Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process Mediterranean Region...

Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process – Mediterranean Region

Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000

Parc naturel regional du Luberon, Monday, 9 to Wednesday, 11 May 2016

Workshop Report

An initiative of the

Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000, 9 to 11 May 2016 - Workshop report 2

ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation, Final version 26 July 2016

Prepared by: ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation (NL)

Authors: Astrid van Hemert, ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation

Neil McIntosch, ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation

With contribution of: Sophie Bourlon, Parc Naturel Regional du Luberon, France

Ludovic Le Maresquier, European Commission

Copyright: © European Union, 2016

Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.

Funding: European Commission as part of contract number

07.0307/2012/60517/SER/B.3. Disclaimer: The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinion of

the European Commission, nor is the European Commission responsible for any use that might be made of information appearing herein.



Contents

1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4

2 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 4

2.1 Day 1 - Introductory presentations ...................................................................................................... 4

2.2 Day 2 – Field trip .................................................................................................................................. 5

2.3 Day 3 - Break out group presentations ................................................................................................ 6

3 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 13



1 Introduction

This document presents the main outcomes from the Mediterranean forest management and

Natura 2000 workshop organized in the context of the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process. This

workshop was a follow-up event identified during the Mediterranean Biogeographical Kick-off

Seminar, which was held in Thessaloniki, Greece in May 2014.

The workshop addressed current issues in Mediterranean forest management, focusing in

particular on integrated management approaches, benefiting both forestry and nature

conservation. The participants presented examples of approaches applied in the implementation of

Natura 2000, shared project results and management experiences, and discussed strategies and

good practices that could contribute to the improved conservation and restoration of ecological

networks in Mediterranean managed forests.

The workshop was hosted and organized by the Luberon Regional Nature Park in France, from 9 to

11 May 2016, with support from ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation. Forty-five

experts (researchers, private and public forest owners, foresters and nature policy officers)

attended the workshop from 7 countries: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, as well as the

Netherlands and Belgium.

2 Executive Summary

The three main objectives of this 3-day event were:

1. To share what we know on the ecology of the Mediterranean forests located in Natura 2000

sites;

2. To present the tools that are used to understand, assess, and promote Mediterranean forests’

biodiversity; and,

3. To exchange practical management experiences and success stories.

2.1 Day 1 - Introductory presentations

On the first day, the challenges and threats of two examples were provided by representatives from

Luberon Regional Nature Park.

The workshop was opened by Ms Jacqueline Combe, President of Natura 2000 sites and of the

Biodiversity Committee and Natural areas of the Luberon Regional Nature Park. She addressed the

three main objectives of this 3-day workshop as stated in the executive summary.

Dr Jacques Blondel, Director of Research Emeritus at the Centre of Functional and Evolutionary

Ecology (CNRS) in Montpellier explained in detail how to keep biodiversity in Mediterranean

forests through scales of space and time. See this presentation.

Dr Thierry Gauquelin, Doctor of Science of the Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Marine

and Continental Ecology (CNRS) and Professor of Functional ecology at the Aix-Marseille University,

explained the threats and challenges for Mediterranean forests and used the Regional Natural Parc

of the Luberon as example. See this presentation.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/documents/mediterranean_old_forests/day1/scal_med_biod_inspace_time_blondel_cnrs_en.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/documents/mediterranean_old_forests/day1/chall-threats_for_medforests_gauquelin_imbe_en.pdf



The main threats identified arise from:

1. Climate Change;

2. Fragmentation;

3. New forest use demands (timber, wood fuel, recreational activities), and;

4. Invasive species.

This presentation was followed by a note of thanks from Mr Ludovic Le Maresquier, Nature Policy

Officer at DG ENV at the European Commission. He expressed sincere gratitude to the host for

their organisation of this workshop and gave a brief presentation on what the Natura 2000

Biogeographical Process is in terms of goal, organisation and expectations. The Process is made for

and by the Member States and its primary aim is to help them to achieve the 2020 Biodiversity

Strategy targets, in particular Target 1.

Ms Sophie Bourlon, Natura 2000 Project Manager at the Luberon Regional Nature Park, introduced

the field trip to the participants. (This field trip took place on the second day of the programme.)

Her presentation highlighted several actions which are taken to maintain and restore the Luberon

Forest’s biodiversity, in particular related to Natura 2000. Other actions were shown and discussed

‘on the ground’ during the field trip of the Luberon Park and the Mont-Ventoux.

2.2 Day 2 – Field trip

The field trip on day two was used to enable participants to see two examples of Mediterranean

public forest management (with the French National Forestry Office (ONF)) and one example of

management of a private forest, with several owners grouped on one specific property. Each site

visited includes networks of old-growth forests and are included in the Natura 2000 network for

biodiversity conservation in the Luberon Regional Nature Park and Mont-Ventoux UNESCO

Biosphere Reserve.

The first phase to define these networks in the Luberon consisted of mapping ancient forest and

forests of high biodiversity value. Scientists have demonstrated that a forest’s ancientness has an

influence on its biodiversity (no matter what method of management is used). The high

biodiversity value forests are classified according to their importance in the retention of old-growth

features, for example ancient solitary trees, and according to the WWF’s assessment tool to assess

degree of naturalness. The second phase to define and implement these networks, in both the

Luberon and Mount Ventoux, involved a theoretical framework approach establishing ecological

corridors at three scales:

1. Large scale (mountain range); area from 10 to more than 100 ha;

2. Forest scale; conservation of ‘senescence islands’; area from 1 to 10 ha; and

3. Plot scale; trees of ecological interest; at least 5 trees per ha.

Both phases required and depended on establishing positive contact with landowners. The French

Mediterranean Forest Natura 2000 contract for trees of ecological interest and senescence islands

conservation were applied as a single tool to implement this network. Today in the Luberon and

Ventoux forests, 22.2 ha are managed under such contracts and 12.1 ha are still in the project

phase. Their designation is continuing as part of the operational forest management.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/documents/mediterranean_old_forests/day1/actions_to_maintain_and_restore_luberonforestbiod_en.pdf



In public forests, the ecological network is established together with the National Forestry Office

(ONF), in particular in two strict reserves in the Luberon (915 ha) and in the Ventoux (906 ha), and

also in private forests with owners and the Regional Centre for Private Forests.

During the field trip, the participants were divided in working groups, first to describe the trees of

ecological interest, and second to apply an inventory method by using a quick naturalness

assessment tool developed by WWF. This tool improves the drawing-up of inventories and the

determination of appropriate management measures which may be used.

Knowledge Market

The Knowledge Market took place at the end of Day 2, where 11 posters were presented from

various managed forest projects from France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

This resulted in a lively exchange of information about the management of Mediterranean forests

and options for possible future networking between the different European countries.

The posters presented during the Knowledge Market can be viewed on the Natura 2000 Platform.

2.3 Day 3 - Break out group presentations

The programme on day three consisted of three thematic break-out groups. Each included two 15

minute case study presentations in each group. Per Group, the case studies, drawn from five

different European managed forests, presented concrete examples as follows:

Group 1 The state of scientific knowledge and knowledge gaps concerning ecological connectivity,

in particular networks of old growth forests in the Mediterranean region;

Group 2 Strategies for the implementation and monitoring of old growth forest networks in the

Mediterranean region;

Group 3 Forest management to preserve biodiversity.

At the end of day 3, the groups were able to:

Identify common threats affecting Mediterranean forest habitat types

Discuss and identify appropriate conservation objectives

Identify practical steps to implement conservation measures

Discuss the main barriers and challenges involved in implementation

The following tables summarise the themes discussed in each of the three working groups, group

participants’ observations from the site visits, the main barriers and challenges identified in

practical management for ancient forests and the scope for future cooperation in the form of

possible solutions.

The presentations with more detailed information can be viewed on the Natura 2000 Platform.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/events/events-upcoming/255_workshop_on_ecological_connectivity_in_mediterranean_forests_en.htm



Working group – theme Field trip conclusions Barriers and challenges Solutions

1. The state of scientific

knowledge and knowledge

gaps concerning ecological

connectivity, in particular

old-growth networks, in

Mediterranean forests

Adaptive management is necessary to take

into account the needs and specific

circumstances of each site.

There is much value and continuous need to

ensure that the importance of education is

prioritized.

Old-growth forests are a new subject to

discuss.

Links and connectivities between countries

are essential, and networking is a valuable

means to share experiences and gain new

knowledge.

It is important to keep the history of each site

in mind.

Lack of knowledge

Lack of education and appropriate

communication particularly targeting

students, foresters, schools and

municipalities.

There is no Mediterranean vision on

old growth forests

To be effective, education and

communication approaches, including

language, must be adapted for

different target audiences.

There is a need to improve social

knowledge and awareness amongst

respective forest actors, including

those with management

responsibilities.

A European data-base for old growth

forests would be useful.

Networking and maintaining contact

between relevant actors are vital – it is

essential to keep this workshop group

alive and seek to extend the contacts

established by, for example, inviting

the involvement in Medforval.

2. Strategies for the

implementation and

monitoring of old growth

forest networks in the

Mediterranean region

In Spain, the value of networking is recognized,

where experiences can be shared amongst

those working on similar sites and issues – for

example, networking is used to identify

common issues, exchange information and

practical experiences, especially in the

application of management tools, and also

experiences of working with private owners

with Natura 2000 contracts. Often, it is difficult

to convince owners to conserve their forest and

find funds. Training could be a solution.

Climate change: adapting forests or

adapting forestry practices?

Increase of timber extraction

Forest fires

Deer grazing

Foresters old habits (link with

education)

Lack of efficient legal measures (5% of

un-managed forests have to be

designed for old-growth forests)

Lack of knowledge about location and

Network of old growth forests at 3

different scales

Improving forest management

(deadwood, interesting trees)

Knowledge and monitoring

Tools to protect the network: reserves,

retention islands, Natura 2000

contracts, etc. (France)

In some cases, non specific measures

can be useful, as applied in Spain –

here, the approach is to develop



The EC has established a guide on financing

Natura 2000 in 2014

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natur

a2000/financing/index_en.htm)

to help MS and stakeholders to mobilise

European funds for Natura 2000. This is

available in different languages. In applying

these guidelines, one key issue relates to the

form of local governance approach that is

applied and which needs, together with the

national level, to structure Natura 2000 policy in

order to give clear rules to people on the ground

about how they can mobilise those funds.

In France, it was observed that Natura 2000

funds were available for quite some time and

the Luberon Regional National Park is able to

demonstrate valuable experience about ways to

use these funds. However, in other areas in

France, there is still a challenge which relates to

how best to use the funds. Private owners are

not always paid in time and, often, there are

long administration processes involved which

limit access to funds and create an

administrative burden.

interest

general measures for good forest

management practices, rather than for

specific conservation objectives. The

end goal is to improve the general

conservation condition of sites.

France: effective Dialogue with

foresters and owners

Spain: apart from sharing management

experiences and gaining new

knowledge, networking can also be

used as educational tool.

3. Forest management to

preserve biodiversity

Quick naturalness assessment tool presented by

Daniel Vallauri (WWF)

Lack of knowledge to define priorities

and actions

Prioritization of actions for funding by

States should be reviewed and

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/financing/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/financing/index_en.htm



The following points reflect the feedback from

and observations by participants about this

tool:

It is an interesting tool, but care should be

taken when forming opinion based on this

quick assessment;

It is useful and can be applicable to most of

the countries;

There is a need to involve private owners and

public communities, in particular to factor in

the social and economic return dimensions:

also, there is a need to reflect social value for

the government / state;

There may be options to pay owners to fund

actions (e.g. aging patches);

There is value in developing common

objectives from different owners.

Lack of tools to take forests into

account in urbanism plans

Lack of coordination between biomass

projects

Lack of funding/ unequal distribution

of funding

Administrative and technical

regulations

Lack of association or exchange of

information among private owners

Lack of ecological links between the

sites

Absence of site specific management

options

improved

There should be more obvious and

better information for the forests

e.g. portals gathering information in

local languages

Improve information exchange on

forests; inventory of private and public

forests

Create a regulation to share

information with Natura 2000

managers (e.g. potential for

conservation)

Working Group Differences in the Management of the Mediterranean forests, its challenges and solutions

1. The state of scientific

knowledge and knowledge

gaps concerning ecological

connectivity, in particular

old-growth networks, in

Mediterranean forests

THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

The objective of the study “Assessing the Relevance of the forest Mediterranean habitats of NATURA 2000 Network in Iberian Peninsula

is to assess the relevance of the Iberian forest habitats according with the new methodology developed. The study area was the Natura

2000 Network, focusing in the Iberian Peninsula. The data were the ones available in the European Environmental Agency in Sept 2013.

The conclusions of this assessment are that:

Habitats with highest relevance index correspond to rare habitats or to highly represented in a region, as in the Iberian Peninsula

case ;

The relevance index is a helpful tool to identify on which we have greater responsibility, providing information to regions and Natura



2000 management boards;

The output of this index can support the monitoring/assessment of Natura 2000 habitats ;

To funding projects: priority status is important for conservation planning;

Also relevance index can be considered to support management and financial decisions;

It is important to improve the knowledge of habitat status. Also the National Forest Inventory of each region can be a helpful tool to

provide data to characterise and update the current status of the habitats.

2. Strategies for the

implementation and

monitoring of old growth

forest networks in the

Mediterranean region

FRANCE

There are differences between regions: for example, in the Cévennes National Park in France there are no Natura 2000 contracts used in

the state public forests. The initiative in private forests is though of great interest and can be flexibly applied in different sites – for

example, management approaches and protocols for old growth forests can be simplified for some criteria, such as factors to determine

maturity.

In the Regional Natural Park Ballons des Vosges, there is only 3% of private forest, and they mainly work with ONF. High time

investments are required in developing relationships with local stakeholders – for example, there is a need to convince local

communities not to cut timber in certain areas where hunting is popular.

SPAIN

In Spain, the tool applied is similar to that of WWF, but is adapted - it is simplified, shorter, and questions are easier. Whilst this helps

with the application of the tool, there are other constraints, including limits of time for Spanish rangers.

In the Bioma Forestal in Spain, one particular challenge identified stems from too much importance being attached to money. For

example, in the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Range, there has to be 5% minimum of the surface in free evolution,

without money back, in private or public forest. This is a law and sometimes the problem is that this surface area might occur in a region

where conservation is not prioritised (for example, rocky or barren land, or public spaces.

It was noted that the challenge of managing competing priorities is also experienced in France by ONF.

The view of the EC is that it is important that Natura 2000 helps to change practices in order to maintain or, where appropriate, improve

the conservation status of the habitats and species of community interest. Funding can be one means to help convince people to change

their habits, but is not necessarily the only means to ensure effective engagement and involvement in nature conservation management.



3. Forest management to

preserve biodiversity

GREECE

The following projects provide useful best practice examples of integrated forest management in Greece:

1. Prespa: restoration of juniper habitat - goats to control broadleaf species

2. Nestos: restoration of riparian forest – connectivity, local species

3. Parnonas: restoration after fires – work from surviving areas

About 65% of Greek forests are owned by the state, with the rest owned by municipalities, the church and other private owners. Forest

management is supervised by the Greek Forest Service (GFS). With minor differences, all forests are managed under the principles of

natural forestry. Non-state owned forests may use coppice management more intensively. Biodiversity is not in the core of management

planning; within Natura 2000 sites (SCI & SPA) some measures may be applied: (e.g. more mature trees are retained, no logging around

trees used by birds of prey for nesting etc.).

The main management challenges of the Prespa’s Juniper Forests include:

High competitive broadleaved species, which suppress junipers and prevent natural regeneration.

Increased risk of crown fires due to high amounts of biomass and very dense stands.

Reduction of available habitats of rare, endemic and threatened plant species.

Loss of a key element of Prespa’s natural heritage and regional identity.

Nestos delta riparian forest was about 10.000 ha in 1928: by 2005, less than 150 ha remain, scattered in patches of the ancient forest.

Clearances for agriculture uses and poplar plantations were the main factors contributing to this reduction in area. However, from 2005

to 2009, more than 280 ha have been restored using funding from EEA Grants: former poplar plantations have been re-populated with

native species and also with a view to restoring ecological connectivity.

During the Summer of 2007, Parnonas black pine forests suffered greatly from mega forest fires which affected large areas of the

habitat types *9530 and 9540. Black pine forests (priority habitat type 9530) are particularly vulnerable to wild fires because they are not

serotinous and during the summer their seeds are immature. Utilising LIFE and EEA grants, more than 500 ha, an area greater than 50%

of the burnt forest of Mount Parnonas, was restored.



The advantages of this restoration project are that:

Forest authorities committed their involvement financially, and also by providing access to relevant expertise and experience;

Strong and lasting partnerships between public administration and scientific institutes resulted, which are yielding clear and long-

term benefits;

Low maintenance management regimes were also considered as options following interventions.

The shortcomings of this restoration project include:

That there has been generally very slow integration of results into official guidance;

Exchange of experience and good practices between different forest management units could have been improved;

Limits of funding.

ITALY

This project focuses on the resilience of forests against climate change in Italy, in particular Sicily. Sicily has 258,502 hectares of high

forests and is one of the Italian regions with a lower coefficient of woodiness. It is known that historically forested areas were wider,

forest areas continuing to be lost until the beginning of the last century: at that point, this trend stopped and huge investments were

made to re-forest wide cleared areas. However, the regional forests are at risk of degradation due to the increasing occurrence of forest

fires and exposure to climate change impacts.

This project aims to identify new forest practices in order to promote the ecological resilience of forest communities in Sicily threatened

by risk of desertification. A specific objective is to implement a regional forest policy which is able to increase the resilience of forests in

Sicily, by improving ecosystem efficiency and promoting forest biodiversity conservation.

Identified examples of good management practices include:

The importance of mixing native species, whilst taking steps to eliminate (and prevent) alien species

Measures that restore ecological connectivity

A mixed approach to timber removal, which need not be systematic – according to specific sites and their conditions, this can

involve removal of only some branches in certain areas, entire trees in other areas, or no removal at all in other areas.

The most important challenge is reconciling preventative actions to be taken and the strict regulations that cover the national parks.


13 Mediterranean forest management and Natura 2000, 9 to 11 May 2016 - Workshop report 13

3 Conclusions

This highly successful workshop was made possible due to the significant local support provided by the hosts

and the tremendous site visits. Also the programme was developed to benefit from the excellent

presentations from the five Mediterranean countries participating. These provided valuable insights to the

challenges, barriers and solutions involved in old forest management in Natura 2000 sites in the following

regions/countries:

1. Luberon Regional Nature Park, France 2. Mont-Ventoux Regional Nature Park, France 3. The Iberian Peninsula

4. The Spanish forests

5. The Cévennes National Park, France

6. The Greek forests

7. The Sicilian forests

These presentations made during the workshop are available on the Natura 2000 platform. Also, details of

the Knowledge Market and the various case studies can be seen from the Platform.

The pictures have been made during the workshop


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