Panel of Experts on the Future of the Natura 2000 Network and the Biodiversity Strategy in Europe

September 6, 2022 (Via: ZOOM)

Interesting presentations, discussion and resolution of doubts

PART 1 (FULL VIDEO PANELISTS)

PART 2 (QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION)

The public participation in the design and management of the Natura 2000 Network, pillar of European biodiversity policy, is undoubtedly generating great interest among both policy makers and the various social and economic sectors, as was evident in our Panel of Experts held on September 6, which marked the start of our Foundation's activities.

Funpasos was created with the aim of serving society as a tool for articulating this demand for participation and integration of society in the sustainability strategies that are undoubtedly shaping the present and immediate future of the European Union.

Interventions

OPENING

President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara

As representative of one of the autonomous communities that contributes the most territory to the Natura 2000 network in Spain, and with well-known cases of conflicts in reconciling the extraordinary conservation of its natural resources with certain economic activities, the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura advocated for the necessary involvement of society in the management of the Natura 2000 network and for its essential compatibility with social and economic development.

PANELIST #1

Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán
«El Plan de Recuperación y Resiliencia de España destina 1.642 millones de euros a actuaciones para la conservación de los ecosistemas, que incluye la mejora del conocimiento, la digitalización de la biodiversidad o la restauración de ecosistemas y fomento de la infraestructura verde».
He also emphasized that we cannot achieve this without relying on science and research and without the cooperation of society.

PANELIST #2

Spanish Member of the European Parliament on the Committee on the Environment,César Luena

César highlighted the necessary work of raising awareness and knowledge among citizens about the benefits of ecosystem conservation and the Natura 2000 Network.

As the rapporteur for the aforementioned proposal, he announced that public participation will be regulated in this future legislation, as the Birds and Habitats Directives (the two European regulations governing Natura 2000) did not originally provide for this.

PANELIST #3

Spanish Member of the European Parliament on the Committee on the Environment, Soraya Rodríguez

She mentions that the European Commission itself has repeatedly acknowledged that one of the reasons (if not the main one) why this Ecological Network has not delivered all the expected benefits for biodiversity and has not been accepted as beneficial by society as a whole is precisely the lack of public participation in the designation and management of the sites included in it.

PANELIST #4

Director of the European Parliament Office in Spain, María Andrés
She conveyed a message of hope regarding the fruits being borne by the various public participation tools offered by community institutions to citizens. It is precisely issues related to sustainability and access to natural resources that have led to the greatest milestones in terms of participation and real results in European policies.

PANELIST #5

Professor at the University of Extremadura and Representative of Civil Society, Julián Mora Aliseda

He points out that, for years, there has been a demand for greater participation by society and traditional knowledge from local communities in the design of environmental and land use policies. Excessive protectionism that ignores the needs of the inhabitants of the territory leads to abandonment, depopulation and, ultimately, a reversal of conservation objectives.

PANELIST #6

Director of the Global Nature Foundation, Eduardo de Miguel

Eduardo highlighted the essential role of these actors in managing Natura 2000 sites as a tool for ensuring that the network is seen as an asset for their territories. He said that the people living in protected areas are proud of these spaces. The problem is not their designation, but how they are managed. The future of our rural areas, our livestock farming, and our agriculture depends on differentiation and on our appreciation (and payment) of the value of conservation.

CONCLUSIONS

The European and Spanish society demands greater protection for its natural resources and values the services provided by ecosystems..

At the same time, it demands to be taken into account when designing the policies and regulations necessary to achieve this. Society feels part of the challenge of conserving our biodiversity and making it compatible with social and economic development.