Daniel Baláž, Ján Černecký

State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic

Nature Conservation and River Monitoring in Slovakia

– Common points, ovelapping issues – Slovak experiences

Synergies between the Water Framework Directive and the Nature Directives

Monitoring of surface water status, groundwater status and protected areas1. Member States shall ensure the establishment of programmes for the monitoring of water status in order to establish a coherent and comprehensive overview of waterstatus within each river basin district:. for surface waters such programmes shall cover:(i) the volume and level or rate of flow to the extentrelevant for ecological and chemical status andecological potential, and(ii) the ecological and chemical status and ecologicalpotential;. for groundwaters such programmes shall cover monitoring of the chemical and quantitative status,. for protected areas the above programmes shall besupplemented by those specifications contained inCommunity legislation under which the individualprotected areas have been established.

Monitoring – Water framework directive

Article 11

• Member States shall undertake surveillance of the conservation status of the natural habitats and species referred to in Article 2 with particular regard to priority natural habitat types and priority species.

Article 17

• 1.  Every six years from the date of expiry of the period laid down in Article 23, Member States shall draw up a report on the implementation of the measures taken under this Directive. This report shall include in particular information concerning the conservation measures referred to in Article 6 (1) as well as evaluation of the impact of those measures on the conservation status of the natural habitat types of Annex I and the species in Annex II and the main results of the surveillance referred to in Article 11. The report, in accordance with the format established by the committee, shall be forwarded to the Commission and made accessible to the public.

Monitoring and reporting – FCS assessment in Habitat directive

Article 11

• Member States shall see that any introduction of species of bird which do not occur naturally in the wild state in the European territory of the Member States does not prejudice the local flora and fauna. In this connection they shall consult the Commission.

Article 12 • 1. Member States shall forward to the Commission every three years,

starting from 7 April 1981, a report on the implementation of national provisions taken under this Directive.

Monitoring and reporting – FCS assessment in Birds directive

• Water Framework Directive

6 year monitoringperiod for some atributes

• Water Act 364/2004 Coll of.

Coll of Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic 221/2005 monitoring:

• a) primary, • b) operating, • c) surveying, • d) protected areas

SHMI, WRI - PMS Water

Management plans in the catchment areas

• The Habitats Directive

6 year monitoringand reportingperiod

• Act on Nature and Landscape Protection Act 543/2002 of.

Monitoring of the status of species and habitats of European importance

SNC SR - PMS Biota

Management plans for SCI`s

Monitoring and reporting in the directives

• The BirdsDirective

6 year monitoringand reportingperiod

• Act on Nature and Landscape Protection Act 543/2002 of.

Monitoring of the status of all birds naturaly occuring in territory of MS

SNC SR - PMS Biota

Management plans for SPA`s

Responsible for implementing and executing the 3 directives:

Ministry of Environment of the Sovak Republic

Expert organizations dealing with the directives practically:

Habitats and Birds directive: State nature conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SNC SR)

Water framework directive: State hydrometeorogical institut (SHMI) and Water research institut (WRI)

Organizational structure for implementing HD, BD and WFD in the SLovak Republic

COMPLETED:

Collaboration to define the register of protected areasHanding GIS layer of protected areas of national and European importance (Natura 2000) and Ramsar sites and identification of river and wetland conservation areas.

Cooperation in selecting reference sites (unaffected by anthropogenic sites on surface flows) - GIS layers and additional description in terms of potential influencing factors.

Drafting of the monitoring of protected areas (for aquatic animals, plants and habitats of European importance).

Commenting methodology for monitoring groundwater and surface water.

Participation, presentation and contribution in the seminars dedicated to the Water Framework Directive

Meetings of the Section of nature and the Division of Waters from Ministry of Environment, SNC SR and SVP, SNC SR and SHMI.

SNC SR activities with the water management bodies in relation to the Water Framework Directive

2 version of monitoring proposed:

Initiative for common joint monitoring programme

Optimal Reduced

Fish – 24 species

Coleoptera – 2 species

Crustacea – 2 species

Annelida – 1 species

Mammalia – 2 species

Mollusca – 6 species

Odonata – 7 species

Reptilia – 2 species

Plants – 2 species

Habitats – 8 types

Fish – 24 species

Coleoptera – 2 species

Crustacea – 2 species

Mammalia – 2 species

EXPECTED:

Completion of the monitoring methodology and cooperation in its implementation (fish, aquatic habitats).

Cooperation in the preliminary identification of major water management problems - related to surface water, groundwater and protected areas

Collaboration in the preparation of a "catalog of measures."

Cooperation in the development of river basin plans and management plans for Natura 2000 sites. Their reconciliation.

Cooperation in the program of revitalization of river systems.

SNC SR activities with the water management bodies in relation to the Water Framework Directive

Management disproportion in reality – legal measures

Small hydro - power plants

Illegal activities

Opportunities

- 382 382 ppSCIsSCIs- 11.7 % coverage of 11.7 % coverage of SlovakiaSlovakia (571 305 ha)(571 305 ha)- 86 % overlap with already - 86 % overlap with already existing national network of existing national network of protected areasprotected areas

April 2004 - national list of pSCIs submitted to EC

- 97 additional sites (11 985 ha) – 0.2 % of Slovakia - in April to July 2011 were the subject of negotiations with the land owners/users - on August 30th, 2011 approved by the Government of SR- on November 2nd, 2011 final update SDF sent to EC

68 free standing sites (6 228 ha) 29 enlarged sites (5 761 ha) average size of 1 site is 123 ha

2011 - approved enlargement of the national list of SCIs

Proposed additional pSCIs

2013 - proposed enlargement of the national list of SCIs

Thank you for your attention