- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2022
Framework for assessment of effectiveness of biodiversity conservation measures in Estonia
The Commission aimed to provide the Estonian Environmental Board with a national methodology to assess the effectiveness of their biodiversity conservation measures. The support measures focussed on the development of a methodology and testing it on 45 natural protected sites, the provision of an action plan for the implementation of the methodology (including digitalisation of processes) and capacity building to conservation specialists.
Context
The EU Habitats Directive, adopted in 1992, requires the protection of species and important areas for their long-term conservation, as well as protection natural habitats by themselves, and included the objective to develop the Natura 2000 network (transboundary network of protected areas). The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 proposed commitments on, i.a., nature protection and includes an EU-wide commitment to effectively manage all protected areas.
Over 21% of Estonia’s terrestrial area and almost 19% of its marine area are under some form of nature conservation management. A little more than half (56%) of the species and habitats of European importance are in a favourable condition in Estonia, i.e. the long-term survival of these populations and communities is not guaranteed on national scale. The Estonian monitoring system of protected nature values does not allow to analyse the effect of interventions according to site-, habitat- and species-based protection plans. Therefore, Estonia failed to conduct appropriate conservation effectiveness assessments and requested support to put in place a strategic approach for biodiversity conservation effectiveness assessment.
Support Delivered
The delivered support consisted of six specific activities to establish a methodology for the assessment of efficiency of biodiversity protection in Estonia, apply the developed methodology on pilot protected areas, and propose follow-up activities to ensure the long-term effect of conservation efforts. As a first step, the private sector consultant conducted a baseline review of the current approach to biodiversity assessment in Estonia (state of nature, policy, legal and institutional framework) and proposing recommendations for improvement. Based on the review and established international guidelines and practices, an integrated assessment methodology was developed, including both a site-specific methodology and an approach for a national-level evaluation. This methodology was then tested on 45 protected areas, and improved according to the results of these tests, and subsequently, an action plan for implementation, including legislative, institutional and administrative measures as well as the outline of an IT system, was developed. The project was concluded with capacity-building training sessions and workshops for biodiversity conservation experts.
Result achieved
The technical support developed a strategic approach and proposed a structural change for carrying out systematic biodiversity conservation assessments in Estonia.
Over the long-term, this support will:
- Increase the capacity and quality authorities of the evidence-based adaptive management of biodiversity conservation measures on protected-area and national level, and create a more effective management system.
- Biodiversity conservation objectives will be clearer and will take into account short-term and long-term measures and cycles. Protected areas will be managed more effectively and the impact of conservation measures will be monitored regularly.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: