Wildlife & Traffic
10 Maintenance of ecological assets on transport linear infrastructure
Contents
Appendix 1. Relevant environmental regulations and strategies to be considered at maintenance of ecological assets on transport linear infrastructure
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Bern Convention (EC, 1970) Council of Europe’s Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
Art. 6.
Each Contracting Party shall take appropriate and necessary legislative and administrative measures to ensure the special protection of the wild fauna species specified in Appendix II. The following will in particular be prohibited for these species:
- all forms of deliberate capture and keeping and deliberate killing
- the deliberate damage to or destruction of breeding or resting sites
- the deliberate disturbance of wild fauna, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing and hibernation, insofar as disturbance would be significant in relation to the objectives of this Convention.
- Habitats Directive (EC, 1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
Art. 12.
Member States shall take the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection for the animal species listed in Annex IV (a) in their natural range, prohibiting:
- all forms of deliberate capture or killing of specimens of these species in the wild
- deliberate disturbance of these species, particularly during the period of breeding,
- rearing, hibernation and migration
- deterioration or destruction of breeding sites or resting places.
- The prohibition referred to in paragraph 1 (a) and (b) and paragraph 2 shall apply to all stages of life of the animals to which this Article applies.
- Member States shall establish a system to monitor the incidental capture and killing of the animal species listed in Annex IV (a). In the light of the information gathered, Member States shall take further research or conservation measures as required to ensure that incidental capture and killing does not have a significant negative impact on the species concerned.
- EU Birds Directive (EC, 2009) Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds
Without prejudice to Articles 7 and 9, Member States shall take the requisite measures to establish a general system of protection for all species of birds referred to in Article 1, prohibiting in particular:
- deliberate killing or capture by any method
- deliberate disturbance of these birds particularly during the period of breeding and rearing, in so far as disturbance would be significant having regard to the objectives of this Directive.
- Aichi targets (Biological Diversity Convention COP10, 2010)
Target 9. By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.
Target 11. By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.
Target 12. By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.
Target 15. By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.
- Green Infrastructure (COM/2013/0249 final). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the regions. Green Infrastructure (GI). Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital.
- EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. (CE, 2020) COM 2020, 380 final. Bringing nature back into our lives. EU Nature Restoration Plan: key commitments by 2030
1. Legally binding EU nature restoration targets to be proposed in 2021, subject to an impact assessment. By 2030, significant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems are restored; habitats and species show no deterioration in conservation trends and status; and at least 30% reach favourable conservation status or at least show a positive trend.
2. The decline in pollinators is reversed.
3. The risk and use of chemical pesticides is reduced by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides is reduced by 50%.
6.Three billion new trees are planted in the EU, in full respect of ecological principles.
10. The losses of nutrients from fertilisers are reduced by 50%, resulting in the reduction of the use of fertilisers by at least 20%.
- Invasive Alien Species. (CE, 2014) Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species
1. Invasive alien species of Union concern shall not be intentionally:
(b) kept, including in contained holding;
(c) bred, including in contained holding;
(d) transported to, from or within the Union, except for the transportation of species to facilities in the context of eradication;
(g) permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated, including in contained holding; or
(h) released into the environment.