conservation measures required in these areas. Natura 2000, the EU-wide ecological
network of protected areas, encompasses the different types of conservation areas
and serves as the cornerstone of the EU’s action on nature conservation. Natura
2000 sites are therefore highly protected against damaging development.
For each Natura 2000 site, conservation measures, such as voluntary management plans (MPs) are either particularly designed for the site or integrated into other
development plans. Alternative conservation measures include statutory, administrative or contractual measures and member states must choose at least one of the
three categories (European Commission 2013), reported every six years (European
Environmental Agency 2015).
In addition, the Habitats Directive asks member states to prepare Prioritised
Action Frameworks (PAFs) (Art. 8) to set out the official nature conservation
priorities for a country or region. The PAFs act as strategic planning tools
encouraging access to as many EU financial instruments as possible in the financing
of the Natura 2000 network (European Commission 2012b).
2.3.5.3 Relevance to Drought Policy Implementation
While damage to wildlife and habitats are few examples of direct impacts from
drought and water scarcity (Wilhite et al. 2007; Vanneuville et al. 2012) the conservation measures for the protection of vulnerable species and habitats contribute
to prevention and mitigation of the WS&D effects.
The designation of SACs and SPAs contributes indirectly to WS&D by way of
necessary conservation measures. Additionally, the WFD ensures that protected
areas (SACs and SPAs) of the Natura 2000 network are integrated into the river
basin strategies. Such associated conservation measures might have a positive
impact on the state of water systems, as they, for example, may prevent “the
deterioration of natural habitats” (Art. 6.2 of the Habitats Directive) or by paying
“particular attention to the protection of wetlands […]” (Art. 4.2 of the Birds
Directive). The Natura 2000 sites also work “to ensure a favourable conservation
status of the habitat types and species, including all relations with their environment
like water, air, soil and vegetation” (European Commission 2000; Sánchez Navarro
et al. 2012 both in Vanneuville et al. 2012).
2.3.6 EU Groundwater Directive
To understand the EU Groundwater Directive and its interplay with WS&D, a water
management perspective is important. As such, we focus on the water sector in
exploring the Groundwater Directive in the context of drought.
34
U. Stein et al.
network of protected areas, encompasses the different types of conservation areas
and serves as the cornerstone of the EU’s action on nature conservation. Natura
2000 sites are therefore highly protected against damaging development.
For each Natura 2000 site, conservation measures, such as voluntary management plans (MPs) are either particularly designed for the site or integrated into other
development plans. Alternative conservation measures include statutory, administrative or contractual measures and member states must choose at least one of the
three categories (European Commission 2013), reported every six years (European
Environmental Agency 2015).
In addition, the Habitats Directive asks member states to prepare Prioritised
Action Frameworks (PAFs) (Art. 8) to set out the official nature conservation
priorities for a country or region. The PAFs act as strategic planning tools
encouraging access to as many EU financial instruments as possible in the financing
of the Natura 2000 network (European Commission 2012b).
2.3.5.3 Relevance to Drought Policy Implementation
While damage to wildlife and habitats are few examples of direct impacts from
drought and water scarcity (Wilhite et al. 2007; Vanneuville et al. 2012) the conservation measures for the protection of vulnerable species and habitats contribute
to prevention and mitigation of the WS&D effects.
The designation of SACs and SPAs contributes indirectly to WS&D by way of
necessary conservation measures. Additionally, the WFD ensures that protected
areas (SACs and SPAs) of the Natura 2000 network are integrated into the river
basin strategies. Such associated conservation measures might have a positive
impact on the state of water systems, as they, for example, may prevent “the
deterioration of natural habitats” (Art. 6.2 of the Habitats Directive) or by paying
“particular attention to the protection of wetlands […]” (Art. 4.2 of the Birds
Directive). The Natura 2000 sites also work “to ensure a favourable conservation
status of the habitat types and species, including all relations with their environment
like water, air, soil and vegetation” (European Commission 2000; Sánchez Navarro
et al. 2012 both in Vanneuville et al. 2012).
2.3.6 EU Groundwater Directive
To understand the EU Groundwater Directive and its interplay with WS&D, a water
management perspective is important. As such, we focus on the water sector in
exploring the Groundwater Directive in the context of drought.
34
U. Stein et al.