2005 - Communicating the Pan-European Ecological Network - ECNC

In Germany nature conservation by law is a task of the federal states. Accordingly in each of the federalstates initiatives concerning the development of ecological networks have started at different times andhave so far mostly been developed independently. Here the northernmost state, Schleswig-Holstein, hastaken a leading role. There is a requirement for the establishment of a functional ecological network on atleast 15% of its surface area, which has been included in its nature conservation policy for a long timealready. Accordingly plans for ecological networks exist for all of Schleswig-Holstein on various spatialscales and the implementation is making good progress. Another state, Rheinland-Pfalz, also needs to bementioned, because plans for ecological networks covering its entire surface area were developed veryearly on.The new version of the Federal Nature Conservation Act came into force in Germany in April 2002.This included the new article, article 3, which obliges each of the German federal states to assign at least10 % of its surface area to the development of an ecological network. This article also says that the aimsof such a network are mainly functional, i.e. to secure the conservation of species, communities and habitatsas well as the preservation, regeneration and development of functioning ecological interactions. Thisarticle also outlines which functional components and types of sites should or might be part of the ecologicalnetwork, and lists different options of securing these as part of an ecological network.The federal states were obliged to implement this article in their respective nature conservation acts byApril 2005. So far only some of the federal states have achieved this. The federal states are obliged todevelop such ecological networks in a consistent way working together across federal state borders.Although article 3 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act does give an outline of what the goals of theestablishment of ecological networks are, it does not tell in detail how these goals are to be reached.A working group consisting of representatives of the nature conservation agencies of the federal statesand the national agency was formed in order to develop criteria for a consistent implementation of thisarticle. This working group mainly focused upon the development of a system of criteria serving to selectsites that already contribute to an ecological network and sites that are needed in addition and accordinglyshould be developed for this purpose. The working group also commented on which of these sitesshould be considered as part of the 10% of the surface area demanded. Guidance was also providedabout the suitability of different legal means of conservation for securing the long-term functioning of thecomponents of ecological networks.Some of the federal states had already produced maps for ecological networks within their borders beforethis system of criteria was developed. In some cases the designed networks fulfil the criteria quite well,in other cases the networks will need some adaptation.All of these maps have been put together using GIS and serve as a base for a research-project that hasjust started and aims at selecting core areas and ecological corridors of national and international importance.Assessment of policy and legislation in support of PEENThere is clear support for Ecological Networks in German federal law. Implementation of ecological networkstakes place at the ‘Länder’ (federal states) level. There is also strong support for the internationaldimension of the German federal ecological network and it appears that the Bundesamt für Naturschutz(national nature authority) is very active in the identification of new methods of how those actors involvedin implementing the ecological network can cooperate with their international partners.Assessment of legislation and policy in respect CEPA ActivitiesWhilst the CEPA Activities of the Nature Conservation Act were not prescriptive in the review, the text doesindicate that the government are looking at how to involve necessary actors, and more specifically beginningto look at which actors are necessary for cross border cooperation.75