The European Union protects almost 28,000 natural areas that are of special European importance. The network, called Natura 2000, is set up to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats, as listed in the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Since 1992 the EU also provides co-funding, through the LIFE Programme, to support action for protection, restoration and communication for Natura 2000. These billions of euros need to be invested well and restoration measures taken must be effective and efficient. Monitoring of activities, results and impacts is therefore required to assess their implementation and impact.
The ELMEN (previously NEEMO) consortium monitors the LIFE Programme, under contract to the European Commission and its Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA, previously EASME). As a technical monitor, I follow-up and guide LIFE Nature and Climate Change Adaptation projects in the Benelux. As technical expert I follow and guide LIFE Nature en Climate Change Adaptation projects in the Benelux.
The focus of my work is on monitoring a number of ‘traditional’ projects, focusing on a specific natural area or region and with a concrete plan of actions to protect species and restore habitats of European importance. In addition, I monitor ‘integrated projects’. These are large-scale strategic programmes, designed to give a strong impetus to stepping up the implementation of Natura 2000 at the national level. This is urgently needed because biodiversity in Europe is in general terms still in decline, as is demonstrated among others by the European Environment Agency’s State of Nature report. The integrated projects also look at wider benefits of conservation, for example in connection with flood prevention or water purification. Given their strategic nature they focus more on abstract processes, such as governance, stakeholder engagement, and communication.
Apart from project monitoring I am involved in other ELMEN/NEEMO activities, such as:
