The problem

Each country across Europe has national initiatives for nature conservation, each with its own criteria for identifying and selecting habitats and species. Member States’ conservation objectives now contribute towards the Natura 2000 network of European sites, which must be selected and monitored by reference to common criteria. Therefore, the need has emerged for a database of monitoring schemes for species and habitats, consolidated guidelines for monitoring and assessment methods, and ‘best practice’ for monitoring schemes.

Overview:

The NATURA 2000 network is a pan-European initiative to halt the loss of biodiversity; it is essential, therefore, to evaluate its ability to meet this objective. The EuMon project will provide a European framework to standardise, focus and coordinate existing monitoring programmes by comparing and integrating existing systems of EU-wide interests. This will be achieved by:

• Reviewing, evaluating, and improving methods for monitoring trends in species and habitats
• Comparing and integrating the most promising methods and approaches into a comprehensive, coherent, and consistent framework for assessing the 2010 target
• Disseminating comprehensive good practice guidelines

Contribution to policy development:

• EuMon will develop time and cost-effective methods for implementing monitoring schemes on biodiversity in support of key EU conservation measures (Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), and Biodiversity Strategy).
• The development of a common framework for cost-effective monitoring of biodiversity meets a Community policy requirement to integrate policy and research within the Sixth Environment Action Programme and the Sustainable Development Strategy.
• EuMon will test the efficacy of the proposed network of Natura 2000 sites and prepare policy advice on the specific responsibility of Member States for certain species and habitats.

Project deliverables

• Establish an advisory group of stakeholders – May 2005
• Report on information gaps in existing monitoring programmes – July 2006
• Second annual progress report including recommendations for the coherence, scientific quality, and cost-effectiveness of monitoring schemes – November 2006
• Third annual progress report – November 2007
• Final version of an integrated methodology user manual – January 2007
• Manual on best practice for monitoring species and habitats of Community interest –
  August 2008
• Final report to EU with recommendations for application of common standards – August 2008

Dissemination

• EuMon will share information through various networks
• Establish project website – February 2005
• Flyer for the general public and interested scientists – August 2005
• Interactive internet database of European species and habitats monitoring regimes – May 2006
• Stakeholder workshops – July 2006, April 2007
• International conference – February 2008
• Popular and scientific publication of results – August 2008

Technical information

Project acronym: EuMon
Project’s official full title: EU-wide Monitoring methods and systems of surveillance for species and habitats of Community interest
Research priority: 1.5. Environmental assessment (soil, water, air, noise, including the effects of chemical substances)
Specific webpage: www.ufz.de/index.php?en=5544, eumon.ckff.si (EuMon portal)
Proposal/contract no: 6463
Start date: 1 November 2004
Kick off meeting: November 2004
Completion date: May 2008
European Commission scientific officer: Michel Chapuis, michel.chapuis@ec.europa.eu and Irja Vounakis irja.vounakis@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Dr Klaus Henle, Centre for Environ­mental Research UFZ-Leipzig-Halle GmbH
Abbreviated name: UFZ
Address: Permoserstraße 15
D-04318 Leipzig 
Country: Germany
Tel: +49 341 235 2278
Fax: +49 341 235 2649
Website: http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en= 1868

Partners

Name: University of Durham
Abbreviated name: UDUR
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Université Pierre et Marie Curie
Abbreviated name:UPMC
Country: France 

Name: Muséum National d´Histoire Naturelle, Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d`Oiseaux
Abbreviated name: MNHN
Country: France

Name: Estonian Agricultural University, Institute of Zoology and Botany
Abbreviated name: ESTAGUN
Country: Estonia

Name: De Vlinderstichting
Abbreviated name: VLINDERS  
Country: Nether­lands

Name: Scientific Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Abbreviated name: ZRC SAZU
Country: Slovenia

Name: University of Debrecen
Abbreviated name: UNDEBR  
Country: Hungary

Name: Jagiellonian University, Institute of Environmental Sciences  
Abbreviated name:UJAG
Country: Poland 

Name: Klaipeda University, Recreation and Tourism Department, Faculty of Health Sciences
Abbreviated name: KU
Country: Lithuania          

Name: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology
Abbreviated name: UL FF
Country: Slovenia          

Name: Slovenian Forestry Institute
Abbreviated name: SFI
Country: Slovenia         

Name: University of Patras
Abbreviated name: UNPAT
Country: Greece 

Name: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Abbreviated name: NINA
Country: Norway         

Name: Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora
Abbreviated name: CKFF
Country: Slovenia         

Name: Vilnius University
Abbreviated name: IEVU
Country: Lithuania