Nature protection: Better methods and knowledge to improve the conservation status of EU-protected species and habitats
Proposals should address Area A or Area B as follows. The Area should be clearly indicated on the application.
Area A: Improving the conservation status of habitats and species protected under the Habitats and/or Birds Directive.
Successful proposals should:
- improve the definition of “favourable conservation status” of groups of habitats and/or species protected under the EU Birds and/or Habitats Directives, provide guidance on how to improve the monitoring of habitats and species and/or the setting of favourable reference values and favourable reference conditions in Member States. The focus of this work should be on data-deficient habitats and species, on habitats and species in the worst status (conservation status and/or EU Red list status), or with declining trends[[ State of Nature in the EU: Results from reporting under the nature directives 2013-2018: State of nature in the EU — European Environment Agency (europa.eu) National summary dashboards - Habitats Directive – Art.17: National summary dashboards - Habitats Directive – Art.17 — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)National summary dashboards - Birds Directive – Art.12: National summary dashboards - Birds Directive – Art.12 — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)]] and/or on those species the recovery of which has created tensions with stakeholders (e.g. large carnivores, some geese species, cormorants, etc.). A specific focus could also be placed on habitats and species which depend on the maintenance of sustainable agricultural land management.
- ensure the recovery of habitats and/or species in unfavourable status and/or with a declining trend according to the reporting under the EU Birds and/or Habitats Directive (2019)[[ Article 17 Reporting Habitats Directive: https://nature-art17.eionet.europa.eu/article17/Article 17 National Summaries: CIRCABC - MS National Summaries (europa.eu)Article 12 Reporting Birds Directive: https://nature-art12.eionet.europa.eu/article12/Article 12 National Summaries: CIRCABC - MS National Summaries (europa.eu)]] by providing methodologies and recommendations on how to identify recovery needs for populations or restoration needs for habitats, including with regard to geographical location, quantity and quality of habitat to be restored.
Area B: Improving the conservation status of huntable bird species listed in Annex II of the Birds Directive.
Successful proposals should:
- Identify habitat management and restoration needs for huntable bird species in non-secure status, with a focus on agricultural habitats, evaluate the impact of hunting and provide recommendations for an adaptive harvest management of these species, considering the available species-specific data on habitat quality and quantity impacting their fecundity and breeding success and survival rate for these species. Preparatory work done by the Commission Services should be taken into account[[ habitats - Library (europa.eu)]].
Proposals should closely follow and ensure consistency with any ongoing or future relevant policy developments, with a particular focus on the voluntary EU targets for improving the status of species and habitats[[ Guidance to Member States on how to select and prioritise species/habitats for the 30% conservation improvement target under the strategy: biodiversity_nature - Library (europa.eu)]] and increasing the coverage of protected areas[[ Commission Staff Working Document: Criteria and guidance for protected areas designations: biodiversity_nature - Library (europa.eu)]], as well as in relation to the upcoming Commission proposal for legally binding restoration targets.
Proposals should earmark the necessary resources for cooperation and networking activities. They are expected to link with relevant projects such as EuropaBON, LIFE Integrated Projects and LIFE Strategic Nature Projects as well as with relevant projects under Horizon Europe topics, such as HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01-02: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Collaboration with the European partnership on biodiversity Biodiversa+ should be explored, as needed.
The possible participation of the JRC would help ensure that the methodologies proposed can support environmental compliance assurance, particularly by leveraging geospatial intelligence.