Valuable experiences were gained within the project and are presented in the
lessons learned section of this book; existing methods were tested in new context
and developed further. To preview a few of the issues that were overcome, three of
them are highlighted in the following: (1) remote sensing approaches require a
highly site and context specific design of fitting indicators to derive useful results.
Short-term indicators can be used, e.g. to monitor the percentage of natural tree
types at Natura 2000 sites, and long-term indicators can be utilised, for instance,
to monitor the immigration of beech in a spruce dominated region. (2) Legal
objectives need to be shifted from preservation and restoration to improving
resilience and adaptive capacity. In principle, Natura 2000 law has got a high
adaptive capacity. Resilience improvement, however, is not explicitly regulated
and will remain the main subject of legal controversy. (3) Adaptation processes
need cooperation beyond the protected area administration. The identification of
relevant parameters for climate modelling, modelling of sensitivity, and assessments of climate change impacts can only be done with the help of scientific
partners. Also, many elements of adaptation strategies and measures cannot be
implemented by the protected area management alone. This can only be done in
close collaboration with local stakeholders and land users, as well as regional and
national institutions and administrations.
1.6 Target Audience
First and foremost, this book is targeted at administrations, managers, and practitioners of protected areas. They can benefit from the theoretical and conceptual
information about climate change, its impacts, monitoring and modelling, as well as
adapted area management and legal issues.
The contents of this book are addressed to nature protection administrations on
international, European, national and regional levels; to NGO’s working in the field
of nature protection and environmental education; and to umbrella organisations
focusing on nature protection. These include national authorities and organisations
responsible for European regulations regarding Natura 2000 and monitoring in the
context of the Water Framework Directive.
3
Applied research institutions and scientists working on biodiversity, protected
area management or climate change are addressed as well.
Finally, stakeholders within proximity of protected areas in Central and Eastern
Europe and worldwide are another potential target group. Forest and water authorities, land development boards, and farmers’ associations from national to local
levels, for instance, can gain practical experience and background knowledge for
their activities that affect the environment within protected areas.
3 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing
a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1).
1 Natural Heritage at Risk by Climate Change
11
lessons learned section of this book; existing methods were tested in new context
and developed further. To preview a few of the issues that were overcome, three of
them are highlighted in the following: (1) remote sensing approaches require a
highly site and context specific design of fitting indicators to derive useful results.
Short-term indicators can be used, e.g. to monitor the percentage of natural tree
types at Natura 2000 sites, and long-term indicators can be utilised, for instance,
to monitor the immigration of beech in a spruce dominated region. (2) Legal
objectives need to be shifted from preservation and restoration to improving
resilience and adaptive capacity. In principle, Natura 2000 law has got a high
adaptive capacity. Resilience improvement, however, is not explicitly regulated
and will remain the main subject of legal controversy. (3) Adaptation processes
need cooperation beyond the protected area administration. The identification of
relevant parameters for climate modelling, modelling of sensitivity, and assessments of climate change impacts can only be done with the help of scientific
partners. Also, many elements of adaptation strategies and measures cannot be
implemented by the protected area management alone. This can only be done in
close collaboration with local stakeholders and land users, as well as regional and
national institutions and administrations.
1.6 Target Audience
First and foremost, this book is targeted at administrations, managers, and practitioners of protected areas. They can benefit from the theoretical and conceptual
information about climate change, its impacts, monitoring and modelling, as well as
adapted area management and legal issues.
The contents of this book are addressed to nature protection administrations on
international, European, national and regional levels; to NGO’s working in the field
of nature protection and environmental education; and to umbrella organisations
focusing on nature protection. These include national authorities and organisations
responsible for European regulations regarding Natura 2000 and monitoring in the
context of the Water Framework Directive.
3
Applied research institutions and scientists working on biodiversity, protected
area management or climate change are addressed as well.
Finally, stakeholders within proximity of protected areas in Central and Eastern
Europe and worldwide are another potential target group. Forest and water authorities, land development boards, and farmers’ associations from national to local
levels, for instance, can gain practical experience and background knowledge for
their activities that affect the environment within protected areas.
3 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing
a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1).
1 Natural Heritage at Risk by Climate Change
11