Description:
At present significant agricultural landuse changes are occuring in the European Union. Drivers of these changes are amongst others the developments on the World market as well as changes in Common Agricultural Policy of the EU. The European Union has an active policy to protect European nature and biodiversity. The most important instrument for biodiversity protection in the EU is the designation of Natura 2000 sites. Additionally many Member States also have a system of nationally protected areas. Aim of this research is to provide insight in how far the legal protection of these sites can avoid or mitigate unwanted land use changes (from the viewpoint of nature conservation) as well as which financial means are available for these protected areas to ensure continuation of the present land use.
Research objectives:
The overall research question of this project is:
What is the effect of the legal protection and available financial means on the occurance of land use change which is detrimental to biodiversity protection in nationally protected areas and Natura 2000 areas ?
The specific research questions are following:
1. How have the Member States arranged the protection of national protected areas and Natura 2000 sites and in how far does this protection avoid or mitigate landuse changes which are determinal to the nature conservation values of the site.
2. Which European and national budget was available in the period 2001-2007 for the management of Natura 2000 sites and national protected areas? Can it be expected that the available budget will change for the period 2007-2013?
3. What is the amount of funding for nature conservation coming from the national and European budget?
4. Are the financial means indeed able to avoid unwanted land use changes in these areas?
Results and products:
The research would provide the following tangible results:
- A European GIS- file providing information on the legal status of protected areas.
- A Europea GIS-database providing information on financial means available for protected areas in EU -27
- A report/ article descriving the result of this project . |
