The EU water framework directive (WFD) is intensively connected with other European legal regulations and supporting documents. This close interrelationship calls for deeper considerations when WFD is implemented in locations of high conservation value, e.g. Natura 2000 sites. A comprehensive, but specific comparison of the goals of WFD with the aims of habitats directive (HD) and birds directive (BD) provides a sensitive overview on their peculiarities, with an outlook on potential synergies and conflicts. The sometimes complex guidance for solving complicated situations in the practical application of these differing legal provisions is also described. The representation of requirements for Natura 2000 sites as part of river basin management plans, and related up-to-date experience are given special attention. Finally recommendations and conclusions provide the reader with a complete view of this challenging chapter in European Policy. In the end, considerably more synergies than conflicts are identified between the objectives of WFD, HD and BD. Whenever conflicts should arise these directives prevent derogating from their requirements by cross-references. Therefore, firm and timely coordination between water and nature conservation authorities is necessary.
Climate change is expected to become a major threat to biodiversity by influencing the quality of landscapes and habitats. Thus monitoring techniques need to be adapted to provide information on climate change induced impacts in habitat conditions in the long run in order to be able to adapt management strategies in respective protected areas. Climate change may affect many ecosystem functions; consequently, specific indicators of symptoms of ecosystem degradation shall address various ecosystem properties and effects due to different pressures
Goals for nature conservation and development are set for several rivers and lakes which are situated within protected areas. Concurrently these areas have to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. Between the goals of both scopes there are often synergies but partially conflicts. In addition, climate change, which touches both water management and nature conservation at the same time, has to be taken into account during the river basin management planning, too. Against this background it is discussed in consideration of climate change, how the goals of nature conservation and of the Water Framework Directive can be achieved in such a way that conflicts are avoided to a large extent and synergies used. The following discussion and its results are based on an evaluation of the river basin management plans and programmes of measures in the ten river catchment areas of Germany. Altogether, it can be noticed that potential synergies are already put to good use. However, there are even more unused possibilities for the improvement of the interplay of nature conservation and Water Framework Directive as well as for the consideration of climate change effects.
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