4. Proposed ETC/NC Work

4. PROPOSED ETC/NC WORK PROGRAMME ITEMS FOR 1997

4.1. Development of Eunis

In 1996, the activities related to this issue were basically conceptual, in particular with development of data models and standardised nomenclature. In 1997, the work will be more focused on operational aspects, i.e testing the tools and starting incorporation of relevant data.

Activities

• To continue the development of basic tools, in particular:

• data handling procedures;

• habitat classification (including marine habitat types);

• species nomenclature (including links with the Species 2000 initiative);

• To incorporate in the system relevant data concerning the main EEA priorities, in particular:

• basic layers (to be provided by EUROSTAT- GISCO);

• national data related to the Dobris +3 process;

• national reference data related to the Natura 2000 process (to be requested by questionnaire);

• CORINE Biotopes relevant data (including PHARE countries)

• selected information from LIFE projects;

• international relevant data (European Atlases, Environmental Law Centre, Designated Areas Common Database).

Expected products

• An operational central module of EUNIS for direct use in the EEA reporting activities and support to Natura 2000.

4.2. Support to NATURA 2000

This task is becoming more and more important in relation to the provision, by EU Member States of their National List of potential Sites of Community Interest. A precise time schedule for work has been prepared by the Commission for 1997.

Activities

• To continue the assistance to Member States in using the Natura 2000 software.

• To maintain updated the Natura 2000 Database through the integration, after a first verification, of new SPAs officially designated by Member States.

• To integrate in the Natura 2000 Central Module, after a first verification, the National Lists and/or complementary information officially provided by Member States.

• To assess the National Lists as follows:

STAGE 1: ACCEPTABILITY OF NATIONAL DATASHEETS
Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany (except Bavaria), Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal (mainland), Spain (mainland), Sweden.

STAGE 2: NATIONAL COVERAGE ON SPECIES AND HABITAT TYPES
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal (mainland), Spain (mainland), Sweden, United Kingdom

STAGE 3: REPRESENTATIVITY OF SPECIES AND HABITATS
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal (mainland), Spain (mainland), Sweden, United Kingdom

• To assess the Community List as follows:

STAGE 4: BUILDING THE COMMUNITY LIST:
First Scientific Seminar for the Boreal Region (Finland and Sweden), the Alpine Region (partial: Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden), the Mediterranean Region (possibly partial: Greece and Italy) and possibly the Atlantic Region (Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom).

Second Scientific Seminar for the Macaronesian Region (Portugal and Spain)

Expected products

• At National level:

Analysis on the acceptability of the Austrian, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Luxembourg, Portuguese (Atlantic and Mediterranean Regions), Spanish (Alpine, Atlantic and Mediterranean Regions) and Swedish National Lists.

• At Biogeographic level:

Final «reference list» for Boreal, Alpine, East-Mediterranean (if relevant) and Atlantic species and habitat types.

Draft «reference list» for Continental species and habitat types.

Assessment on the species and habitat types coverage at national level and representativity at biogeographic level of the National Lists for each Region.

List of species and habitat types sufficiently/insufficiently represented in the National Lists for each Biogeographic Region.

Specific requests of additional information and/or proposed sites for improving the Community List in the concerned Regions.

First assessment on the Community List for the Boreal, Alpine, East- Mediterranean and Atlantic Regions.

Final assessment on the Community List for the Macaronesian Region.

• Other products:

Updated version(s) of the Natura 2000 Database (if appropriate).

Global assessment of the currently legal Natura 2000 Database (only designated SPA) in relation to a possible subsequent scientific updating.

 

CONTRIBUTION TO THE EEA REPORTING ACTIVITIES

In 1997, the ETC/NC will be fully involved by providing data and commenting on the main foreseen reports:

Europe’s Environment - The Dobris Assessment

Environment in the European Union. Report for the Review of the Fifth Environmental Action Programme

Furthermore, the ETC/NC will assist the EEA in preparing a specific product, the «EEA Nature Presentation» in CD-ROM form for the Ministers Conference to be held in Aarhus (DK) in 1998.

Finally, another major priority is to achieve the EEA Information Strategy for Nature, initiated in 1996.

Activities

• To collect, analyse and process national and international data concerning some of the nature-related indicators included in the Dobris +3 Report

• To propose, if appropriate, and discuss additional indicators for the EU Environment Report.

Expected products

A specific visual presentation (CD-ROM) including different aspects of the Nature and Biodiversity chapter of the Dobris +3 Report. They will be combined with components concerning landcover and other topic aspects.

4.3. Foreseen 1997 Budget Distribution