Synergies and Conflicts Between Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000: Legal Requirements, Technical Guidance and Experiences from Practice

Abstract

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.

Exploring environmental predictors of aquatic macrophytes in water‐dependent Natura 2000 sites of high conservation value: Results from a long‐term study of macrophytes in Greek lakes

“…Given the fact that many freshwater lakes in Greece are designated as special areas of conservation (SACs) in the European network Natura 2000, the loss of aquatic vegetation and species extinction is associated with the degradation of aquatic habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (Council of the European Communities, ). It is clear, therefore, that the interplay of the Habitats Directive and the WFD is highly significant when monitoring aquatic plants and water‐dependent habitats (Janauer, Albrecht, & Stratmann, ). This also means that Member States not only need to establish conservation measures to avoid the deterioration of the freshwater habitats of Annex I, but also to achieve good ecological and chemical status through implementing a ‘programme of measures’ under the WFD.…”

A miniature world in decline: European Red List of Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts

“…European countries across the continent endorsed the Pan-European 2020 Strategy for Biodiversity (UNEP, 2011), which re-focuses efforts to prevent further loss of biodiversity in the region. It also provides a European mechanism for supporting the implementation of the Directive, has positive effects on ecosystem function (Janauer et al, 2015).…”

Management challenges related to long‐term ecological impacts, complex stressor interactions, and different assessment approaches in the Danube River Basin

“…Each of these legal frameworks need to be considered in the DRBMP (e.g., the Floods Directive in 2016) to achieve more harmonized actions in fulfilling the different objectives. For the conservation and protection of biodiversity, the integration of the EC Habitat Directive will be an important next step to avoid conflicting views in the future (ICPDR, ; Janauer, Albrecht, & Stratmann, ). In addition, strategic planning tools should be included in future integrated river basin management to help decision makers governing the implementation of the various EC directives (Seliger et al, ).…”

“…In accordance, agriculturally used areas (impacted land cover, WFD approach) and agricultural area expansion (HBD approach) within the riparian zones are higher in the Lower Danube than in the 1910-1950 1950-1980 1980-2010 There is also a high congruence of local (HBD) and catchment (WFD) approaches regarding hydromorphological alterations ( Figure 6). For the conservation and protection of biodiversity, the integration of the EC Habitat Directive will be an important next step to avoid conflicting views in the future (ICPDR, 2016;Janauer, Albrecht, & Stratmann, 2015). In addition, strategic planning tools should be included in future integrated river basin management to help decision makers governing the implementation of the various EC directives (Seliger et al, 2015).…”