Workshop: Networking and Best Practices for Mediterranean ...ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/... · 26-28 May 2014: A network for Med grasslands is generated… Natura

Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process

Mediterranean Region

Grasslands Networking Group


Workshop: Networking and Best Practices for Mediterranean Grassland Habitat Types

Prespa, 29 – 30 May 2015

An intro for Grasslands Networking Group Michael Vrahnakis

1st Technical Workshop: Prespa, 29 – 30 May 2015




Grasslands…

….ground covered by vegetation dominated by grasses, with little or no tree cover





Grasslands…


…“land covered with herbaceous plants with less than 10 % tree and shrub cover” (UNESCO)





Grasslands…


…“land covered with herbaceous plants with less than 10 % tree and shrub cover” (UNESCO)

grasslands (s.l.) are among the largest habitat type in the world; their area is estimated at 52.5 Mkm2, or 40.5% of the Earth’s landmass (FAO)





European grassland habitat types

1. Int. Manual of EU HTs – EUR 28 lists today 32 European grassland habitat types (HTs) (13 being priority HTs)

2. The total grassland area in the EU

has decreased by 13% from 1990 to 2003

3. Threats are natural and anthropogenic





Mediterranean grassland resources

1993






1993

2013






1993

2013





Ring the bell….





and do networking….

do ex-change and change!


26-28 May 2014: A network for Med grasslands is generated…




Coastal HTs

Grassland HTs

Freshwater & wetland HTs

Forest HTs


26-28 May 2014: A network for Med grasslands is generated…




1. Aim of N-2000-BP is to promote the exchange in experiences and best practises which helps to attaining favourable conservation status for habitats and species

2. With Natura 2000 there is a network of areas. There is need to also have a network of people.





Outcome of Thessaloniki’s seminar





Actions (engagements) needed

1. Engagement 1: guidance document farming and Natura 2000

2. Engagement 2: share knowledge on monitoring

3. Engagement 3: networking for grassland management

4. Engagement 4: networking for best-practices

5. Engagement 5: technical workshops on management

6. Engagement 6: project application under IPA (Interreg)





Engagement 3: networking for grassland management

Who? Dr. Jenny Calabrese, Dr. Domingos Leitão, Mr. Kyriakos Skordas, Dr. Michael Vrahnakis

Why? • To share ideas on how to achieve conservation results in grassland areas • To show success stories to stakeholders and wider public

How? Actions

1. Produce a document introducing need of networking on grassland management 2. Post document on the Natura 2000 Platform and discuss it in local forums and

groups, like the Grassland Symposium in Greece 3. Create a discussion group (email group) to share success cases in grassland

management. Members of this group will come from scientific institutions, administration bodies, NGOs and other relevant

4. Propose practical activities to EC to be funded by EU programs. These activities aim to show success cases in Natura 2000 management and gains to local communities

Timing Action 1 will start now and action 2 will start next September. Action 3 will be developed until the end of 2014. Action 4 must be planned for 2015.


Documents

Workshop: Networking and Best Practices for Mediterranean ...ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/... · 26-28 May 2014: A network for Med grasslands is generated… Natura