On May 23-27, 2022, 8 representatives of the Armenian nature protection sector paid a study visit to the Czech Republic to get acquainted with the issues related to biodiversity conservation and exchange of professional experience. Within the frameworks of EU Twinning project “Strengthened protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in Armenia in line with European standards” ", they met and discussed with the staff of the Czech Nature Protection Agency, visited Podyjí National Park, Palava Protected Landscape Area, which is included in “Natura 2000” European network.
What is “Natura 2000”?
The European Union (EU) Habitats Directive (92/43 / EEC) obliges EU member states to set up the Natura 2000 network.
The first meeting of the project took place on May 23 at the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (NCA CR) in Prague.
Mr. Tomáš Růžička, Director of Department of External Relations, presented the functions of the agency. “We have 24 reserves under our management, over 790 small protected areas.”
During the meeting it was presented how the process of joining "Natura 2000" network of any area is carried out. In particular, without creating a protected area, it is possible to establish a certain protection regime in the area by negotiating with the owner in case of concluding a relevant contract.
Mr. David Lacina, Director of Department of Special Nature Conservation, said, "People in Europe are beginning to realize that biodiversity needs to be protected. In 1979, Birds Directive and the 1992 Directive on the Conservation of Habitats, Plants and Habitats were adopted. According to him, it was on the basis of these directives that the protection of biodiversity began, which laid the foundation for the idea of creating "Natura 2000" network, which today covers about 18% of Europe's land area and more than 8% of the sea area.
"Natura 2000" is the largest systematic network of protected areas in the world. It guarantees the protection of the most valuable and endangered species and environments in Europe. "Its purpose is to protect 253 most endangered environments, 181 bird species, 200 other animals, 3,000 areas," he said.
Biodiversity Monitoring in Czech Republic
Karel Chobot, an employee of the agency, presented how the monitoring of animals, plants, habitat is carried out in the protected areas of the Czech Republic.
The purpose of the monitoring, according to Karel Chobot, is to assess the conservation status of species of animals, plants and habitats, in order to use the collection of biodiversity data nationally and internationally. According to him, their agency annually collects 100 thousand data from 4 thousand places, mapping more than 200 species. "In mapping, we divide the country into parts and study according to those parts. Karel Chobot stressed that the monitoring should be carried out in accordance with clear EU standards.
Employees of the Agency Paula Filipova and Teresa Kusnirova presented the reforms that need to be implemented to improve the biodiversity sector in Armenia, in particular, the implementation of the necessary regulations in the legislative field.
Reminder: currently Environment Ministry has developed a package of amendments to RA Law on Specially Protected Areas and related laws in order to reform the sector related to Specially Protected Areas (SPAs).
In particular, it was noted that some gaps in the law to be amended are already regulated by bylaws.
To be continued
June 07, 2022 at 17:29