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The European Habitats
Forum (EHF) download
leaflet
The EHF is a group of NGO networks that provide input and
advice to DG Environment, particularly relating to the implementation
of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the establishment
of the Natura 2000 network. The EHF meets with DG Environment
twice a year after the Habitats Committee meetings and provides
a co-ordinated means of communication between DG Environment
and European nature conservation NGOs.
 The
aims of EHF are:
To advise and influence:
- The development and implementation of nature conservation
legislation;
- The practical management and sustainable use of natural
resources; ·
- Biodiversity monitoring, including the development of
indicators; and, ·
- The promotion of information, education and public awareness
of biodiversity in Europe
To support the implementation of: ·
- The EU Habitats and Birds Directives and Natura 2000·
- The EU Biodiversity Action Plan
To promote nature conservation and the sustainable use of
natural resources in Europe, through:
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)·
- The Bern Convention
To promote communication: ·
- Between European nature conservation NGOs in order to
enhance the effectiveness of their programmes
The
Forum works by:
- Networking of information via the EHF Secretariat
- Joint work on priority activities
- Exchange of information on potential funding sources
·
- Regular exchanges of publications and newsletters
- Meetings of the members every 6 months
- Representing its membership at key European fora, for
example, the Habitats Scientific Working Group, the
- European Commission Biodiversity Expert Group, the Bern
Convention Standing Committee and advising on the implementation
of the EC Habitats Directive and the establishment of the
Natura 2000 network
EHF Report on Monitoring of Species and Habitats
In 2007 the EU Member States will be required to monitor, report and assess the conservation status of all species and habitats listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive which are listed for their countries. To assist in this process the EHF members and partners, led by WWF, have undertaken this exercise for 20 species and 8 habitats across a range of countries, to provide some preliminary results and share experience gained from these case studies. It has also resulted in some general recommendations which are given in the report as “Ten steps towards effective European biodiversity monitoring”.
To download a copy of the report, please click here
EHF
Involvement in the Biogeographic Seminars:
During 2005, DG Environment will be organising biogeographic
seminars to
discuss the lists of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
that are being
proposed by the new EU Member States. SACs are designated
under the Habitats
Directive as part of the Natura 2000 network, and the biogeographic
seminars
will provide an opportunity to ensure that proposed lists
of sites provide
sufficient coverage of the EU's most important habitats and
species.
The EHF has been invited to send one representative per Member
State to each
of the seminars, to provide technical input and expertise
on behalf of NGOs
involved in nature conservation. The technical input from
NGOs will be
co-ordinated by CEEWEB o behalf of the EHF.
CEEWEB will be undertaking the following activities on behalf
of EHF:
- Preparation of shadow lists
- National and regional co-ordination of NGO representatives
and
experts
- Co-ordination of agreement/consensus of an NGO position
within the
seminars
- Feedback of seminar results to the EHF members in liaison
with the
EHF Secretariat
For more information on the biogeographic seminars and timetable
of events, please go to:
www.ceeweb.org and click on ‘European Habitats Forum’.
For futher information please contact the EHF Secretariat
at:
ehf_secretariat@iucn.org
The
EHF Members are:
The EHF Chair is Zoltan Waliczky from BirdLife/RSPB.
The EHF Vice Chair is Andreas Baumueller from WWF European Policy Office.
The EHF Secretariat is coordinated by Janice
Weatherley at IUCN.
 For
more information:
Please contact the Secretariat:
Janice Weatherley, IUCN Regional Office for Europe, Boulevard
Louis Schmidt 64, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 739
3003. Email: ehf_secretariat@iucn.org
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