as well as Non-Member States. Furthermore the countrieswere chosen based upon their known, varied interest and involvement in PEEN and the concept ofnational ecological networks. The differences in national institutional processes and political approachesto nature conservation and planning have also been taken into account in the selection methodology.NetherlandsEstoniaNorwayUnited KingdomGermany (federal structure)GreeceEuropean policymakersNW European country with well developed interest/involvementin ecological networksCentral Eastern European country with a well developedinterest/involvement in ecological networksNordic country with limited to no interest involvementNW European country with a growing interest in (regional)ecological networksNW European country with a growing interest in (regional)ecological networksSouthern European country with limited interest/involvementRepresentation from the European Commission and EU levelnon-conservation stakeholder groups or associations withan interest in ecological networksDesk StudyA framework of analysis was created in order to ensure that the desk study for each selected country andthe international overview provided comparable information. Literature included research reports, formalpolicy documents and more informal documents such as reports or minutes of meetings. The internationaloverview in the desk study identified the main international conventions and European legislation applicableto PEEN, each selected country was then considered to see if it complied to these international andEuropean requirements. The country research then identified national policies that either implementedinternational or European requirements and national policies that implemented national policies specific to57