Report on Management Guidelines · 2013-08-02 · [2] Output Number: 6.2.1 Date: 15.03.2013 Title:...

HABIT-CHANGE

Report on Management Guidelines Output 6.2.1 03/2013

This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme

co-financed by the ERDF

[2]

Output Number: 6.2.1 Date: 15.03.2013

Title: Report on Management Guidelines

Authors: Christian Wilke (TUB), Lars Stratmann (IOER)

Project: HABIT-CHANGE – Adaptive management of climate-induced changes of

habitat diversity in protected areas

Programme: CENTRAL EUROPE Project Number:

2CE168P3

Start date: 3/2010 End date: 2/2013

Lead Partner: Leibniz Institute of Ecological and Regional Development (IOER),

Germany

Project Partner: University of Vienna, Austria

National Academy of Sciences, Scientific Centre for Aerospace

Research of the Earth, Ukraine

Thuringian State Institute for Forestry, Game and Fishery, Germany

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany

Technische Universität Berlin, Germany

Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate, Hungary

Szent Istvan University, Hungary

Biebrza National Park, Poland

Environmental Protection Institute, Poland

Triglav National Park, Slovenia

University of Bucharest, Romania

Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria

Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development,

Romania

SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o., Slovenia

University of Maribor, Slovenia

European Academy Bolzano, Italy

Contact: Marco Neubert, [email protected], +49 351 4679-274

Sven Rannow, [email protected], +49 351 4679-274

Further information

www.habit-change.eu

http://www.habit-change.eu/

[3]

This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF

Contents

Summary 5

1. Introduction, Objectives and Method 6

1.1. Introduction 6

1.2. Objectives 8

1.3. Method 9

1.4. Overview of Evaluated Guidelines 10

2. Bibliographical Information and Evaluation Scheme 11

2.1. Data and Fact Sheet with Bibliographical Information 11

2.2. Evaluation Scheme 11

3. Results: Evaluation of Guidelines 16

3.1. Guidance for Adaptation to Climate Change in Conservation Management 16

3.1.1. Draft Guidelines on Climate Change and Natura 2000 16

3.1.2. Supplement. Managing climate change for the Natura 2000 network 22

3.1.3. Climate adaptation: Risk, uncertainty and decision-making 27

3.1.4. Guiding principles for adaptation to climate change in Europe 32

3.1.5. Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt 37

3.1.6. Conservation Action Planning Guidelines for Developing Strategies in the Face of Climate Change42

3.1.7. Managing for Climate Change - Developing Strategies for Protected Area Managers 48

3.2. Guidance for Protected Area Management Planning 53

3.2.1. Handbook for setting up management plans for Natura 2000 sites in the Federal State of Baden-

Württemberg, Germany 53

3.2.2. Guidelines for drafting Natura 2000 Management Plans 57

3.2.3. Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide 62

3.2.4. Handbook for Natura 2000 Management Planning in Federal State Brandenburg, Germany 68

3.2.5. Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas 73

3.2.6. Measuring the Results of Wildlife Conservation Activities 77

3.2.7. Conservation Action Planning Handbook 82

4. Review of guidelines and documents that were not analysed in detail 88

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4.1. Guidance and Recommendations for Adaptation to Climate Change 88

4.2. Guidance and Recommendations for Natura 2000 Management 96

4.3. Guidance and Recommendations for Conservation and Protected Area Management 101

4.4. Guidance and Recommendations for Monitoring and Resource Inventories 102

4.5. Guidance and Recommendations for Management of Specific Ecosystems 104

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Summary

The report on management guidelines contains an extensive review and analysis of existing guidance

for adaptation to climate change and conservation management. The report presents the state of the

art in guidance for adaptation to climate change in nature conservation and protected area

management. The review and analysis of available guidelines and recommendations focused on

methods, strategies and work steps that are relevant for the adaptation of management planning.

The report is an important basis and reference for the HABIT-CHANGE Management Handbook

(Output 5.3.2) that will provide guidance for protected area managers who have to adapt their

management to the consequences of climate change. Besides that, the results of the review can help

European protected area managers finding appropriate guidance documents for their specific

management situation or for specific management tasks. The report may be used as a compendium

on available guidance in conservation management and alleviate orientation.

A total of 53 different publications (in English or German) with the focus on recommendations and

guidance for site management and adaptation to climate change in nature conservation were

identified and reviewed. After a first review 14 of them were chosen for an in-depth analysis. The

results of the review and the analysis are presented in fact-sheets and tables (chapter 3) and short

descriptions (chapter 4).

An important aspect of the review and analysis was the integration of additional work steps for

adaptation to climate change and the introduction of an active adaptive management into existing

management routines. The analyses aimed to identify links and starting-points for adaptation tasks.

The analysis validated if necessary work steps of the adaptation and management process are

addressed in the guidelines and handbooks.

Main objectives of this output are:

To provide a comprehensive overview on international and national guidelines for climate

change adapted management planning in nature conservation, especially in protected areas.

To help protected area managers to find adequate guidance to specific conservation and

management tasks by using the review.

To identify “best-practice” on how protected area managers and planners can effectively

manage conservation sites and integrate adaptation to climate change into planning and

management of protected areas.

To evaluate and compare the adequateness of adaptation procedures suggested in the

guidelines with experiences made during the adaptation of protected area management within

the HABIT-CHANGE project and the recommendations elaborated in this project.

To provide a documentation of the state of the art in guidance literature as a basis and

reference for the HABIT-CHANGE Management Handbook.

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1. Introduction, Objectives and Method

1.1. Introduction

In this report we present the results of an extensive review and analysis of existing guidelines,

handbooks and scientific papers, published in English or German, for protected area management

and adaptation to climate change. The review has the objective to identify the state of the art in

guidance for adaptation to climate change in nature conservation and protected area management.

The review and analyses focused on methods, strategies and work steps that are relevant for the

adaptation of management planning. The results are a basis and reference for the Management

Handbook (Output 5.3.2) that will provide guidance for protected area managers who have to adapt

their management to the consequences of climate change.

The process of adaptation to climate change includes the analyses of climate change scenarios, the

assessment of its impacts and the development of adapted management strategies and measures.

But it goes far beyond this: Planners and protected area management also have to consider existing

pressures from land use and land use changes and adaptation efforts of local stakeholders. Strategies

for stakeholder involvement should be an obligatory and integral part the adaptation process to raise

awareness among all relevant stakeholders and avoid conflicts with stakeholders and land users. An

analysis and evaluation of existing and established management strategies and measures is

necessary to identify tasks that require adaptation most urgent. The evaluation will help to find a

balance between continuity and change in protected area management and to benefit from

experience, knowledge and practices available in protected areas. The review of existing guidelines

therefore focused on these aspects and searched for methods, tools and support that can be

considered “best-practice” for the different work steps and tasks of the adaptation process. The

intention of the review is to identify “best-practice” in guidance literature and to refer to it in the

Management Handbook of the HABIT-CHANGE project.

The importance of profound guidance for protected area management is emphasised by Kruk et al.

2009 (see chapter 4.2) in their analysis of the management situation in Natura 2000 sites in EU

member states. Although many countries provide guidelines that contain a description of main

principles; development process and content of the management plan; stakeholder participation;

and specific requirements for particular types of territories, species and habitats (Kruk et al. 2009,

31) the effectiveness is often impaired due to “too little guidance” or “too general guidelines” (ibid).

The review of available guidance documents for adaptation to climate change and management

planning tried to identify those guidelines that are precise, specific and practice-oriented and that

specifically address the tasks and competences of protected area management.

Although we conducted an extensive search for guideline literature we were not able to cover all

guidelines and handbooks. We could not identify and analyse guidelines in languages other than

English or German. Nevertheless, the reviewed literature provides a solid basis and many “best-

practice” examples will contribute to the HABIT-CHANGE handbook.

In contrast to previous outputs of the HABIT-CHANGE project, this output does not focus on habitats

defined under Annex 1 of the Habitat Directive (92/43/CEE) because the Management Handbook

(Output 5.3.2) is supposed to provide guidance for the entire adaptation process of protected area

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management and aims to support all management tasks and objectives in protected areas. Target

group of the Management Handbook are protected area managers and planners, but not policy

makers. This review of available guidelines was performed from the perspective of protected area

mangers and assesses if the given guidance is practice oriented and detailed enough to adapt

concrete tasks of protected area management under climate change and the planning process for

adapted management plans.

This report contains a short description of applied methods, analyses and evaluation criteria that

were used on selected guidelines for the in-depth analysis. The results of the analyses are presented

for 14 guidelines in tables and bibliographical fact-sheets. Guidelines that were not selected for the

in-depth analysis are described in chapter 4. These short reviews may help readers with specific

management challenges to find appropriate guidance.

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1.2. Objectives

The main goal of this guideline review is to gain an overview on how much practice-oriented

guidance is already available to help protected area managers and planners in the process of

adapting conservation management to climate change. The analysis of existing guidelines has the

objective to find out, if – and to what content – available guidelines cover the work steps, methods

and strategies that are essential for the adaptation process. Available guidance is compared with the

approach developed within the HABIT-CHANGE project on the basis of the experience gathered

during the elaboration of climate change adapted management plans for HABIT-CHANGE

investigation areas. Although we focused on guidelines that support the adaptation to climate

change we also analysed guidelines for the management of protected areas or specific tasks like

monitoring or definition of conservation objectives. The analysis also aimed to identify additional

practical, scientific, process-oriented and methodological aspects that are relevant for protected area

management and especially the management of Natura 2000 sites. Additional aspects and “best-

practice” approaches shall be integrated into the Management Handbook (output 5.3.2) of the

HABIT-CHANGE project.

An important aspect of the review and analysis was if existing guidelines would allow the integration

of additional work steps for the adaptation to climate change and the introduction of an active

adaptive management. We aimed to identify links and starting-points for adaptation tasks.

Main objectives of this output are:

To provide a comprehensive overview on international and national guidelines for climate

change adapted management planning in nature conservation, especially in protected areas.

To help protected area managers to find adequate guidance to specific conservation and

management tasks by using the review.

To identify “best-practice” on how protected area managers and planners can effectively

manage conservation sites and integrate adaptation to climate change into planning and

management of protected areas.

To evaluate and compare the adequateness of adaptation procedures suggested in the

guidelines with experiences made during the adaptation of protected area management within

the HABIT-CHANGE project and the recommendations elaborated in this project.

To provide a documentation of the state of the art in guidance literature as a basis and

reference for the HABIT-CHANGE Management Handbook.

[9]


1.3. Method

A first step was to identify guidelines and handbooks for protected area management and adaptation

to climate change that are available in English or German. Those language limitations were a result of

the language skills of involved partners. Since climate change has become only recently a topic in

conservation planning, we limited the search to publications from year 2000 until now. The selection

of guidelines and handbooks analysed and evaluated in this report was based on the literature

review (HABIT-CHANGE Output 3.1.1) and additional literature search. To guarantee easy access for

protected area managers across Europe we limited the search to digital guidelines that are accessible

via internet. A total of 53 different publications with the focus on recommendations and guidance for

site management and adaptation to climate change in nature conservation were identified.

Each publication was analysed if it suits the expectations regarding target group (protected area

managers and planners) and the guidance for climate change adaptation and/or conservation

management (work steps, content, methods). Many identified publications focus on general

concepts, principles and requirements for adaptation and only few address the chosen target group

and the specific tasks of protected area management. To select guidelines for the in-depth analysis

two criteria were applied:

Target group: The guideline should address protected area managers and/or planners for

protected area management. Policy-guidelines were not analysed in-depth.

Thematic focus: The Guidelines should focus on protected area management and/or adaptation

of management and nature conservation to climate change.

With the help of these two criteria we identified a total of 14 guidelines and documents that were

analysed in-depth. To evaluate how comprehensive, practice-oriented and helpful these guidelines

are and if they cover all aspects of the adaptation process an evaluation scheme was developed (see

chapter 2.2) that was based on experiences and requirements identified in the HABIT-CHANGE

project. All guidelines selected for an in-depth analysis are described in short by their main

characteristics and content on a bibliographical fact-sheet. The criteria for the in-depth analyses

were clustered in the following categories:

General aspects

Communication, cooperation and stakeholder involvement

Guidance for the process of adapting management (plans) to climate change

Definition of objectives

Methods for analyses and assessments, data requirements

Strategies and measures for adaptation and

Monitoring.

For all guidance documents that were not selected for an in-depth analysis, short descriptions and

reviews are given in chapter 4.

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1.4. Overview of Evaluated Guidelines

Many publications offer guidance and support for specific tasks in nature conservation and

adaptation to climate change. From the rich choice of available guidelines we selected those that

focus on protected area management and adaptation to climate change in nature conservation. We

reviewed a total of 53 different documents and identified 14 documents for an in-depth analysis. For

all guidelines and publications that were not chosen the in-depth analysis we give a short description

and explanation, why we did not pick it for analysis and explain the use and advantages of those

documents for other purposes and tasks in nature conservation. The results of the review process are

presented in chapter 4. An overview on the guidelines analysed in-depth is given in the following

table.

Table 1: Overview of guidelines that were analysed in-depth

No Title

1 Draft Guidelines on Climate Change and Natura 2000. Dealing with the impact of climate

change on the management of the Natura 2000 Network. Bouwma et al. 2012.

2

Supplement for Managing Climate Change for the Natura 2000 Network. Assessment of the

Vulnerability of Natura 2000 Species and Habitats for Climate Change: species and habitat

types most at risk. Overall approach and the result of the analyses. Vos et al. 2012.

3 Climate adaptation: Risk, uncertainty and decision-making. UKCIP Technical Report. Willows

and Connell 2003.

4 Guiding principles for adaptation to climate change in Europe. ETC/ACC Technical Paper

2010/6. Prutsch et al. 2010.

5 Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt. Hopkins

et al. 2007.

6 Conservation Action Planning Guidelines for Developing Strategies in the Face of Climate

Change. TNC – The Nature Conservancy 2009.

7 Managing for climate change - developing strategies for protected area managers. Stolton and

Dudley 2010.

8 Handbook for setting up management plans for Natura 2000 sites in the Federal State of

Baden-Württemberg, Germany. LUBW 2009.

9 Guidelines for drafting Natura 2000 Management Plans and special measures to be carried out

in SPAs. SEO/Birdlife 2010.

10 Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide. Williams et al.

2009.

11

Handbook for management planning Natura 2000 in the federal state of Brandenburg,

Germany. Landesamt für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz in Brandenburg (LUGV)

2011.

12 Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas. Thomas et al. (IUCN) 2003.

13 Measuring the Results of Wildlife Conservation Activities. The John Heinz Center 2009.

14 Conservation Action Planning Handbook: Developing Strategies, Taking Action and Measuring

Success at Any Scale. TNC – The Nature Conservancy 2007.

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2. Bibliographical Information and Evaluation Scheme

2.1. Data and Fact Sheet with Bibliographical Information

Each guideline analysed in-depth is characterised by a short data and fact sheet that contains the

following information:

Title

Publication date

Language

Author, editor, publisher

Target group (for example: protected area management, planners, decision makers, administration,

science and research)

Character and objective of document (for example: character: practice oriented step by step

guidance, pragmatic-general advice, content-oriented “scientific” paper, detailed guideline,

handbook, workshop-results, discussion-paper, strategic concept etc., objective: objective in short)

Thematic focus (for example: adaptive management, Natura 2000, biodiversity or species and

habitats conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, protected area management and

planning, management of specific ecosystems, protection of ecosystem components (e.g. soil, water

balance), monitoring, stakeholder involvement in nature conservation etc.)

Type of protected area (for example: Natura 2000 sites, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Nature

Parks etc.)

Character of content (for example: binding or optional guidance, good/best practice examples, case

studies, decision-framework, methods for assessment of impacts and vulnerability to climate change,

practical advice etc.)

Geographic scope (for example: country, region or geographical area)

Short summary of content (preferentially taken from guideline itself)

2.2. Evaluation Scheme

To make the evaluation transparent and comprehensible and to allow different project partners to

work on the in-depth analysis we simplified the evaluation scheme in a way that all relevant criteria

can be validated either positively or negatively (questions to be answered with “Yes” or “No”). If the

criterion applies only to parts of the evaluated document or if only some aspects are covered the

evaluation (Yes or No) is put in brackets. For example: the evaluation criterion “practice-oriented and

non-scientific language” may apply only to checklists within the guidelines, while the scientific

explanation of the methods and framework may be difficult to understand for practitioners. In that

case the criterion is evaluated with “Yes” in brackets.

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We used the following criteria in our evaluation scheme to analyse the guidelines:

General aspects

1) Level of detail: Is the guideline precise enough for protected area management decisions? How

is the target group addressed: Scientific or non-scientific language? Can it be applied directly for

management planning or does it give only an overview on methods and principles?

a) Precise enough and spatial scale of protected area management?

b) Practice-oriented and non-scientific language?

c) Step by step guidance and practice oriented description of methods and principles?

d) Minimum requirements and/or standards defined?

e) Templates for content and results provided?

2) Completeness: Does the guideline contain all or the most relevant aspects and work steps of the

adaptation and management process?

a) All (or most) tasks and work steps are described (define objectives, compile data (mapping),

evaluate former plans/activities, involve stakeholders, assess impacts of climate change,

definition of strategies and measures, monitoring concept, implementation of adaptive

management …)?

b) Adaptation and mitigation (as well as their interdependencies) are described?

Communication, cooperation and stakeholder involvement

3) Awareness raising and communication: Are measures and activities to raise public awareness

and support for adaptation described (for e.g. in cooperation with schools, newspapers, local

population)? Is the importance of communication and awareness-raising exemplified?

a) Importance of communication with public is a subject of the guideline?

b) Detailed strategies and guidance for public communication within the planning process are

given?

4) Stakeholder involvement and participation: Is a detailed description how and when to address

and include which stakeholders given? Is guidance given how to organise stakeholder

participation? Are park staff and rangers addressed as important stakeholder group?

a) Steps for stakeholder involvement are described in detail (whom, for what, how, when)?

b) Park staff and rangers are addressed as important stakeholders?

5) Cooperation with external experts: Is the role and importance of external scientific and

administrative or institutional support described?

a) Importance of cooperation with external experts is a subject of the guideline?

b) Detailed strategies and guidance for cooperation with external experts are given?

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Guidance for the process of adapting management (plans) to climate change

6) Description of the planning process: Work steps for adaptation planning are clearly defined?

Description how time consuming and difficult each working step is? Is an iterative repetition of

work steps recommended?

a) Work steps are clearly defined?

b) Description of iterative repetition of work steps within planning process is given?

c) Time consuming parts and aspects are pointed out?

d) Transparency of planning process and its documentation is emphasised?

7) Adaptive management: Is the concept of an adaptive management sufficiently prepared and

introduced in the guideline? Is adaptive management described in detail for e.g. with work

steps?

a) Concept of adaptive management is described in detail for e.g. with work steps and minimum

requirements (like measurable objectives)?

b) Adaptive management is introduced as an instrument to tackle climate change?

Definition of objectives

8) Conformity with policy objectives: Is the need discussed to derive objectives from EU, national

and regional plans and specify them for local situation?

a) Description of need to derive objectives from EU, national and regional plans and specify

them for local situation?

9) Definition of conservation objectives: Are approaches to solve internal conflicts of objectives of

conservation described? Are examples given on how to define measurable conservation

objectives that can be used for adaptive management? Are conservation objectives discussed

and aligned with stakeholder interests?

a) Are approaches to solve internal conflicts of objectives for conservation described?

b) Is explained that conservation objectives have to be aligned with stakeholder interests?

c) Are examples given on how to define measurable conservation objectives that can be used

for adaptive management?

Methods for analyses and assessments, data requirements

10) Methods to assess climate change and its impacts: Are methodological approaches like

vulnerability, sensitivity and potential impact assessments described and explained? Is described

how different management options can be deduced from scenario and assessment information?

a) Are methods to assess climate change and its impacts on protected areas described and

recommended for application?

b) Methods to deduce management options from assessment data are described?

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11) Data requirements: Are minimum requirements on necessary analyses and assessment data

described: climate data, biodiversity data and land use data: parameters, spatial resolution,

models, scenarios, indicators?

a) Minimum standards for data (up-to-date, scale, parameter, indicators) are defined?

b) Is advice on how to plan without data given?

c) Data requirements are defined for climate change data?

d) Data requirements are defined for land use data?

e) Data requirements are defined for biodiversity data?

12) Uncertainty: Is described how to deal with uncertainty, how to address it?

a) Is advice given how to deal with uncertainty within the plan/planning process?

b) Is advice given how to communicate uncertainties, for e.g. with stakeholders?

Strategies and measures for adaptation

13) Specification of measures (and strategies): Are they specified by precise objectives, descriptions

of activities, timelines and responsibility and appropriate monitoring of their effectiveness? Is

advice on prioritisation of different adaptation measures given? Are examples for adaptation and

no-regret measures given? Is a choice of management options defined that can be implemented

according to actual climatic conditions?

a) Measures are described in detail (precise objectives, descriptions of activities, timeline,

responsibility, monitoring of effectiveness)?

b) Measures are differentiated in short term and long term measures?

c) Advice on how to prioritise different adaptation measures is given?

d) Examples for adaptation and no-regret measures are given?

e) Recommendation to implement different management options to use alternating or in

parallel according to actual climatic conditions?

14) Side effects of measures: Are impacts of adaptation measures for different land use interests

assessed? Are adaptation measures of important land users or stakeholders considered? Is

advice on adaptation given to important land users and stakeholders?

a) Are side effects and impacts of adaptation measures on land use considered?

b) Are possible adaptation measures of land users or other stakeholders considered?

c) Is advice on adaptation to important land users or other stakeholders given?

15) Invasive species: Are specific measures or strategies to deal with invasive species described?

a) Strategies and/or measures to deal with invasive species are included?

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Monitoring

16) Monitoring: Is a concept with specific goals of monitoring described? Is differentiated between

monitoring tasks and necessities at protected area level and tasks at national level? Is the

required simplicity of site specific monitoring measures addressed? Is the need to monitor

effectiveness of management measures emphasised? Is a monitoring concept defined in regard

to specific conservation and adaptation objectives? Is described how monitoring results shall be

used for management decisions?

a) Is site specific monitoring as an essential part of adaptive management and to measure

management effectiveness described?

b) Differentiation of monitoring tasks/necessities at protected area level and at national level?

c) Is the required simplicity of site specific monitoring measures addressed?

d) Is the need to define a monitoring concept with regard to specific conservation/adaptation

goals emphasised?

e) Is described how to use monitoring results for management decisions?

17) Indicators for monitoring: Are precise suggestions and descriptions for indicators for climate

change, its impacts and biodiversity or conservations status given?

a) Are suggestions and descriptions for climate change-, impact-, biodiversity-, management-,

adaptation- and/or conservation status indicators given?

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3. Results: Evaluation of Guidelines

In this chapter the results of the in-depths analysis of 14 selected guidance documents are

presented. The results include a short description of the document and tables with evaluation

results. In chapter 3.1 results for guidance on adaptation to climate change are presented, in chapter

3.2 analysis results for guidance for protected areas and Natura 2000 management can be found.

3.1. Guidance for Adaptation to Climate Change in Conservation Management

3.1.1. Draft Guidelines on Climate Change and Natura 2000

Title: Draft Guidelines on Climate Change and Natura 2000. Dealing with the impact of climate

change on the management of the Natura 2000 Network

Publication date: 2012

Language: English

Authors: I.M. Bouwma, C. Vos, M. Biemans, N. McIntosh, R. van Apeldoorn & P. Verdonschot (from

Alterra and Eurosite), publisher: European Union

Target group: Site managers, policy makers

Character of document: detailed guideline.

Objective: underline benefits from Natura 2000 sites in mitigating the impacts of climate change,

reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience, and how adaptation of management for species and

habitats protected by Natura 2000 can be used to tackle the effects of climate change.

Thematic focus: Adaptive management, Natura 2000, biodiversity, species and habitats, climate

change, adaptation and mitigation

Type of protected area: Natura 2000 sites

Character of content: Optional guidance, best practice, decision-framework, best assessment of

impacts and vulnerability to CC, practical advice, supplement with description of methodologies

Geographic scope: Europe

Short summary of content: These guidelines implement one of the actions of the European

Commission’s White Paper, “Adapting to Climate Change – a European Framework for Action”.

Although current and predicted impacts vary considerably across Europe, it is clear that climate

change in Europe is occurring already and that this will continue to have far-reaching consequences

for human well-being and natural systems. The guidelines introduce Natura 2000 as part of the

solutions. Therefore they describe the vulnerability of Natura 2000 and the network to climate

change. The species and habitats of Natura 2000 sites are inevitably impacted by climate change (p.

7).

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Although many Natura 2000 habitats and species are being impacted by climate change, or are likely

to be in the future, it is possible and necessary to change management regimes and policies to

partially mitigate or adapt to the impacts. These guidelines describe the need to review the benefits

of managing Natura 2000 sites in ways which unlock their potential to offer natural solutions for

climate change: often, this involves and requires development of integrated actions between nature

conservation professionals and stakeholders in other sectors. In addition, the guidelines draw on best

practice case studies to describe essential practical steps to take in developing adaptive management

strategies for climate change, which yield benefits for biodiversity and society (p. 8).

It is essential to develop sensible adaptive strategies, which ensure pro-active responses to climate

change. Therefore, in these guidelines, a decision framework is included to facilitate decision-making

and assist site managers, policy makers and others, whose actions impact on nature, in their choices

about types of possible measures. A broad suite of possible measures are described and illustrated

with examples. Adaptation measures for conservation, proposed and implemented to-date, range

from site-specific management measures to European-wide, or global, policy initiatives. The

measures vary from short-term and longer-term practical management actions, and from low cost to

more expensive measures, which differ in terms of result, impact and priority (p. 9).

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Table 2: Evaluation of Bouwma et al. 2012

Topic as a keyword Comments on evaluation and quotations

General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough – of protected area management? Yes For Natura 2000 sites. Detailed guideline for site managers and

policy makers. With: figures, diagrams, maps, case studies.

Guideline is structured in “Climate change, Natura 2000 and

Biodiversity”, “Managing climate change impacts”, “Adaptation

measures for Natura 2000 network” and a “Decision

framework”. The Decision-framework is not a step-by-step

guideline but contains elements of such a guidance.

Practice-oriented, non-scientific language? Yes

Step-by-step guidance and practice oriented descriptions? Yes

Minimum requirements/standards? No

Templates for content/results? No

Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? Yes Public participation, compiling data, scaling down & base-line

data, steps and timeline for planning process came up short.

Adaptation and mitigation measures at different levels. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? Yes

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes “Also, positive results and best practice examples will help to

communicate the need for urgent action on climate change and

show what can actually be achieved. [...] Importantly, especially

in terms of reaching out to engage the public, it is necessary to

avoid jargon and use real-life examples.” (94)

“Use scientific evidence and site-management experiences to

communicate with wider stakeholders and make a ‘case for

nature’.” (118)

→ But no detailed guidance, importance is just highlighted here

and there.

Detailed measures, guidance for public communication? No

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? (Yes) General description of “whom” and “for what”. No details.

Park staff and rangers addressed? No

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Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes To include expert knowledge is recommended for several steps

of adapted management, for e.g. “assessing vulnerability”,

“gathering knowledge about expected impacts”. Detailed measures, guidance for ...? No

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? (Yes) Some work steps and important tasks are described and

experience-based advice is given. Key practical steps for

including climate change within adaptive management are

described, but its more like highlighting the most important

aspects and less describing them as part of a planning process.

Iterative repetition of work steps described? (Yes)

Time-consuming parts pointed out? No

Transparency of process and documentation emphasised? No

Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? Yes Adaptive management is an important part of this guideline.

That is already shown by the table of contents. ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes

Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? No

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? No “Integrating ecosystem services in the adaptation of site

management will provide arguments to carry out certain

measures. By working together with stakeholders that are not

directly linked with nature conservation, determining which

measures in response to climate change should be taken,

synergies can be found, increasing the opportunities for

sustainable adaptation and cross-sectoral ‘win- win’ outcomes.”

(84)

Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? Yes

Define measurable objectives for adaptive management? No

Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? Yes “Site managers should not only assess the impacts of climate

change on biodiversity, but also review the impacts of climate

change on wider society – for example, their site may well

provide a solution to adapt to or mitigate climate change.” (22)

How to deduce management options from assessment

data? No

[20]


Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? No Are there climatic data (temperature, precipitation, recorded

weather extremes) that quantify and prove a (large) change in

climate in the region?

Habitat and species data are mentioned at several passages of

this guideline.

Advice on how to plan without data? No

... for climate change data? Yes

... for land-use data? No

... for biodiversity data? Yes

Uncertainty

How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes Different kinds of uncertainty are mentioned and included in

given advice at several passages as well as within the case

studies in Annex 2. How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? No “In these guidelines, a balance has been sought between

providing an overview of the types of possible measures and

listing all possible management measures for adaptation. This

resulted in a description of the main categories of measures and,

for each category, a few examples of possible measures are

provided.” (55)

Differentiated in long-term/short-term? Yes

How to prioritize adaptation measures? Yes

Examples for adaptation and no-regret measures? Yes

Different options alternating/in parallel depend. on

climate? No

Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land-use considered? No “For small sites, measures taken at site level often may not be

sufficient as the condition of the site depends to a large extent

on land use in the surrounding area. In large areas, existing land

use within and around the site might impede certain measures.”

(57) Based on this considerations measures of land-users and

stakeholders are mentioned in some paragraphs of this

guidance.

Measures of land-users/other stakeholders considered? Yes

Advice on adaptation to land-users/stakeholders given? No

Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? Yes Control of invasive or expanding species is described as a

measure and mentioned at several passages of this guidance.

[21]



Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? Yes

Monitoring is introduced as a tool to assess the effectiveness of

management and the effects of climate change.

... differentiated for area level and for national level? Yes

Required simplicity of site specific ... addressed? No

Need of monitoring based on goals emphasised? Yes

How to use ... results for management? Yes

Indicators for monitoring – suggestions/descriptions for indicators for climate

change, impact, biodiversity, management, adaptation and conservation

status?

Yes A sub-chapter “Monitoring measures and their effects” is

provided with main emphasis on indicators.

[22]

3.1.2. Supplement. Managing climate change for the Natura 2000 network

Title: Supplement. Managing climate change for the Natura 2000 network. Assessment of the

vulnerability of Natura 2000 species and habitats for climate change: species and habitat types most

at risk. Overall approach and the result of the analyses.


Language: English

Authors: C. Vos, I. Bouwma, P. Verdonschot, W. Geertsema, M. v. Riel

Target group: Site managers, policy makers

Character of document: practice oriented step-by-step guide for assessment approach and results

Objective: The aim of this assessment is to categorise species and habitats in groups based on their

vulnerability and expected responses to climate change. Vulnerability, as defined by the IPCC (2007),

is a combination of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity.

Thematic focus: Vulnerability assessment, Natura 2000, species and habitats, climate change


Character of content: optional guidance, assessment-framework, method for assessment of

vulnerability to climate change

Geographic scope: Europe

Short summary of content: This supplement has been developed based on best available knowledge.

Caution is advised in the use and interpretation of the results: for many species, no or little

information is available on the impacts of climate change; for habitats, the majority of the

assessment is based on expert knowledge (p. 3).

• The studies that were used as sources for the vulnerability assessment use a variety of different

climate change scenarios and time horizons. As a general rule, we based our assessment for species

on the reported impacts of the A2 scenario for 2080-2100 (except for Birds, as information is only

available for one scenario B2). In the A2 scenario, the rate of global warming is relatively high and

impacts on biodiversity are therefore relatively severe (p. 5).

• A large body of literature already exists on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. We

reviewed the recent scientific and applied literature on publications that categorise the vulnerability

of species and/or habitats for the impacts of climate change. This information forms the basis for the

development of vulnerability matrices for habitats and species (p 6 f.).

• Conclusions Habitats: Coastal habitats, fresh water habitats, rocky habitats and bogs, mires and

fens are the habitat clusters with the highest vulnerability to climate change (Figure 7). In these

habitat clusters, more than 75 % of the habitat types have a medium to high vulnerability (p. 27).

[23]


• Habitats with the largest amount of pressures are within the group of dunes habitats (maximum of

8 pressures for habitat type), and fresh water habitats (maximum of 7 pressures for habitat type)

(Figure 8). The biogeographical regions Continental and Mediterranean show the largest numbers of

highly vulnerable and moderately vulnerable habitat types (p. 27).

• Conclusions Species: Of the reviewed 306 Natura 2000 species, 35% are very high to extremely

vulnerable to climate change. The most sensitive groups are amphibians and reptiles and breeding

birds. For the majority of species (72%), no information was found during the review to determine

their vulnerability to climate change. The Mediterranean biogeographical region shows the highest

numbers of vulnerable species (p. 31).

[24]

Table 3: Evaluation of Vos et al. 2012


General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough for protected area management? No “The aim of this assessment is to categorise species and habitats in

groups based on their vulnerability and expected responses to climate

change.” (3) But this is done in very general groups/categories, for e.g.

“bird, fish, plant” for species and “forest, grasslands, freshwater

habitats” for habitats.

Practice-oriented, non-scientific language? No

Step by step guidance and practice oriented descriptions? No



Completeness All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? No Concept of adaptive capacity is introduced and referred to in many

passages but adaptation plays a minor role and mitigation is nearly not

mentioned at all. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? No

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.


Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes The importance of experts knowledge for the vulnerability assessment

of habitats and species is stated at several parts in this overall

assessment approach. Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

This supplement only describes an overall approach for the assessment

of habitats and species vulnerability to climate change impacts.

Iterative repetition of work steps described? No

Time consuming parts pointed out? No


Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

... is instrument to tackle climate change? No

[25]



Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? No

Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines. Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? No


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? No The most important impacts are described – but no methods to assess

CC or the impacts.

A vulnerability assessment is described. How to deduce management options from assessment

data? No

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? No

Advice is given on which IPCC scenario should be used for vulnerability

assessments. Furthermore climate change impacts on species and

habitats are named and described. From that information can be

derived about required climate change and biodiversity data



... for land use data? No


Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? No

Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines. How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? No

Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

Differentiated in long-term/short-term? No

How to prioritize adaptation measures? No

Examples for adaptation and no-regret measures? No


climate? No

[26]


Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? No

Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines. Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? No

Advice on adaptation to land users/stakeholders given? No

Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? No

Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

... differentiated for area level and for national level? No


Need of monitoring based on goals emphasised? No

How to use ... results for management? No



status?

No Not part of this supplement for the draft guidelines.

[27]


3.1.3. Climate adaptation: Risk, uncertainty and decision-making

Title: Climate adaptation: Risk, uncertainty and decision-making. UKCIP Technical Report. UKCIP,

Oxford, 166 pages.

Publication date: May 2003

Language: English

Editors: Willows, R.I. and Connell, R.K. Published by the UK Climate Impacts Programme, Oxford UK;

166 pp.

Target group: Decision makers and their advisers, those engaged in policy processes

Character of document: Framework for risk-based decision-making with a clear step-wise approach

with eight stages:

Stage 1 Identify problem and objectives

Stage 2 Establish decision-making criteria

Stage 3 Assess risk

Stage 4 Identify options

Stage 5 Appraise options

Stage 6 Make decision

Stage 7 Implement decision

Stage 8 Monitor, evaluate and review.

(...) For each stage of the framework, there are key issues that the decision-maker should consider,

and questions that should be answered. The guidance indicates tools and techniques that can be

applied to inform each stage.” (vii)

Objective: “The guidance describes climate adaptation strategies that summarise the general options

for managing climate change under conditions of uncertainty. An important consideration is to keep

open or increase the options that will allow climate adaptation measures to be implemented in the

future, when the need for climate adaptation and the performance of different adaptation measures

is less uncertain.” (vi) “The guidance was developed in the context of four case studies on: the

Environment Agency’s Water Resources Strategy (Environment Agency, 2001a), Thames Coastal

Defence Strategy, the Arun-Adur coastal defences, and forestry policy in Wales. RPA hosted an

evaluation workshop to develop the guidance further, where additional decision-making examples

were examined: a National Park management plan, building regulations and a local development

plan.” (i) “This report aims to improve the decision-maker’s capacity to handle risks associated with

climate and a changing climate.” (V) “The overall objective of this report is to provide guidance that

helps decision-makers and their advisers: (i) take account of the risk and uncertainty associated with

climate variability and future climate change; and (ii) identify and appraise measures to mitigate the

[28]

impact or exploit the opportunities presented by future climate – that is, to identify good adaptation

options.” (3 f.)

Thematic focus: Risk assessment and risk management in context of climate adaptation, framework

for decision making under uncertainty. Not specific to nature conservation activities and objectives

(though national park planning is used as an example for one stage of the framework and forestry

adaptation is an extensive case studies in the appendix), decision framework to be applied in all

sectors and at all levels).

Type of protected area: Protected areas are not subject of the framework, but case studies include

management planning for national park (but not all steps).

Character and form of content: Decision-framework, methods for assessment of impacts and

vulnerability to climate change, practical advice etc., the second part is a scientific background paper

on risk management techniques that is not meant for practical application.

Geographic scope: United Kingdom

Short summary of content: “This report recommends a structured framework and associated

guidance to promote good decision-making. This should enable decision-makers to recognise and

evaluate the risks posed by a changing climate, making the best use of available information about

climate change, its impacts and appropriate adaptive responses. The report identifies methods and

techniques for risk assessment and forecasting, options appraisal and decision analysis. Using these

methods will be important in delivering policies and projects that are successful in the face of an

uncertain future.” (V) “The framework and guidance aims to help decision-makers and their advisers

identify the important risk factors, and to describe the uncertainty associated with each. Uncertainty

analysis is a key feature of risk assessments. We recommend the use of techniques based on

sensitivity and uncertainty analysis to help identify sources of uncertainty and key assumptions in

general, and specifically to better understand the implications of uncertainty in future climate for

decisions.” (vi)

[29]


Table 4: Evaluation of Willows and Connell 2003


General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough for protected area management? No “Given the broad audience and diversity of applications, the

framework and supporting guidance are inevitably rather

generic. (…) The report does not aim to provide specific guidance

on particular climate hazards, their probabilities, uncertainties,

or possible impacts, as the role of a risk assessment is to

assemble such information appropriate to the problem in hand.”

(4). For each stage guiding questions to be answered are defined

as a checklist.

Practice-oriented, non-scientific language? (No)

Step by step guidance and practice oriented descriptions? Yes

Minimum requirements/standards? (Yes)

Templates for content/results? (Yes)

Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? No “Nor does the report aim to address decisions about the

mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.” (4) Tasks and

challenges of conservation planning are not subject of the

report. Basic steps of risk assessment are described, but cannot

be transferred directly to conservation planning.

Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? No


Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? No General importance of stakeholder involvement is mentioned

but not defined as an essential step. Park staff and rangers addressed? No

Cooperation with external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes For qualitative and quantitative climate change risk assessment

the need of external experts is emphasised (28). Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? Yes

The iteration of certain stages is emphasised which implies how

time consuming the process will be.

Iterative repetition of work steps described? Yes

Time consuming parts pointed out? Yes

Transparency of process and documentation emphasised? Yes

[30]


Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No “Adaptive management is an important strategy for handling the

uncertainties associated with climate change” (69) No more

detailed information… ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes

Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? No It is emphasised that decisions must be conform with legal

obligations and policies.

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? (Yes) In the examples for certain stages, objectives are defined

quantitative and measurable. The definition of SMART objectives

is not subject of the report.

Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? (Yes)

Define measurable objectives for adaptive management? (No)

Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? Yes Tools and techniques for risk assessment and climate scenarios

are presented in appendix 3 (but now are somewhat out of

date). How to deduce management options from assessment

data? Yes

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? (No)

Assessments can be started as qualitative analysis with little or

no data, the more data is available, more quantitative analysis is

possible.

Advice on how to plan without data? Yes


... for land use data? (Yes)

... for biodiversity data? (No)

Uncertainty

How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes The framework is about dealing with uncertainty. Its main aim is

to present an approach to handle climate change related

uncertainties. Different tools and techniques are suggested. How to communicate ...? Yes

[31]



Specification of

measures


An approach to identify possible adaptation measures is

presented, but it is not specific to conservation tasks. Some

examples give insight, how measures should be defined, but

conservation management is not the main target group.

Differentiated in long-term/short-term? (No)


Examples for adaptation and no-regret measures? (Yes)


climate? No

Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? Yes Comparison of alternatives and possible side-effects is an

essential part of risk assessment and management. Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? Yes

Advice on adaptation to land users/stakeholders given? (No)

Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? No

Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? (Yes)

The need for monitoring is only mentioned in short, but no

detailed advice on how to implement it, is given.







status?

No

[32]

3.1.4. Guiding principles for adaptation to climate change in Europe

Title: Guiding principles for adaptation to climate change in Europe.

Publication date: November 2010

Language: English

Authors: Prutsch, A., Grothmann, T., Schauser, I., Otto, S., McCallum, S.; Published by European

Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change as ETC/ACC Technical Paper 2010/6, 32 pp.

Target group: European Environmental Agency (EEA) and other organisation that who plan, prepare

and implement adaptation to climate change at different governance levels and sectors (planners,

administration, science).

Character and objective of document: Technical paper with guiding principles for adaptation as a

framework for the process of planning and implementation adaptation. “The aim of the study is to

provide a starting point for further work by EEA and/or other organizations on identifying success

factors and case studies on how good adaptation could work in practice at various governance levels

and in different sectors. In order to achieve this, the paper presents a set of guiding principles for

good adaptation in Europe and therein identifies specific elements that support its successful

implementation. Furthermore, it illustrates a few practical examples that are meant to highlight how

certain aspects presented in the guiding principles can be put into practice. The guiding principles

presented in this paper build on a comprehensive literature review, a comparison of national

adaptation strategies, expert judgements and good practice examples.” (3)

Thematic focus: Guiding principles for adaptation to climate change applicable in all sectors and all

governance levels

Type of protected area: Protected areas are not subject of this publication, but they may be applied

in adaptation planning for all kinds of protected areas.

Character and form of content: Methodical framework of guiding principles for adaptation planning

with good-practice examples.

Geographic scope: EU Member states: European to local scale; projects and policies

Short summary of content: “This paper provides a starting point for identifying success factors and

case studies on how good adaptation could work in practice at various governance levels and in

different sectors. It presents a set of guiding principles for good adaptation in Europe and therein

identifies specific elements that support its successful implementation. Furthermore, it illustrates a

few practical examples that are meant to highlight how certain aspects presented in the guiding

principles can be put into practice. The guiding principles build on a comprehensive literature review,

a comparison of national adaptation strategies, expert judgements and good practice examples.” (3)

[33]


Table 5: Evaluation of Prutsch et al. 2009


General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough for protected area management? Yes

Guiding principles for adaptation, not specifically for nature

conservation, but for all sectors and policies and all levels of

decision making. Best practice examples are given from different

sectors.


Step by step guidance and practice oriented descriptions? No



Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? No 10 guiding principles are explained in detail but no methods and

detailed advice for implementation is given.

Actions that conflict with mitigation are considered maladaptation

(p. 16). Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? (No)

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes Principle 2: Build knowledge and awareness


Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? No Principle 3: identify and cooperate relevant stakeholders. 3

Questions to identify relevant stakeholders: “Who will likely be

affected by the impacts of climate change or the outcomes of the

decisions related to adaptation? Who is responsible for realising

the potential adaptation action? Who can increase the

effectiveness of the potential adaptation action through their

participation or decrease its effectiveness by their

non‐participation?” (12)


Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes Principle 2: Build knowledge and awareness: “Decision makers,

stakeholders and the larger public should have access to reliable

information about potential climate change impacts,

vulnerabilities, adaptation options and tools…” (11) Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

Planning process Work steps clearly defined? No “The set of generic guiding principles for good adaptation

[34]


Iterative repetition of work steps described? (No) presented in section IV of this document is intended to give

direction on how the adaptation process should be carried out to

be successful, both for planning and effectively implementing

adaptation.” (7) “Adaptation is an ongoing process” (16).



Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No “Adaptive management is a flexible step‐by‐step process of

planning, implementing and revising adaptation activities on the

basis of new research results, regular monitoring and evaluation.”

(13) ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes


Definition of

conservation

objectives


Importance of stakeholder involvement is stretched. Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? Yes


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? No Principle 5: Explore potential climate change impacts and

vulnerabilities and identify priority concerns. The approach refers

to Ribeiro et al. (2009), but is only very general and not directly

applicable.

How to deduce management options from assessment data?

No

Data

requirements



... for climate change data? No


... for biodiversity data? No

[35]



Uncertainty

How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes Principle 4: Work with uncertainties. precautionary principle,

adaptive management, maintain or increase robustness and

resilience How to communicate ...? Yes

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? Yes Criteria to define adaptation options are listed on p. 14.

In Principle 5: “Stakeholder agreements on criteria for estimating

the importance of the various impacts can help to rank potential

impacts to identify priority adaptation needs.” (14) GP 6: Explore a

wide spectrum of adaptation options. Examples for measures are

listed in best practices examples.

“All possible adaptation options should be characterized in as

much detail as feasible including information about:

‐ objectives, direct and indirect effects with emphasis on potential

benefits, duration and spatial scope, socio‐economic and

ecological context, interplay between options, cross‐sectoral

interactions, financial resources needed, responsible actors and

opponents, etc.” (14)


How to prioritize adaptation measures? (Yes)


Different options alternating/in parallel depending on climate?

Yes, as a

principl

e (GP 5)

Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? (Yes) Criteria for the description of adaptation measures are given in

general manner. A multi-criteria analysis of adaptation options

should include “criteria such as importance, effectiveness,

urgency, sustainability, co‐benefits and side effects, reversibility,

flexibility, resilience, robustness as well as political and cultural

acceptability” (15)

Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? No

Advice on adaptation to land users/stakeholders given? (Yes)



[36]


Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? Yes “The main aim of monitoring and evaluation is to keep the

adaptation process focused on prioritised impacts of climate

change and to ensure that adaptation responds without delay to

changes in the evidence base. A monitoring system supports the

learning process (…) Monitoring and evaluation shall address

impacts of climate change (…) as well as direct and indirect costs

and benefits (…) of adaptation actions” (16)







status?

No Best practice case studies include some examples.

[37]


3.1.5. Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt

Title: Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt


Language: English

Authors: J.J. Hopkins, H.M. Allison, C.A. Walmsley, M. Gaywood, G. Thurgate; Publisher: Department

for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - DEFRA

Target group: Protected area management, planners

Character of document: pragmatic-general advice, pragmatic-concrete actions

Objective: to summarise current thinking on how to reduce the impacts of climate change on

biodiversity and how to adapt existing plans and projects in the light of climate change, to inform

about the implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. This document sets out the type of

actions that can be taken now to promote adaptation of biodiversity in a changing climate.

Thematic focus: Biodiversity, species and habitats conservation, climate change adaptation and

mitigation, ecological networks, adaptive management

Type of protected area: No specific type: Applicable for Natura 2000 sites, National Parks, Biosphere

Reserves, Nature Parks etc.

Character of content: Optional guidance, guiding principles combined with highlighted suggested

actions, practical advice

Geographic scope: United Kingdom

Short summary of content: This guidance is aimed at those who plan and deliver conservation of

terrestrial biodiversity (p. 3 f.).

The six guiding principles described in this document summarise current thinking on how to reduce

the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and how to adapt existing plans and projects in the

light of climate change. Although this guidance is intended to inform implementation of the UK

Biodiversity Action Plan, taking account of climate change is also relevant to the fulfilment of many

international agreements and obligations affecting the UK, including the EU target to halt biodiversity

loss by 2010. Proposals for policy change are beyond the scope of this document but because actions

are ultimately linked to policy frameworks, there is also much to be done to review and strengthen

policy at a country, UK and international level.

• Two types of action need to be taken to address the challenge of climate change and biodiversity

conservation. The first is adaptation, which means increasing the ability of natural systems to absorb

and respond to change, given that the world is irrevocably committed to some degree of climate

change. This guidance suggests what conservationists can do to contribute to this aim through the

conservation plans and activities within their control.

[38]

• The second type of action is mitigation that is controlling and reducing emissions of greenhouse

gases, the root cause of climate change. Although this is not the subject of this guide, it is recognised

that hugely important decisions made about land management may exacerbate or reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and some actions suggested here may contribute to mitigation.

• Our ability to predict the way in which biodiversity will be influenced by climate change is limited.

The obvious question is, if we cannot predict the future with certainty, how can we plan wildlife

adaptation? In essence, we must learn to manage by taking account of uncertainty. We should

choose actions that, on the basis of the best available evidence, are most likely to benefit biodiversity

as well as other ecosystem services, such as soil conservation, air and water quality, flood alleviation,

high-quality food, health, employment and recreation. Many adaptation actions proposed here will

be beneficial whatever the extent, rate or direction of climate change.

• Of course, measures or plans should be reviewed frequently and systematically to take account of

current research on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. In the next few years we may

know more about the ecological processes involved, and we will need to assess the effectiveness of

these guidelines and propose new adaptation techniques based upon research, practical experience

and monitoring.

• Climate is one of the most important factors that influence the behaviour, abundance and

distribution of species, as well as having a strong influence on the ecology of habitats and

ecosystems. Changes in the behaviour, abundance and distribution of species are already being

observed and linked to climate. Over time these and other changes are likely to become increasingly

profound.

[39]


Table 6: Evaluation of Hopkins et al. 2007


General

information,

level of detail


This is not a step-by-step guidance. But the most important

guiding principles for adaptation of conservation practice are

discussed practice oriented and exemplified by suggested

actions.


Step by step guidance and practice oriented descriptions? (Yes)



Completeness All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? No Several tasks are tackled but only in short and not all. Adaptation

and mitigation are addressed but no interdependencies. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? Yes

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? (Yes) Especially the involvement of stakeholders, landowners and

land-users is addressed. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? No

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? (Yes) Some hints are given on whom to address for what but no

details. Park staff and rangers are addressed at least once, but

indirectly only. Park staff and rangers addressed? No

Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? (Yes) Not explicitly experts but cooperation with others, for e.g.

stakeholders, such as local planning authorities, landowners and

local-community representatives is suggested. Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? No Iterative repetition is just mentioned not described: “Of course,

measures or plans should be reviewed frequently and

systematically to take account of current research on the

impacts of climate change on biodiversity.” (3)




Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? (Yes) Some aspects of adaptive management are described but not

adaptive management as a whole. ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes

Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? No The objectives are not mentioned/listed, but in several passages

[40]


the need for adaptation of conservation objectives (from higher

planning/policy levels) is stated.

Definition of

conservation

objectives


Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? No


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? Yes Use Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) and regional

spatial plan reviews to provide an assessment of climate-change

impacts within an area and make the case for development of an

ecological network.


data? No

Data

requirements


Some sources for different kinds of data where named within

the guidance. But no data requirements are described.





Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? (Yes) “In essence, we must learn to manage by taking account of

uncertainty.” Some general guidance but no concrete advise. How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? No “We should choose actions that, on the basis of the best

available evidence, are most likely to benefit biodiversity as well

as other ecosystem services, such as soil conservation, air and

water quality, flood alleviation, high-quality food, health,

employment and recreation. Many adaptation actions proposed

here will be beneficial whatever the extent, rate or direction of

climate change.” (3) Several examples for adaptation measures

but no explicit examples for no-regret measures.





climate? Yes

[41]



Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? No At some passages the involvement of stakeholders is pointed

out. But no detailed advice is given. Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? Yes


Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? (Yes) A few conceptual measures are highlighted, but no details.

Monitoring


“With data from regular monitoring the effectiveness of

management practices, such as grazing, can be reviewed, and if

necessary amended.“ (22)







status?

No

[42]

3.1.6. Conservation Action Planning Guidelines for Developing Strategies in the Face of

Climate Change

Title: Conservation Action Planning Guidelines for Developing Strategies in the Face of Climate

Change


Language: English

Publisher: TNC – The Nature Conservancy

Target group: Conservation practitioners, protected area management, planners

Character of document: Practice oriented step-by-step guide, workshop-results

Objective: The guidelines are intended to help conservation practitioners more systematically and

explicitly take into consideration the potential impacts of climate change on their conservation

strategies and actions.

Thematic focus: Adaptive management, species and habitats conservation, climate change

adaptation

Type of protected area: Any type of area and scale

Character of content: Optional guidance, methods for assessment of impacts of climate change

Geographic scope: United States (and for every area in which the planning method Conservation

Action Planning is used)

Short summary of content: The methodology outlined in these guidelines was developed by The

Nature Conservancy to assist twenty existing conservation projects adapt their current strategies to

climate change. These projects were part of the 2009 Climate Adaptation Clinic (i.e., Climate Clinic),

held September 1-3, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The original guidance, tools, and methods

developed specifically for the Climate Clinic were tested by the twenty projects during the three day

workshop. These significantly revised guidelines reflect the learning and insights gained from the

application of the original guidance at the Climate Clinic and can be used more broadly in our

Conservation Action Planning efforts. (p. 4)

• Methods for incorporating climate change in our conservation strategies and actions will be

evolving rapidly over the coming months and years. As more projects apply this version of the

guidelines to their work and test other methods and tools, additional lessons will be learned. (p. 4)

• Thus, these guidelines should be treated as a “work in progress” with future drafts reflecting our

dynamic learning. Readers are expected to have a fundamental understanding of Conservation

Action Planning and its component parts and tools (e.g., establishing conservation targets,

determining key ecological attributes, viability and threat assessments, situation analysis, CAP Excel

Workbook, Miradi, etc). If practitioners do not have experience with CAP, this guidance may be of

limited value because it draws on but does not explain the basic principles, methods, and existing

tools. See Appendix 1 for additional CAP resources and references. (p. 4)

[43]


• The methods were originally written for and tested by projects that already had a basic

conservation action plan but that did not adequately consider the potential impacts of climate

change in their original plan. Thus, the guidance is best applied to existing projects that have an

understanding of their conservation purpose, challenges, and opportunities but that have not yet

systematically considered climate change. (p. 4 f.)

• Conservation Action Planning methods and tools can be applied to conservation projects at any

scale or scope. During the 2009 Climate Clinic, an earlier version of these guidelines was applied to

projects at vastly different scales with general success – from smaller site-based projects of tens of

thousands of hectares to regional scale projects of tens of millions of hectares. (p. 5)

[44]

Table 7: Evaluation of The Nature Conservancy 2009


General

information,

level of detail


These guidelines consist of 7 Steps for developing conservation

strategies and measures in the face of climate change. It is a step-by-

step guidance with practice oriented language and a few templates in

the annex.




Templates for content/results? Yes

Completeness All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? No Adaptation is a key issue of this guidance but mitigation is not

mentioned. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? (Yes)

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? (Yes) Communication to stakeholders is introduced as an opportunity but

only very short and in general. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? No

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? No


[45]



Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes “Purposefully identify and talk to non-traditional academic,

agency, NGO, or other partners to deepen and refine your

understanding of the human response to climate change. Potential

partners might include local business leaders, utility and

infrastructure planners and engineers, economic development

experts, coastal zone management officials, public health officers,

agricultural development experts, and so forth. In some cases,

these experts will have model projections or scenarios of human

responses to climate change that will be informative in your

planning efforts.” (11) “Find the academic and agency experts who

are studying the impacts of climate change on your geography,

conservation targets (and their habitats), or other relevant aspects

of your project. Talk to these experts and ask them questions

about how they think climate change will impact the conservation

targets (and their habitats), viability, and threats.” (6)

Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? Yes

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? Yes Steps: (1) Understand the Potential Ecological Impacts of Climate

Change. (2) Formulate Specific Ecological “Hypotheses of Change”.

(3) Explore Potential Human Responses to Climate Change. (4)

Determine Which Climate-Induced Threats are MOST Critical to

Address. (5) Evaluate if Potential Climate Impacts Fundamentally

Change the Project. (6) Develop Adaptation Strategies and

Evaluate their Feasibility and Cost. (7) Develop Measures,

Implement, Adapt and Learn.




[46]


Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No Adaptation strategies and objectives are described in detail but not

adaptive management. ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes


Definition of

conservation

objectives


Communication of updated plan to stakeholders is a side issue. Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? No

Define measurable objectives for adaptive management? Yes

Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? Yes A comprehensive assessment tool is available to help project

planners and managers integrate climate change adaptation into

community-level projects: the Community-based Risk Screening

Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods (CriSTAL)

http://www.cristaltool.org/ Start with the detailed threats

assessment and ranking from your original CAP and revisit your

rankings based on what the climate impact analysis revealed. This

entails including new stresses and sources of stress AND re-ranking

existing stresses and sources of stress with the added or

exacerbated effects of climate change.” (13)


data? Yes

Data

requirements


Data requirements are no topic of this guidance document.





Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? (Yes)

Just very little guidance is given on how to deal with uncertainty. How to communicate ...? No

http://www.cristaltool.org/

[47]



Specification of

measures


Strategies and objectives are the main issue of this guidance,

measures are a side issue.





climate? No

Side effects of

measures




Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? (Yes) Only in short in the annexes.

Monitoring


Monitoring is addressed in short only. But it is referred to the

standard CAP process which many methods and tools to develop

indicators and monitoring methods. This guidance is only about

integrating climate change aspects into the standard CAP process.







status?

No No indicators but reference to standard CAP process which

includes information about monitoring indicators.

[48]

3.1.7. Managing for Climate Change - Developing Strategies for Protected Area Managers

Title: Managing for climate change - developing strategies for protected area managers. Results of a

Seminar organised by BfN and the United Nations Development Programme at the International

Academy for Nature Conservation of the Island of Vilm, Germany.

Publication date: August 2010

Language: English

Editors: Stolton, S., Dudley, N.

Target group: The IUCN/WCPA as provider of best practice guidelines, indirectly: protected area

managers who shall be supported with those guidelines, decision makers, planners, conservation

agencies.

(for example: protected area management, planners, decision makers (at national, regional or local

level), administration, science)

Character and objective of document: workshop results from an international meeting, where

adaptation requirements and necessary support for protected area managers were discussed. The

workshop tried to close the gap between scientific findings and approaches and “on-the-ground”

management in protected areas with its specific demands, resources and competences. All chapters

include a “gap-analysis” which defines missing information and support.

Objective: “The aim of this working was to bring together a range of experts to help develop

strategies for protected area managers to understand likely climate change impacts and plan

management responses at a site level.” (1) “The workshop had two main aims: To provide training

for participants in issues relating to climate change and protected areas and a first quick compilation

of available information, contained in this report; To collect ideas, opinions and potential case

studies for a “best practice guidelines” publication on managing protected areas in the face of

climate change, to be researched and published by the IUCN-WCPA.” (78) The workshop and this

documentation were planned as a preparatory work to set the framework and minimum

requirements for a guideline for protected area managers to be published in the IUCN/WCPA Best

Practice Guideline series. This guideline is not available yet.

Thematic focus: The workshop addressed the needs, tasks and competences of protected area

managers and aimed to provide practice-oriented support for the adaptation to climate change.

Discussions during the workshop were centred on five key themes: Understanding climate change

impacts at the site level; Managing for climate change at the site level; Biome management in the

face of climate change; Monitoring and adaptive management; Restoring and connecting landscapes

(protected areas in the wider landscape). Four issues were discussed: What is already available for

managers? e.g. approaches and tools; What experience an managers draw on? e.g. best practices

and case studies; What else do managers need?: e.g. guidance, best practice example, research;

What resources do managers need?: e.g. finances, knowledge and capacity.” (p. 1 f.)

Type of protected area: All types of protected areas (especially managed ones)

[49]


Character of content: workshop results that identify the most urgent knowledge gaps and needs to

support protected area management at site level in adapting to climate change; best practice

examples for adaptation planning, preparation of a IUCN-WCPA best practice guideline, discussion of

methods for assessment of impacts and vulnerability to climate change, preparation of a guideline

with practical advice for protected area managers

Geographic scope: protected areas worldwide

Short summary of content: “The specific purposes of the workshop were to use the results of the

discussions:

• To contribute to the development of a planned International Union for Conservation of Nature’s

World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) publication on protected area management and

climate change in its “Best Practice” series – the publication will target protected area managers and

others involved in site level planning and management and provide guidance on approaches to

assessing and addressing climate change impacts at site level.

• To use existing and planned United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) / Global

Environment Facility (GEF) projects to develop and demonstrate the role of expanded protected

areas systems as vehicles for climate change adaptation and to integrate the results in the guidelines

for protected area managers.

This publication thus reports the “brainstorming” on the topics addressed, rather than providing a

comprehensive analysis of the subject.” (1)

[50]

Table 8: Evaluation of Stolton and Dudley 2010


General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough for protected area management? Yes The main objective of the workshop was to identify the needs and

requirements of protected area managers. The basis work steps

and strategies of an adaptation process were discussed and all

requirements for guidance aim to support local protected area

management.

Practice-oriented, non-scientific language? (Yes)

Step by step guidance and practice oriented descriptions? (Yes)

Minimum requirements/standards? Yes


Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? Yes All work steps necessary in adaptation are discussed and minimum

requirements are defined and illustrated with best practice

examples from all over the world. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? Yes

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes The workshop documentation itself does not explain how to raise

awareness but it defines the minimum requirements and

framework for awareness raising. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? Yes

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? (Yes) The general need to plan and management together with local

communities is emphasised and best practice strategies are

discussed. Park staff and rangers addressed? (Yes)

Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes

Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? Yes The aim of the workshop was to identify best practice examples,

tools and approaches but also knowledge gaps and obstacles for

implementation that have to be addressed and solved in

adaptation guidelines. Basic principles for the planning process are

defined in various chapters.


Time consuming parts pointed out? (Yes)

Transparency of process and documentation emphasised? (No)

Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? Yes The need to organise the management process as a learning

process is emphasised. Although the term adaptive is used often,

no specific concept of an adapted management is presented. ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes

[51]



Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? (No)

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? (Yes) The need to clarify and specify conservation objectives is

emphasised in several chapters. Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? Yes


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? Yes Methods and requirements for assessments are discussed and

recommendations are given, based on best practice examples. How to deduce management options from assessment

data? (Yes)

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? (Yes)

Data requirements and existing gaps are identified. Best practice

examples and possible solutions are discussed.

Advice on how to plan without data? (no)

... for climate change data? (Yes)

... for land use data? (Yes)

... for biodiversity data? (Yes)

Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? (Yes) It is recommended to use timeframes up to 50 years for modelling

and planning to reduce uncertainty in projections and models. How to communicate ...? (Yes)

Specification of

measures


Management and adaptation measures are not a subject of this

documentation, although basis requirements for management

measures are discussed.

Differentiated in long-term/short-term? (Yes)




climate? Yes

[52]


Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? Yes The need for coordinated planning and implementation of

management together with land users and stakeholders to reduce

conflicts and raise awareness is emphasised.

Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? Yes

Advice on adaptation to land users/stakeholders given? Yes

Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? Yes

Invasive species is considered a major problem but a lack of

information, definitions, standards and effective strategies is

stated. More research is needed.

Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? (No)

Basis requirements for climate change and management

effectiveness monitoring are defined, but many gaps in existing

management are identified.

... differentiated for area level and for national level? (Yes)

Required simplicity of site specific ... addressed? (Yes)

Need of monitoring based on goals emphasised? (Yes)

How to use ... results for management? (Yes)



status?

(Yes) The need for a generic list of indicators is emphasised but detailed

suggestions still lack.

[53]


3.2. Guidance for Protected Area Management Planning

3.2.1. Handbook for setting up management plans for Natura 2000 sites in the Federal State of

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Title: Handbuch zur Erstellung von Managementplänen für die Natura 2000-Gebiete in Baden-

Württemberg. Version 1.2 (Handbook for development of management plans for Natura 2000 sites in

German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg).

Publication date: October 2009

Language: German

Editor and publisher: LUBW Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden-

Württemberg, Karlsruhe, 460 pp.

Target group: Conservation and forest administration in Baden-Württemberg, protected area

managers, responsible planers, persons and institutions for management of Natura 2000 sites

Character of document: Practice oriented step by step guide, detailed and comprehensive handbook

with methods, mapping instructions and evaluation schemes.

Objective: To standardise the planning process and stakeholder participation for Natura 2000 sites,

to facilitate comparable results for area of Baden-Württemberg.

Thematic focus: Tasks and responsibilities of administrations involved are described in detail and

with specific deadlines and methods for each working step. Guideline specifies procedure and

methods for each species and habitat type of the Habitats Directive. Management planning for

Natura 2000 sites is described regarding stakeholder participation, planning process and evaluation

of conservation status. Management measures and monitoring are not explained in detail.

Type of protected area: Natura 2000 sites in Baden-Württemberg

Character of content: Binding for all administrations in Baden-Württemberg involved in Natura 2000

management. Explanation of methods for processing and establishing management plans for Natura

2000 sites in Baden-Württemberg, with all necessary work steps from inventory taking to monitoring.

The handbook introduces a standardised procedure to be applied for all sites. Practice oriented but

scientifically proven methods for mapping and evaluating each habitat type and species of the

Habitats Directive are described in depth on more than 250 pages.

Geographic scope: Baden-Württemberg, Federal State of Germany

Short summary of content: The handbook contains a description of the entire process of planning

management for Natura 2000 sites. Starting with definition of responsible institutions and actors,

their tasks and duties and an exact schedule for the entire process, the handbook gives very specific

advice and methods for each working step of the planning process. Detailed information is given for

mapping and evaluating habitats and species of the Natura 2000 network. The handbook is very

extensive (460 pages!) but focuses on mapping and evaluation of habits and species. It sets very

precise standards for Natura 2000 management plans in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

[54]

Table 9: Evaluation of LUBW 2009


General

information,

level of detail


Very detailed descriptions, but very formal and official and dry

language of administration (“officialese”). Methods for each

working step are described in detail. The guideline is very practice

oriented and leaves no open questions.

Practice-oriented, non-scientific language? (No)




Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? Yes The guideline is only about developing management plans and

preparation of management implementation for Natura 2000 sites.

Climate change (adaptation and mitigation) are not a subject of the

guideline. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes The process of participation is described in detail.

Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? Yes

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? Yes Institutions and stakeholders to be involved are defined in detail.

The process of participation is described in detail with timelines

and methods. Natura 2000 sites are mostly outside protected

areas and in forests in Baden-Württemberg. Park staff and rangers addressed? Yes

Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? (Yes) The role of experts and institutions involved is defined precisely.


Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? Yes Very detailed explanation of planning phases and duration and

responsibilities. 3 phases are described: preparation phase (data

collection and biotope mapping), planning phase (with objectives,

measures and stakeholder involvement), implementation phase.




Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No Adaptive management is not referred to.


[55]



Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? Yes

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? Yes chapter 6 of the guideline describes in detail how to define

objectives and how to solve internal conflicts between different

conservation objectives.



Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? No

Adaptation to climate change is not a subject of this guideline. How to deduce management options from assessment data?

No

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? Yes The guideline defines a 3 years preparation phase which shall be

used to obtain baseline ecological and socio-economic data for

planning process. Responsibilities and methods are defined very

precise. Mapping requirements and methods are defined for each

habitat type and species of the Habitats Directive.



... for land use data? Yes



How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? (Yes)

Instruments for funding and financing of management measures

are defined. In Appendix IV suggestions for management measures

are given, but not very specific (measurable).




Different options alternating/in parallel depend. on climate?

No

[56]


Side effects of

measures


Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? (Yes)



Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? No

Monitoring is not a subject of the handbook.







status?

No

[57]


3.2.2. Guidelines for drafting Natura 2000 Management Plans

Title: Guidelines for drafting Natura 2000 Management Plans and special measures to be carried out

in SPAs


Language: English and Spanish

Editors: Íñigo, A., O. Infante, V. López, J. Valls and J.C. Atienza; published by SEO/BirdLife, Madrid, 83

pp.

Target group: Planners, institutions and administrations how are obliged to put up a management

plan for SPAs, SAC and other Natura 2000 sites in Spain.

Character and objective of document: Practice oriented step by step guide, detailed guideline with

lists with specific management measures for specific bird species, workshop-results of the discussion

and improvement of former guidelines for management plans for Natura 2000 area and especially

SPAs. The 2008 published SEO/BirdLife published ’Guidelines for drafting plans or management tools

for SPAs’ were discussed with technical staff from the Autonomous Communities of Andalucía,

Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León and Extremadurain meetings and were revised and some

modifications were suggested in order to improve them and make them more generally applicable to

the entire Natura 2000 network. As a result of these meetings the guidelines composing the first part

of this manual have been corrected and extended for the entire Natura 2000 network. (6)

“…guidelines are needed to facilitate the drafting and approval of management plans” (5) Adaptation

to climate change is not a subject of these guidelines!

Thematic focus: Management planning for Natura 2000 sites in Spain, especially SPAs and SACs with

suggestions for concrete management measures.

Type of protected area: Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Areas of Conservation

(SACs) which includes the SPA network, ‘Important Bird Areas’ (‘IBA’): Natura 2000 sites.

Character and form of content: “Apart from guidelines for management plans, this manual also

includes the management measures which should be considered, depending on the bird species in

the protected area. Measures have not been included for those species from other groups of fauna

or flora, nor for habitats of community importance, but this exercise must be carried out by the

responsible authorities when drafting management plans for SCIs in order for them to be declared as

SACs.” (6)

Geographic scope: Spain

Short summary of content: “... the requirement for drafting and approving plans and management

tools for all areas under the Natura 2000 network, have motivated SEO/BirdLife to draft some

guidelines which set out some minimum requirements for such management. (...) This text aims to

summarise concisely all the important issues to bear in mind when drafting a management plan for a

Natura 2000 protected area.“ (5) “...these guidelines do not describe the way in which particular

measures should be carried out, but they do highlight the need to tackle each question in order to

maintain some degree of coherence in the management of Natura 2000 protected areas.” (6) “The

[58]

aim of these guidelines is not to propose a specific methodology to draft and approve a plan or

management tool, since there are already appropriate manuals. Nevertheless, due to the importance

of these subjects, it outlines the main characteristics that such procedure should have.” (10)

[59]


Table 10: Evaluation of Íñigo et al. 2010


General

information,

level of detail


Detailed description of the content and examples for structure of a

management plan are given.




Templates for content/results? (Yes)

Completeness All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? Yes Adaptation to CC is not a subject of this guideline! It is about how

to draft and process a management plan. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes A link for more information and guidance to the Natura 2000

networking programme and the “Green Days Toolkit” is given.

(www.natura.org/toolkit.html). “The management plan should

include a public awareness programme” (14) Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? (Yes)

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? (Yes) “Participation is essential so that the different actors commit to

the plan through the development of a sense of belonging and

identification with their environment. It is known that people tend

to assume responsibilities for which they consider their own.” (11)

Most important aspects of participation are explained on p. 11 f.

Park staff and rangers addressed? (Yes)

Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes Integration of expert knowledge is emphasised on p. 10.


http://www.natura.org/toolkit.html

[60]


Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? (Yes) General aspects and requirements of the planning process,

especially stakeholder and expert involvement are described in

detail, but no methods or tools for the necessary work steps are

described.




Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No Adaptive Management is not introduced as a concept, but basic

elements are described: “The management plan should include

measures for checking its effectiveness and checking compliance

with the site´s conservation objectives and the specific objectives of

each measure; these will determine the success of the plan.” (14)


Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? Yes Relevant legislation as essential part of the management plan.

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? (Yes) The importance of specific definition of measurable conservation

objectives for each species is emphasised. It is recommended to

define objectives as precise as possible and use the objectives as

indicators for monitoring of management effectiveness.


Define measurable objectives for adaptive management? (Yes)

Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts


Climate change is not an explicit subject of the guideline. How to deduce management options from assessment data?

No

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? No Knowledge gaps about species should be addressed in management

plan and knowledge basis be evaluated (from poor to excellent) and

measures to improve knowledge basis be included in management

plan. Expert knowledge should be basis for management planning.

Research activities to improve knowledge base should be addressed

in management plan.

Advice on how to plan without data? (No)




[61]



Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? No Uncertainty is addressed only indirectly by the need of evaluating

management effectiveness and by revising management plan. How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? Yes “Apart from guidelines for management plans, this manual also

includes the management measures which should be considered,

depending on the bird species in the protected area. Measures have

not been included for those species from other groups of fauna or

flora, nor for habitats of community importance…” (6) Detailed list

with measures for specific species and relevant threats are

presented on pp. 19 to 55. Measures are categorised to different

habitat types but only for bird species.




Different options alternating/in parallel depend. on climate?

No

Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? (Yes) Socio-economic developments should be considered in a monitoring

programme and the evaluation programme of the management plan

(p. 14)

Measures of land users/other stakeholders considered? (Yes)



Monitoring


Monitoring should include surrounding of protected site.







status?

Yes Precise definitions of objectives for each species can be used as

indicators to assess management effectiveness.

[62]

3.2.3. Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide

Title: Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide.


Language: English

Authors: Williams, B. K., R. C. Szaro, and C. D. Shapiro; Editor: Adaptive Management Working Group,

U.S.; Publisher: Department of the Interior, Washington, DC., 84 pp.

Target group: (US Department of Interior) Wildlife managers and practitioners

Character of document: Practice oriented step by step guide, pragmatic-general advice, detailed

guideline, handbook.

Objective: “The purpose of this technical guide is to present an operational definition of adaptive

management, identify the conditions in which adaptive management should be considered, and

describe the process of using adaptive management for managing natural resources. The guide is not

an exhaustive discussion of adaptive management, nor does it include detailed specifications for

individual projects.” (1) The printed copy of the guideline includes a CD with case studies of the

implementation of adaptive management.

Thematic focus: Implementation of adaptive management in natural resource management. A set-up

phase and the continuous and iterative implementation of the adaptive management are described

in detail, including biodiversity or species and habitats conservation, protected area and wildlife

management and planning, monitoring, stakeholder involvement.

Type of protected area: All types of conservation areas where natural resources are managed.

Character and form of content: Technical guide, practice oriented, structured according to typical

management questions. Each working step is summed up in a few key points that define most

important aspects and content to be considered when planning adaptive management. Examples

from case studies are given and work steps and content is exemplified via those case studies.

Checklists with questions are provided for each working step of an adaptive management (starting

from page 54). Decision-framework with methods for application of adaptive management, practical

advice.

Geographic scope: USA, especially conservation areas under control of Department of Interior.

Short summary of content:

“The purpose of this technical guide is to present an operational definition of adaptive management,

identify the conditions in which adaptive management should be considered, and describe the

process of using adaptive management for managing natural resources. The guide is not an

exhaustive discussion of adaptive management, nor does it include detailed specifications for

individual projects. (…)Adaptive management is framed within the context of structured decision

making, with an emphasis on uncertainty about resource responses to management actions and the

value of reducing that uncertainty to improve management. Though learning plays a key role in

adaptive management, it is seen here as a means to an end, namely good management, and not an

[63]


end in itself. (…)Adaptive management as defined here involves ongoing, real-time learning and

knowledge creation, both in a substantive sense and in terms of the adaptive process itself. It is

described in what follows in a series of 9 steps, as summarized in section 4.1, involving stakeholder

involvement, management objectives, management alternatives, predictive models, monitoring

plans, decision making, monitoring responses to management, assessment, and adjustment to

management actions. An adaptive approach actively engages stakeholders in all phases of a project

over its timeframe, facilitating mutual learning and reinforcing the commitment to learning-based

management.” (V)

[64]

Table 11: Evaluation of Williams et al. 2009


General

information,

level of detail


The guide begins with a “problem scoping key for Adaptive

Management” that directs users via questions to the relevant

content of the guideline (p. iv).





Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? Yes All necessary steps and aspects of the planning and

implementation of an adaptive management are described in

detail. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes Stakeholder involvement and agreements on objectives and

measures are emphasised as essential parts of adaptive

management. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? Yes

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? Yes Detailed description on pp. 22 ff.

Park staff and rangers addressed? Yes

Cooperation with external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? (No) Cooperation with experts that represent stakeholders is

emphasised. Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? (No)

Planning process


The implementation of an adaptive management is described in

a set-up phase and an iterative phase.




[65]



Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? Yes The entire guideline is about the introduction and

implementation of adaptive management.

“Activities in a structured approach to decision making include

the following:

• Engaging the relevant stakeholders in the decision making

process

• Identifying the problem to be addressed

• Specifying objectives and tradeoffs that capture the values of

stakeholders

• Identifying the range of decision alternatives from which

actions are to be selected

• Specifying assumptions about resource structures and

functions

• Projecting the consequences of alternative actions

• Identifying key uncertainties

• Measuring risk tolerance for potential consequences of

decisions

• Accounting for future impacts of present decisions

• Accounting for legal guidelines and constraints” (3)

... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes

Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? (No)

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? Yes The importance of precisely defined objectives is emphasised

throughout the guidelines. “An adaptive approach requires

explicit and measurable Objectives” (11) Detailed description on

pages 24 ff. (SMART objectives)



[66]


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? No Climate change is not a subject of this guideline, but

management decisions under uncertainty are. How to deduce management options from assessment

data? No

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? (Yes) Adaptive management is an approach to management without

sufficient data and knowledge about the managed resources.

The development of model-assumptions about expected

responses and a systematic monitoring is therefore essential.

The role of monitoring to collect relevant data and the use of

baseline data is described. Learning about managed resources

includes to collect and assess more data about managed

resources during the course of time and monitoring.





Uncertainty

How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes The main aim of adaptive management is to make good

management decision under uncertainty. Chapter 5.2 (pp. 61 ff.)

explains how to account for uncertainty in adaptive

management. How to communicate ...? Yes

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? Yes

Examples for alternative measures are given from case studies.





climate? Yes

[67]



Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? Yes The concept of adaptive management aims to reduce

uncertainties about effects of management measures in natural

resource management. A suitable monitoring must aim to

identify side effects and impacts of management.


Advice on adaptation to land users/stakeholders given? Yes


Monitoring


“…adaptive management is not possible without effective

monitoring” (12) Purposes of monitoring are described on p. 31.


Required simplicity of site specific ... addressed? Yes





status?

(Yes) Examples from case studies are given. But no indicators to track

climate induced changes are described.

[68]

3.2.4. Handbook for Natura 2000 Management Planning in Federal State Brandenburg,

Germany

Title: Handbuch zur Managementplanung Natura 2000 im Land Brandenburg . Leitfaden zur

Erstellung von Managementplänen für die Natura 2000-Gebiete in Brandenburg (MP-Handbuch)

(Handbook for management planning Natura 2000 in the federal state of Brandenburg. Guide for

preparation of management plans for Natura 2000 areas in Brandenburg (mp-handbook)


Language: German

Authors: I. Schwand, F. Berhorn, A. Böhnke, M. Düvel, M. Flade, A. Freiwald, K. Heinemann, R.

Köhler, A. Kruse, T. Lipp, C. Molkenbur, S. Petrick, S. Schmidt, T. Schoknecht, U. Schröder, Editors: M.

Düvel, M. Flade, D. von Heydebrand, A. Korthals, A. Kruse, T. Lipp, C. Molkenbur, I. Schwand,

Publisher: Landesamt für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz in Brandenburg (LUGV)

Target group: Protected area management, planners, Natura 2000 management experts, decision

makers at local and regional level, administration, stakeholders, land users

Character and objective of document Character: detailed handbook, practice oriented step-by-step

guide

Objective: to give detailed information about contents and process of Natura 2000 management

planning to everybody who is involved, to put state-wide standards for Natura 2000 management

planning in Brandenburg into practice

Thematic focus: Natura 2000, species and habitats conservation (also monitoring and stakeholder

involvement in nature conservation)


Character of content: Binding guidance which intends to standardise management planning,

planning-framework, practical advice

Geographic scope: Federal state of Brandenburg

Short summary of content: The handbook is targeted in the first place at planning experts, which are

responsible for the drafting of management plans, but also at the administrative representatives,

which give organisational and technical advice. Furthermore it can inform all involved about the

process and contents of Natura 2000 management planning.

• The handbook intends to standardise management planning in the federal state of Brandenburg. It

consists of three parts and one annex. In part A “basis and process” the tasks and objectives of

management planning in Brandenburg as well as the process and organisation, especially the

necessary planning steps for the planners, are explained. Part B “contents of management plans”

refers to “sample structure of management plans”. It provides content related advice specified for

every chapter of a Natura 2000 management plan, for planning-practice and for the concept for

implementation. In part C additional “advice for mapping of habitat types, biotopes and species” is

given, which is more detailed than the cited mapping instructions.

[69]


• The annex contains an exemplary structure and table of contents of a management plan as well as

several catalogues and lists.

• The bibliography is structured in terms of content and provides further information about

publications, internet resources and further sources of information.

• The methods and the technical and organisational guidance given in this handbook is an obligatory

framework for the planners responsible for the management planning.

[70]

Table 12: Evaluation of Schwand et al. 2011


General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough for protected area management? Yes This handbook is designed for planning practitioners on local and

regional level. It provides detailed instructions for the local scale,

describes every planning step, intends to implement minimum

standards for Natura 2000 management planning in

Brandenburg and provides lists and templates for management

plans.

Climate change is a side issue only.





Completeness All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? Yes All steps/tasks of Natura 2000 management are described in

detail. Adaptation is part of this handbook but mitigation is not. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? (Yes)

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes The importance is highlighted, guidance is given, but is a more

general way, no detailed description of measures for public

participation. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? (Yes)

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? (Yes) Whom for what and when is described in short but no detailed

descriptions of how to do this. Park staff and rangers addressed? No

Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes External experts are a main target group of this handbook.


Planning process


The iterative character of work steps and the need for

transparency is stated in very few passages only.



Transparency of process and documentation emphasised? (Yes)

Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No Adaptive management is introduced in general, but no detailed

advice is given. ... is instrument to tackle climate change? Yes

Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? Yes Yes, they are introduced separately for water related habitats,

[71]



forests, grasslands and for species.

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? Yes



Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? No This is not part of this version of the handbook for management

planning in Brandenburg so far. How to deduce management options from assessment

data? No

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? Yes

If no (current) data is available, detailed instructions for mapping

of habitats and species are given.






How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures


Long lists of potential measures are provided and advice on how

to work out detailed measures is given. For prioritisation see

chapter 3.5.1. Different options according to climatic conditions

are discussed but in general only.





climate? (Yes)

[72]


Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? (Yes) “Adaptation and land-use” is no special topic but the effects of

measures on different kinds of land-use and potential conflicts

are discussed.



Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? (Yes)

Strategies and objectives are introduced but no measures.

Measures have to be worked out on site level taking into

account the individual case and expert opinion.

Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? Yes Very extensive descriptions on monitoring of species and

habitats are given. Resources for further information and

instructions are named.

Most parts about monitoring are for area/site level, monitoring

on national level is a side issue only.







status?

Yes

Detailed descriptions for monitoring indicators for impacts,

biodiversity and conservations status are given. Climate change

and adaptation are side topics.

[73]


3.2.5. Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas

Title: Guidelines for Management Planning of Protected Areas


Language: English

Authors: L. Thomas, J. Middleton, Editor: A. Phillips, Publisher: IUCN, Cardiff University

Target group: Protected area management, planners, decision, administration

Character and objective of document Character: practice oriented step-by-step guide, pragmatic-

general advice, detailed guideline

Objective: to inform about the essential steps of good management planning and current best

practice, to feature the consultative phase, particularly with local communities

Thematic focus: Management planning process, protected areas, management plans, participation

and consultation, stakeholder involvement

Type of protected area: All protected areas

Character of content: Optional guidance, best practice, case studies, decision-framework, practical

advice

Geographic scope: Worldwide

Short summary of content: These guidelines consist of a description of requirements for successful

preparation and implementation of management plans, a detailed description of the planning

process and of each of the 13 planning steps, an extensive chapter about why, whom and how to

involve other people, stakeholders and the public and of some advice on the international dimension

of management planning.

• In past years, management planning was typically undertaken by a group of planning experts who

were instructed by their organisation to research the relevant information, interpret it and devise the

best possible plan based on their professional experience. Indeed some planners may never have

visited the site. Today, as we move into increasingly complex planning environments, with higher

levels of tourism and protected area resource use, it is not possible to continue in this way. Critical to

the planning of protected areas is the widest possible consultation with stakeholders and the

development of objectives that can be agreed and adhered to by all who have an interest in the use

and ongoing survival of the area concerned. So I am pleased to see that the consultative phase,

particularly with local communities, features strongly in these Guidelines. (vii)

• It needs to be recognised that the preparation of the plans can be expensive and time consuming.

While short cuts can be taken, this will be to the detriment of the protected area. Those

organisations with responsibility for management are urged to make the strongest possible

commitment to planning so as to avoid the long-term perils of management which lacks a strategic

direction. (vii)

[74]

Table 13: Evaluation of Thomas et al. 2003


General

information,

level of detail

Scale precise enough for protected area management? Yes A simple clear style with user friendly and practice-oriented

language is used. The planning process is described in 13 steps; each

step includes practice oriented advice. Minimum standards are

discussed for public participation/consultation, as Limits of

acceptable change (LAC) and as thresholds for potential concern

(TPC).





Completeness All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? (Yes) Complete set of work steps for management process discussed but

no specific work steps for adaptation. Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes Minimum requirements and further steps of public consultation are

discussed. “Guidelines” for consultation on the draft Management

Plan lists several concrete steps and requirements of participation of

the public. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? Yes

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? Yes Whom, how and for what is described in detail. When is addressed

in several chapters, too. These guidelines give very extensive

information about stakeholder involvement. Park staff and rangers addressed? Yes

Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes Pros and cons of external experts are discussed. I a discussed case

study a combination of external experts and internal community

members produced a good management plan. Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? Yes Involving a wide range of people in the planning process can be time

consuming. Some methods of public participation can be time

consuming but also produce good outputs.



Transparency of process and documentation emphasised? (Yes)

[75]



Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? No Adaptive management is mentioned in a passage about “Flexibility” -

but no detailed descriptions. ... is instrument to tackle climate change? No

Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? No No reference to objectives on higher levels but extensive

explanations of

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? Yes Limits of acceptable change are introduced as a tool to solve internal

conflicts. It is discussed that objectives have to be measurable. But

not in the context of measures for adaptive management.


Define measurable objectives for adaptive management? (Yes)

Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts


Climate change is no issue of these guidelines written in 2003. How to deduce management options from assessment

data? No

Data

requirements


There is advice on how to plan with only little data. No minimum

standards are defined, but there is extensive advice on the quality of

data and on what data to use (see page 26 – 30).





Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes The term “gap” is used in several passages, for e.g. “... gaps in

information … should be clearly stated.” How to communicate ...? No

[76]


Specification of

measures


Measures are no big issue in these guidelines, but objectives are

discussed extensively. Thus long- and short-term and priorities are

introduced in the context of objectives and not measures.

Differentiated in long-term/short-term? (Yes)




climate? No

Side effects of

measures

... of adaptation on land use considered? Yes Stakeholders and land-users are addressed often but in the context

of consultation and participation of the drafting of the management

plan – not as active players in implementing the measures of the

plan.




Monitoring

Site specific ...? ... to measure management effectiveness? Yes Monitoring is introduced as a tool for a review of the management

effectiveness and for evaluating if the objectives of the plan are

being achieved. In this context it is stated the monitoring efforts in

the past often has been to limited. Thus no “simplicity” of

monitoring is addressed but there is guidance on how to design a

fitting and efficient monitoring.







status?

No Indicators are nearly no issue. Advice on how to design the

monitoring is given but not that specific.

[77]


3.2.6. Measuring the Results of Wildlife Conservation Activities

Title: Measuring the Results of Wildlife Conservation Activities


Language: English

Authors: D. Murphy, D. Chadwick, P. Dresler, D. Flynn, A. Hatch, M. Hughes, M. Humpert, G. Kania, J.

Kart, J. Kostyack, C. Kuczak, G. Larouche, J. Lerner, J. Mariani, S.G. Nagle, B. Noon, T. O’Meara, N.

Salafsky, P. Stangel, M. Sweet, R. Szaro, T. Bentley Wigley, G. Butcher , A. Hatch , J. Mawdsley , D.

Murphy , L. Neel , D. Niven , B. Noon , R. O’Malley , Editor: J. Mawdsley , D. Murphy , J. Horine , N.

Waugh , Publisher: The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment

Target group: Protected area management, planners, administration

Character of document: practice oriented step-by-step guide, pragmatic-general advice, content-

oriented “scientific” paper, detailed guideline, handbook, workshop-results, discussion-paper,

strategic concept etc.

Objective: New approaches for monitoring and evaluation are clearly needed. Fortunately, many

new tools and techniques have been developed in recent years that can help wildlife managers

determine whether or not their activities have been effective. This report reviews current practices

and procedures for developing performance measures for wildlife management activities, with a

particular focus on activities related to the direct conservation of wildlife species and their habitats.

Thematic focus: Monitoring and evaluation, measuring results of conservation activities, adaptive

management

Type of protected area: No specific type of area but for a type of plans: Comprehensive Wildlife

Conservation Strategies (also known as State Wildlife Action Plans)

Character of content: Report, optional guidance, good practice, case studies

Geographic scope: United States

Short summary of content: This report has been written to provide state wildlife agencies and their

partners in the United States with a suite of tools and approaches that can be used to develop

performance measures for the new State Wildlife Action Plans. The recommendations in this report

draw from existing bodies of knowledge and practice, including ecosystem monitoring and

programmatic evaluation. The tools and approaches contained in this report are broadly applicable

to other areas of wildlife management and natural resource conservation. (p. 1)

• Our intent in collecting and publishing this information has been to assist the states and territories

of the United States in developing performance measures for the new Comprehensive Wildlife

Conservation Strategies (also known as State Wildlife Action Plans). In the United States, ownership

and title to wildlife are vested in the individual states, and thus many of the most important activities

related to wildlife management and biodiversity conservation take place at the state government

level. Each state and most U.S. territories have established a wildlife agency for the express purpose

[78]

of managing and conserving wildlife within the state’s boundaries. These agencies have traditionally

focused on managing sport fish and game species, although endangered species have also become

an important part of the wildlife management portfolio in individual states over the past 30 years. In

addition, many states have developed active “non- game” or “natural heritage” programs that seek

to conserve and manage a broad diversity of wildlife species. (p. 5)

• In 2000, the U.S. Congress directed each state and territory to develop a strategic document that

describes methods and approaches for conserving a broad range of biological diversity within the

state boundaries. These documents, known as Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies or

State Wildlife Action Plans, were developed by a coalition of state agency staff in partnership with

wildlife experts from academia, non-profit organizations, and industry. The 56 plans (one for each

state and territory, and the District of Columbia) were reviewed and approved by the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service in 2006. The intent in developing these documents was to characterize the wildlife

species of conservation need within a state, identify key habitats for these species, identify threats to

species and habitats, and outline strategies for ameliorating the threats and conserving the species

and habitats. (p. 5)

[79]


Table 14: Evaluation of Murphy et al. 2009


General

information,

level of detail


Clearly structured step-by-step guidance. Minimum

requirements for monitoring the results of conservation

activities are discussed but most times for the national and

regional level.





Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? No Adaptive management includes: Explicitly Defined Management

Objectives, Use of Ecological Models, Alternative Management

Options, Evaluation of Outcomes, Incorporating Learning into

Future Decisions, Public Involvement, Performance Measures

and Monitoring.

Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? Yes

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? Yes Broad public participation is an essential element for developing

and implementing these plans. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? No

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? Yes “… a dynamic, adaptive paradigm of iterative decisions

incorporated into a learning process requires continuing

communication between managers and the stakeholding

public.” (96) “Because adaptive management radically changes

the management paradigm, effective public participation

necessarily takes a very different form under adaptive

management … approaches. “ (96)


Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes “These documents, known as Comprehensive Wildlife

Conservation Strategies or State Wildlife Action Plans, were

developed by a coalition of state agency staff in partnership with

wildlife experts from academia, non-profit organizations, and

industry. “ (5)

Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? No

[80]


Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? No “Active adaptive management is difficult, time-consuming, and

can be expensive (s. page 94). A next round of management

decisions is then based on the results of previous management

experiments, with greater weight given to the model best

supported by the existing data. The process is iterative,

continuing until uncertainty about system responses has been

reduced to an acceptable level. “ (94)




Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? Yes


Conservation objectives from EU, national and regional level derived/specified? Yes Relation from State laws (Acts) to site specific objectives is

shown.

Definition of

conservation

objectives

How to solve internal conflicts of objectives? No “Monitoring should focus on indicators that can register the

achievement of the management objectives. When objectives

cannot be stated quantitatively, they must be sufficiently clear

and observable to allow evaluation of management decisions. “

(95)

Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? No


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts



data? No

Data

requirements


Data requirements are not specified.





[81]



Uncertainty How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes Key sources of uncertainty are named. How to reduce

uncertainties is discussed in several passages. How to communicate ...? No

Specification of

measures


Measures in the context of performance and monitoring are

discussed several times but not in the general context of

implementing adaptive management.

Alternative management options are introduced as core

elements of adaptive management.





climate? Yes

Side effects of

measures




Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? Yes

Invasive Control Example : “In this example, a native meadow is

being treated to eradicate invasive plants that are out-

competing native browse plants for deer and elk. “ (34)

Monitoring


This is the key issue of this report.







status?

Yes There are several indicators introduced and discussed.

[82]

3.2.7. Conservation Action Planning Handbook

Title: Conservation Action Planning Handbook: Developing Strategies, Taking Action and Measuring

Success at Any Scale


Language: English

Authors: J. Baumgartner, R. Esselman, D. Salzer, J. Young, N. Salafsky, D. Braun, G. Low , Publisher:

TNC – The Nature Conservancy

Target group: Conservation practitioners, protected area management, planners

Character of document: Practice oriented step-by-step guide

Objective: Conservation Action Planning is designed to recognize this shifting nature of our

knowledge and the challenges conservationists face by encouraging practitioners to view the

conservation planning process not as a once-a-decade exercise but as a regular, iterative process of

“successive approximations.” CAP encourages teams of practitioners to capture their best

understanding of the conservation situation, build a set of actions based on that understanding,

implement the actions, measure the outcomes of their actions, learn from these outcomes and refine

actions over time.

Thematic focus: Adaptive management, biodiversity, species and habitats conservation, monitoring,

stakeholder involvement in nature conservation

Type of protected area: Any type of area and scale

Character of content: Optional guidance, handbook, case studies, practical advice

Geographic scope: United States (and for every area in which the planning method Conservation

Action Planning is used)

Short summary of content: Conservation Action Planning is one of three key analytical methods that

support the application of The Nature Conservancy's strategic framework for mission success, called

Conservation by Design (The Nature Conservancy 2006). Conservation by Design is a collaborative,

science-based approach used to identify the biodiversity that needs to be conserved, to decide

where and how to conserve it and to measure our effectiveness. The basic concepts of this

conservation approach follow an adaptive management framework of setting goals and priorities,

developing strategies, taking action and measuring results. These basic concepts are reflected in each

of the three key analytical methods, which in addition to CAP include Major Habitat Assessment and

Ecoregional Assessment. In general, Major Habitat and Ecoregional Assessments focus on setting

goals and priorities, CAP focuses on developing and implementing strategies to address the priorities

and achieve the goals, and all three methods incorporate aspects of measuring results. In addition to

serving as the Conservancy's strategic framework for mission success, Conservation by Design also

supports the protected area management goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity. (p. 4)

[83]


• At its core, CAP is a framework to help practitioners to focus their conservation strategies on clearly

defined elements of biodiversity or conservation targets and fully articulated threats to these targets

and to measure their success in a manner that will enable them to adapt and learn over time. The

CAP process accomplishes this by prompting a conservation team to work through a series of

diagnostic steps that culminate in the development of clearly defined objectives and strategic

actions. Together these represent a testable hypothesis of conservation success that forms the basis

of an “adaptive” approach to conservation management. (p. 4)

• The CAP consists of 10 steps. In straightforward language, the following chapters detail a basic

approach to implementing each step. For each of the steps, there is a discussion of some of the

challenges that provide rich opportunities for user innovation.

[84]

Table 15: Evaluation of Baumgartner et al. 2007


General

information,

level of detail


This handbook consists of 10 steps for conservation action planning,

an adaptive management approach. It is a step-by-step handbook

which includes case studies and is written in a practice oriented

language. Standards for names and data are explained.



Minimum requirements/standards? (Yes)


Completeness

All tasks/work steps of adaptation/management process? (Yes) All work steps/tasks of adaptive management – but without any

reference to climate change. This issue is tackled additionally in: TNC

(2009): Conservation Action Planning Guidelines for Developing

Strategies in the Face of Climate Change. Public participation and

communication come off badly.

Adaptation and mitigation (+ interdependencies)? No

Awareness

raising

Importance of communication with public? (Yes) Communication with public is nearly only mentioned within the

context of spreading the results of the planning process. Detailed strategies, guidance for public communication? No

Stakeholder

involvement

Steps in detail – whom, for what, how, when? (Yes) The team for performing the conservation action planning can

include managers, stakeholders, researchers, consultants,

volunteers, and other key implementers (s. Box 1, page 59). “You

cannot ignore key stakeholders in your analysis of the situation.

Cultivation of key stakeholders can be a long process itself that may

have to begin well before your CAP process gets under way.” (10)


Cooperation with

external experts

Importance of ... is subject of guideline? Yes The involvement of external experts is recommended at several

passages in context of different tasks and contents. Detailed strategies, guidance for ...? (Yes)

[85]



Planning process

Work steps clearly defined? Yes This may involve minor adjustments to a work plan, or it may involve

a formal iteration through all the steps in the CAP process. At least

one time-consuming aspect is pointed out. Transparency is

recommended several times.




Adaptive

Management

... is described in detail? Yes “One of the key principles of adaptive management is that the

people who will ultimately be responsible for implementing a

project must also be involved in designing and monitoring it.” (9) ... is instrument to tackle climate change? No


Definition of

conservation

objectives


“2. Define measurable objectives” (s. page 71) Alignment of objectives with stakeholder interests? No


Methods to

assess CC and its

impacts

... described and recommended for application? No This issue is tackled additionally in: TNC (2009): Conservation Action

Planning Guidelines for Developing Strategies in the Face of Climate

Change. How to deduce management options from assessment

data? No

Data

requirements

Minimum standards defined? No “If existing data sources cannot meet your needs, consider

alternative methods before selecting a particular approach. There is

typically a wide range of potential methods to assess a given

indicator. But there is extensive advice on how to get the data you

need and on how to manage data.” (87)





[86]


Uncertainty

How to deal with ... in plan/planning process? Yes “Learn to live with uncertainty. You will encounter gaps in available

information and knowledge at many points along the way. There is

no way around this in the business of conservation. The best advice

a seasoned practitioner can give you is “don't allow this to stop you

in your tracks - state your hypotheses and move forward with the

best course of action determined by your best available

information.” Just be sure to note what you don't know, record any

assumptions you are making, and capture your reasons for going in

the direction you chose. Capturing your rich discussions and the

assumptions which led to your decisions will provide priceless

reference points for your own learning as well as for future team

members and practitioners in this and other projects. And by

recording the gaps in your knowledge, you will be able to more

readily fill in the gaps over time. “ (6)

How to communicate ...? Yes

Specification of

measures

Detailed description? Yes





climate? No

Side effects of

measures




[87]



Invasive species – strategies, measures to deal with? Yes Examples for indicators for mapping and examples for objectives and

strategic actions.

Monitoring


The indicators listed below the factors are potential indicators for

measuring the results of the actions being taken. The project team

needs to decide which indicators are most important and/or feasible

to monitor with available resources (p 85 – 90).







status?

Yes

“Some of the viability indicators will have already been selected for

strategy effectiveness purposes and likely represent the highest

priority viability indicators for measuring (the monitoring table in the

CAP Workbook lists all viability indicators and shows which ones are

linked to the project's objectives). “ (86)

[88]

4. Review of guidelines and documents that were not analysed in

detail

In the following chapter results of the review of guidance documents are presented. The review

allows an overview on guidelines, handbooks and publications that address adaptation to climate

change and/or conservation management but were not analysed in detail for chapter 3. For each

reviewed document short bibliographical information and a brief summary on why those documents

were excluded from the analyses are given. All guidelines and documents described in this review

were available online on the internet. Some of the guidance documents are updated regularly. The

guidance documents are assorted and categorised in the following chapters according to the topics

they focus on: Adaptation to Climate Change; Natura 2000 Management; Conservation and

Protected Area Management; Monitoring and Resource Inventories; Management of Specific

Ecosystems.

4.1. Guidance and Recommendations for Adaptation to Climate Change

1. Moser, S., Franco, G., Pittiglio, S., Chou, W., Cayan, D. (2009): The Future Is Now: An Update

on Climate Change Science Impacts and Response Options for California. California Energy

Commission, PIER Energy‐Related Environmental Research Program. CEC‐500‐2008‐071.

The report presents a summary of the latest in climate change science and outlines recommended

response options for decision makers in California. Its purpose is to emphasise that coordination is

needed between climate science practitioners and those individuals helping to develop and

implement a state-wide climate change response strategy. The document is intended for use by the

state agencies and Legislature and seeks to synthesize the most recent findings on climate change

science and outline a response strategy that encompasses both mitigation and adaptation. (cited

from Abstract and Executive Summary of the report). Protected area management and biodiversity

conservation are not topics of the scientific report. No recommendations for adaptation of

conservation management could be extracted from this publication.

2. Usher, M. B. (2007): Conserving European biodiversity in the context of climate change.

Nature and Environment No. 149. Strasbourg.

This scientific paper addresses issues of 'adaptation' and provides an initial starting point for

discussion about possible adaptation strategies if Europe's biodiversity is to be conserved. Expected

impacts of climate change on biodiversity and nature conservation are identified and possible

management responses in and outside protected areas are described as basic, programmatic and

conceptual strategies. Suggested adaptation strategies address policy makers, decision makers but

also researchers. Only very few can be implemented directly by protected area managers. The 14

recommendations for adaptation strategies highlight the manifold aspects and diversity of

adaptation approaches that are necessary in nature conservation. The article shows that adaptation

is a comprehensive and complex task that should affect all aspects and concepts of nature

conservation. Each recommendation would require extensive research, funding and detailed

guidance for implementation, that have to be prepared by political decisions and programmes.

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3. West, J.M., Julius, S.H., Kareiva, P., Enquist, C., Lawler, J.J., Petersen, B., Johnson, A.E., Shaw,

R. (2009): U.S. Natural Resources and Climate Change: Concepts and Approaches for

Management Adaptation. Environmental Management 44, 1001–1021.

The scientific article summarises general principles for management adaptations that emerged from

a literature review. The principles cover topics like: “(1) how to assess climate impacts to ecosystem

processes that are key to management goals; (2) using management practices to support ecosystem

resilience; (3) converting barriers that may inhibit management responses into opportunities for

successful implementation; and (4) promoting flexible decision making that takes into account

challenges of scale and thresholds” (p. 1001). An assessment of likely current and future climate

change impacts on ecosystem processes associated with management goals is considered as

prerequisite for adaptation. Real or perceived barriers to implementation of adaptation strategies

are discussed and necessary steps to advance the management community’s capability to adapt are

defined. Examples for adaptation strategies and a framework for adaptation are described. Most

recommendations address policy and decision makers and researchers, only few target the

management of protected areas and can be used as direct guidance for the adaptation process.

4. Welch, D. (2005): What Should Protected Areas Managers Do in the Face of Climate Change?

The George Wright Forum, Vol. 22, Number 1, S. 75-93

The article is addressed directly to protected area managers and defines basic requirements for the

adaptation to climate change. Basic and guiding principles for adaptation and relevant aspects and

content are describe in a general and programmatic way that is not suitable for direct and practice

oriented implementation in protected areas and integration in existing site management. Welch

defines core principles for the adaptation to climate change (House in order and public

communications; Risk management; Focus on mandate, complement with partnerships; Porous

landscapes) and demands the definition of short-term, mid-term and long-term goals for the

adaptation process. Necessary adaptation actions are described under categories like: Awareness,

including staff, stakeholder and general public awareness; Leading by example, or “house in order”

actions such as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; Active management, such as minimizing

other stresses to facilitate autonomous adaptation; Research, such as assessment of values most at

risk under a radically changed climate; and Monitoring, such as reporting on indicators of the impacts

of climate change (p. 84 f.). Examples for actions are described in detail but most strategies require

most detailed guidance for implementation in protected areas. The wide spectrum of possible and

necessary adaptation strategies for protected areas is presented in a convincing way but requires

policy changes first.

5. Behrens, M., Fartmann, T., Hölzel, N. (2009): Auswirkungen von Klimaänderungen auf die

Biologische Vielfalt: Pilotstudie zu den voraussichtlichen Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf

ausgewählte Tier- und Pflanzenarten in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Teil 3: Vorschläge für eine

Anpassungsstrategie. (Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity: Pilot Studies on Impact

Assessments for North-Rhine Westfalia. Suggestions for an Adaptation Strategy).

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This German publication presents an adaptation strategy for biodiversity conservation in the German

Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The document is the third part of the documentation of a

pilot study that included climate change scenario, sensitivity and impact assessments and respective

methods. The adaptation strategy includes very detailed and extensive adaptation measures for

biodiversity conservation (specific measures for protected species and habitat types) and an

identification of feasible instruments for implementation in the federal state. The need and

possibilities for ecological networks in North Rhine-Westphalia are analysed in-depth and a method

to prioritise adaptation actions is presented. The document explains the methods used to identify

potential impacts and to develop promising adaptation measures. Ways to avoid conflicts with other

stakeholders and land users and to use synergies are described, too. The results can be used directly

in conservation management in and outside protected areas. The suggested adaptation measures

and instruments are defined very practice oriented. Unfortunately the publication is available in

German only.

6. Ibisch, P., Kreft, S., Luthardt, V. (Hg., 2012): Regionale Anpassung des Naturschutzes an den

Klimawandel: Strategien und methodische Ansätze zur Erhaltung der Biodiversität und

Ökosystemdienstleistungen in Brandenburg. Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Eberswalde, Eberswalde. (Regional adaptation of nature conservation to climate change:

Strategies and methodical approaches to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services in

German federal State of Brandenburg)

This publication presents results of a group of graduating researchers that focussed on conceptual

and methodical changes in conservation policies to adapt to climate change. All change and

adaptation requirements are specified for the situation in the federal state of Brandenburg,

Germany. The application of the ecosystem approach and the new orientation in goals of objectives

of conservation policies (and areas) are two main requirements to enable adaptation to climate

change. The concept of “open conservation standards” is introduced and explained in detail and a

software tool for implementation presented. Also most approaches are very practice-oriented the

publication is meant as a basis for a productive and controversial discussion of existing conceptions,

believes and policies in nature conservation and addresses primarily decision and policy makers, but

not protected area managers. The contributions shall be understood as modules for a future climate

change adaptation strategy in Brandenburg that open new opportunities and respond options to the

expected climatic changes and its impacts.

7. Baron J.S., Gunderson L., Allen C.D., Fleishman E., McKenzie D., Meyerson L.A., Oropeza J., N.

Stephenson (2009): Options for National Parks and Reserves for Adapting to Climate Change.

In: Environmental Management 44, 1033-1042.

This open access published article focuses on adaptation, climate change and National Parks and

addresses different kinds of uncertainty like scientific and social uncertainty as well as management

under uncertainty, scenario planning and adaptive management. These contents are discussed in

scientific language and against the background of scientific interests. In this article guidelines for the

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management of natural resources within protected national parks and similarly managed reserves

under continuing climate change are presented and potential steps to implementing adaptations to

climate change for parks and reserves are listed. Examples shown in this article are drawn from 270

National Park areas with natural resource responsibilities in the United States. It is suggested that

because of the high level of uncertainty associated with forecasting future conditions and the ability

to manage for specific goals, protected areas should pay ongoing attention to current scientific

results and use adaptive management and scenario planning as fitting management tools.

Furthermore it is recommended to build trust between managers, their supervisors and the public

that will aid in adaptation and to use a robust and diverse set of strategies to deal with the

uncertainties and complexities of climate change.

8. The World Bank, Climate Change Team of the Environment Department (no date; 2009, 2010

or 2011): Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Management Projects. Guidance Notes No. 6. Washington, D.C.

These guidance notes No. 6 are rather short – about 20 pages – and they are part of a series of eight

guidance notes. They all deal with the mainstreaming of adaptation to climate change. The notes No.

6 focus on the identification of appropriate adaptation measures and provide guidance on the choice

of adaptation responses in agricultural and natural resource management projects. They include a

discussion of key aspects that should be considered in project preparation. Key aspects are

uncertainty, different types of adaptation and levels of regret. Furthermore resources are provided,

such as a menu of sector-specific adaptation options, a discussion of related institutional and

technical issues and short introductions of four project examples. ce on the choice of adaptation

responses in the agricultural/natural resource management (NRM) sector.”

9. Smithers R. J., Cowan C., Harley M., Hopkins J.J., Pontier H., O. Watts (2008): England

Biodiversity Strategy. Climate Change Adaptation Principles. Conserving biodiversity in a

changing climate. London.

In this document the five adaptation principles of the England Biodiversity Strategy to guide

adaptation to climate change in England are described in short on 8 pages. The five principles are: 1)

Take practical action now. 2) Maintain and increase ecological resilience. 3) Accommodate change. 4)

Integrate action across partners and sectors. 5) Develop knowledge and plan strategically. Each

principle is substantiated concisely with short instructions for starting with conservation action and

respective measures – each with a headline and a few sentences. The guiding principles are

supplemented with extensive references.

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10. EU Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change (2009): Towards a

Strategy on Climate Change, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity. A discussion paper

prepared by the EU Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change. Vilm.

Germany.

This document was developed by experts (member state representatives, staff of the European

Commission, scientists and from civil society) in the fields of biodiversity and climate change as well

as ecosystem services. Therefore it does not represent the views of the European Commission. It

shows the interdependencies between climate, biodiversity and ecosystem services and how

mutually supportive strategies can help to successfully tackle both climate change and biodiversity

loss. It represents one step further towards a strategy on the the three topics of this discussion

paper. On its basis policy recommendations and actions for immediate implementation applicable at

national, European and international level are suggested. The paper is primarily targeted at decision

makers at the national, regional and international level. It consists of two sections. In the first section

named "The Climate Change-Biodiversity Linkage" the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in

relation to climate change, the threats of climate change and climate change measures to

biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as the challenges for existing policies and the

opportunities resulting from integrated approaches are discussed. In the second section named "The

Way Forward" recommendations for actions and policy development in each of the following activity

areas are presented: ecosystem-based approaches, immediate action (including adaptation for

biodiversity), engagement of other sectors, communication and collaboration, increased

understanding and funding.

11. Feenstra J. F., Burton I., Smith J.B., R.S.J. Tol (Eds.) (1998): Handbook on Methods for Climate

Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies. Amsterdam/Nairobi.

This extensive handbook (more than 450 pages) is divided in two parts – the generic issues and the

sectoral chapters. The first part contains information about the development and use of socio-

economic scenarios, different types of and the designing of climate change scenarios, the integrated

assessment of climate change impacts, exemplified with five case studies and the theory and

evaluation of adaptation to climate change. The second part with sectoral chapters discusses climate

change impact assessment and adaptation strategies for water resources, for coastal zones, for

agriculture, for rangeland and livestock, for human health, for energy, for forest, for biodiversity and

for fisheries. This handbook introduces a wide range of methods that can be used to design

assessment studies of climate change impacts and related adaptation strategies. It is no step-by-step

guideline and no mainly practice oriented document. Its intentions are to provide an overview of

methods and to give readers enough information to select the method most appropriate to their

situation. This handbook is designed to help those conducting research on climate change and impact

assessment in different countries. Therefore it includes knowledge for a wide range of disciplines on

the potential impacts of climate change on the environment and their society and economy.

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12. Berry P., Paterson J., Cabeza M., Dubuis A., Guisan A., Jäättelä L., Kühn I., Midgley G., Musche

M., Piper J., E. Wilson (2008): Mitigation measures and adaptation measures and their

impacts on biodiversity. Deliverables 2.2 and 2.3: Meta-analysis of adaptation and mitigation

measures across the EU25 and their impacts and recommendations how negative impacts

can be avoided. Oxford.

These deliverables are outcomes of the sixth framework programme project “MACIS – Minimisation

of and Adaptation to Climate Change: Impacts on Biodiversity”. Within the project methods to assess

and existing projections of climate change impacts on biodiversity were reviewed. Available options

to prevent and minimise negative impacts for the EU25 up to 2050 were assessed. The project

outcomes include a review of possible climate change adaptation measures and their potential effect

on future biodiversity. MACIS is also developing a series of biodiversity and habitat models that

address biodiversity impacts. Policy options at EU, member state, regional and local levels to prevent

and minimise negative impacts from climate change and from climate change adaptation and

mitigation measures are introduced. In chapter 9 adaptable protected areas, buffer zones and how

to manage the network of protected areas, the management of disturbance areas and the two

options to expand or to identify new protected areas are discussed briefly. The sub-chapters

regarding these contents are often not longer than half a page and they survey the respective

contents. Adaptive management in protected areas is no topic of these deliverables. The article

focuses not only on protected areas but on high biodiversity areas vulnerable to climate change.

13. Young B., Byers E., Gravuer K., Hall K., Hammerson G., A. Redder (2010): Guidelines for Using

the NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index, Release 2.0. Arlington, VA.

These guidelines deal with a some specific aspects of adaptive management: with the assessment of

exposure and sensitivity and responses to climate change. The climate change vulnerability index

based on these aspects was developed because of the need to rapidly assess the vulnerability of

species to climate change. The Index uses a scoring system that integrates a species’ predicted

exposure to climate change within an assessment area and three sets of factors associated with

climate change sensitivity: 1) indirect exposure to climate change, 2) species specific factors (for e.g.

dispersal ability, temperature and precipitation sensitivity, physical habitat specificity), and 3)

documented response to climate change. These guidelines explain the Index, how to use it and how

to interpret the results. The index was designed to provide valuable input for key planning

documents, such as state wildlife action plans so that climate change impacts can be addressed. It is

implemented in an Microsoft Excel document. The underlying intention of creating it has been to

help land managers develop and prioritize strategies for climate change adaptation.

14. Hannah L., Midgley G.F., D. Millar (2002): Climate change-integrated conservation strategies.

Climate Change and Conservation Special Issue. In: Global Ecology & Biogeography (2002) 11,

485-495.

This scientific article introduces different types of tools for the assessment of the impact of climate

change on biodiversity. Afterwards conservation challenges are discussed and climate change-

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integrated conservation strategies presented including: regional modelling, expanding protected

areas, management of the matrix and regional coordination. The article concludes with a short

chapter about funding and implementation. It is stated that in 2002 conservation strategies include

little consideration of climate change. Therefore a collaboration involving biogeography, ecology and

applied conservation is suggested. The resulting climate change-integrated conservation strategies

(CCS) can consist of five elements: regional modelling, expanding protected areas, management of

the matrix, regional coordination and the transfer of resources. As adequate planning level for CCS

the regional level is named. The article suggests using regional climate models as well as general

circulation models (GCMs), to ensure that regional climate drivers such as land use change and meso-

scale topography are adequately represented. A sensitivity analysis is introduced as a tool to address

the uncertainty inherent in projecting future climates and biodiversity response.

15. Hopkins J.J., Allison H.M., Walmsley C.A., Gaywood M., G. Thurgate (2007): Conserving

biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt. London.

This guidance published by DEFRA is aimed at those who plan and deliver conservation of terrestrial

biodiversity. Six guiding principles are described to summarise current thinking on how to reduce the

impacts of climate change on biodiversity and on how to adapt existing plans and projects in the light

of climate change. These guiding principles which are also used to structure this guidance in six

chapters are as follows: 1) Conserve existing biodiversity, 2) Reduce sources of harm not linked to

climate, 3) Develop ecologically resilient and varied landscapes, 4) Establish ecological networks

through habitat protection, restoration and creation, 5) Make sound decisions based on analysis, 6)

Integrate adaptation and mitigation measures into conservation management, planning and practice.

Each chapter consists of a description of the status quo in conservation management regarding the

respective guiding principle, the principle itself and some reasons, why to apply this principle –

sometimes examples where and when to apply it are listed – and last but not least suggested actions

to implement this principle. The guidance states the need for conservationists to implement actions

for adaptation and for mitigation. It focuses on biodiversity, climate change and adaptation - but

measures regarding an adaptive management are not addressed in detail. In contrast the suggested

actions at the end of each chapter are very concrete.

16. Jones R.N. (2001): An Environmental Risk Assessment/Management Framework for Climate

Change Impact Assessments. In: Natural Hazards 23: 197-230.

This scientific paper presents an environmental risk assessment and risk management framework to

assess the impacts of climate change on biophysical and socio-economic aspects identified as

potentially vulnerable to climate change. The paper focuses on impact assessment and methods for

risk and sensitivity analysis as well as stakeholder involvement. Adaptation is a minor subtopic only

and protected areas are not addressed at all. The assessment and management framework

presented is designed specifically to manage the systematic uncertainties that accompany climate

change scenarios. Risk analysis methods consistent with the IPCC Technical Guidelines for assessing

climate change impacts and adaptations are set within a larger framework that involves stakeholders

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in the identification, assessment and implementation of adaptation measures. Climate change is

addressed as only one driver of global change. Thus adaptation to climate change has to satisfy

multiple drivers of change and adaptations to other drivers will have to incorporate climate change.

Fitting to these needs the assessment framework presented in this paper has the capacity to include

multiple drivers.

17. U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research

(2008): Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and

Resources. Final Report, Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4. USA.

This review is not structured like a guideline or guidance document. It focuses on adaptation options

and contains useful information for practitioners. But adaptive management is introduced in short

only. The review is structured in chapters according to different types of protected areas or

ecosystems like “National Forests”, “National Parks”, “National Wildlife Refugees”, “Wild and Scenic

Rivers”, “National Estuaries”, “Marine Protected Areas” and furthermore the three chapters:

“Introduction”, “Synthesis and Conclusions”, “Case Studies in Annex 1”. Every chapter consists of

about 50 pages. Case studies and a lot of small illustrative examples are presented and included in

the text passages. All in all the focus of this review is on adaptation of national parks and resource

management in the face of climate change. The information in this report is not given as an

systematic approach step-by-step but on the basis of several important aspects, actions and

examples. The section about adaptive management is relative short. Key findings are that resilience

to climate change should be addressed in activities and planning of national parks, that preparing for

and adapting to climate change is as much a cultural and intellectual challenge as it is an ecological

one, that it is increasingly important to use methods that address uncertainty in planning and

management, that many management goals can only be achieved through regional interagency

cooperation and that climate change can best be met by engaging all levels of the national park

management.

18. Hansen L.J., Biringer J.L., J.R. Hoffman (WWF) (Eds.) (2003): Buying time: A User’s Manual for

Building Resistance and Resilience to Climate Change in Natural Systems. Berlin.

The focus of this manual is on climate change and also on adaptation – but in the wider scope of

„natural systems“ and not of protected areas. The manual is designed for worldwide application,

thus its recommendations and contents are more general and therefore of limited use for protected

area management in Central and Eastern Europe. No chapter focuses on adaptive management of

protected areas under the pressure of climate change. Most parts of this manual are about

ecosystem-specific analyses and recommendations that can be applied to different kinds of

protected areas. But the sections about management and the recommendations on how to deal with

impacts of climate change are rather general. This manual is written like a report or book and not as

a guideline. The manual contains information about: 1) Grasslands at a Crossroads: Protecting and

Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change, 2) Forest Ecosystems Threatened by Climate Change:

Promoting Long-term Forest Resilience, 3) Designing Strategies to Increase the Resilience of

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Alpine/Montane Systems to Climate Change, 4) Building Resilience in Arctic Ecosystems, 5) Designing

Reserves to Sustain Temperate: Marine Ecosystems in the Face of Global Climate Change, 6)

Increasing the Resistance and Resilience of Tropical Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change, 7)

Protecting Freshwater Ecosystems in the Face of Global Climate Change, 8) Ecological and Socio-

economic Benefits of Protected Areas in Dealing with Climate Change, 9) Regional Biodiversity Impact

Assessments for Climate Change: A Guide for Protected Area Managers.

4.2. Guidance and Recommendations for Natura 2000 Management

1. Van Apeldoorn, R.C., Kruk, R.W., Bouwma, I.M., Ferranti, F., De Blust, G., Sier, A.R.J. (2009):

Information and communication on the designation and management of Natura2000 sites.

The designation in 27 EU Member States. Main Report 1.

This documentation is the first of three reports made for the European Commission to inform the

commission about the status of implementation and chances to improve the Natura 2000

designation and management process. The objective of the project was, help the member states by

improving the knowledge and exchange of information and good practice on the designation process

of Natura 2000 sites and on the establishment of conservation measures and instruments for those

sites. The importance of involving a wider group of stakeholders in the development of co-called

integrated management is stressed and results in a concept for integrated management that is

presented in Main report 3: De Blust et al. 2009 (see below). The report describes the process of

designation of Natura 2000 sites in EU member states and puts up basis requirements for the

process. Functions of management plans and the definition of conservation objectives are explained.

The report does not address protected area managers but national administrations and decision

makers who are responsible for the implementation of Natura 2000 in EU member states. Climate

change and adaptation to it are not subjects of the report.

2. Kruk, R.W., De Blust, G., Van Apeldoorn, R.C., Bouwma, I.M., Sier, A.R.J. (2009): Information

and communication on the designation and management of Natura2000 sites - Main Report

2: Organizing the management in 27 EU Member States.

This second report to the European Commission presents the different approaches member states

have chosen to organise the management of Natura 2000 sites. Responsibilities, management

planning and stakeholder involvement are described with examples from different member states.

The report describes deficits in the implementation of management and management planning and

makes detailed suggestions for the improvement of management of Natura 2000 sites. Basic

requirements for the process of developing a management plan for Natura 2000 sites are laid down

as “considerations before developing management plans” starting from page 29. The report gives

very practice oriented support by providing checklists and explaining essential work steps and

content of a management plan for Natura 2000 sites. Best practice examples from different EU

member states illustrate different aspects of management planning. Adaptation to climate change is

not a subject of the report but the advantages of an adaptive management are described. The

analyses of country specific approaches is the basis for the concept of an integrative management as

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it is laid down in the third report of the project: De Blust et al. 2009: Towards Integrated

Management (see below).

3. De Blust, G., Kruk, R.W., Van Apeldoorn, R.C., Sier, A.R.J. (2009): Information and

communication on the designation and management of Natura2000 sites. Main Report 3:

Towards Integrated Management.

In this report the concept of integrated management as an option for managing Natura 2000 sites is

elaborated. In the first part the meaning of integrated management is explored. In a second part

examples of management approaches that illustrate best the concept of integrated management and

its potential to achieve the Natura2000 goals are presented. The main pillar of the concept is the

early and intense involvement of local stakeholders in the planning and management process of

Natura 2000 sites and the definition of social and economic objectives besides the ecological

conservation objectives. The approach shows how the integration of stakeholder interests and

economic and social targets can improve the acceptance and effectiveness of Natura 2000 sites.

Detailed requirements on the organisation of stakeholder participation are defined. Adaptation to

climate change is not a subject of the concept.

4. Bouwma I.M., Apeldoorn R. van, Çil A., Snethlage M., McIntosh N., Nowicki N., L.C. Braat

(2010): Natura 2000 – Addressing conflicts and promoting benefits. Alterra, Wageningen, The

Netherlands.

This brochure presents the major outcomes of workshops and case studies on conflicts and benefits

of Natura 2000 areas. It gives condensed recommendations on “information and communication”,

“education and training”, “Natura 2000 site governance and stakeholder involvement”, “knowledge”,

“policy” and “finances” for the local, national and regional and the European level. Main part of this

document are the presentation of case studies, their conflicts and how they were resolved. The aim

of the underlying project was to promote best practices for achieving a good balance between

potentially conflicting interests related to the use and management of Natura 2000 sites, ensuring

the engagement of different groups of stakeholders (including the public) into the protection and

proper management of the sites and their ecological values. Basis of this brochure are a European-

wide review and five country studies carried out to assess primary sources of conflict and the

strategies that had been developed to resolve them. Adaptive management and climate change are

not tackled in this brochure.

5. Bouwma I.M., Apeldoorn R. van , D.A. Kamphorst (2010): Current practices in solving multiple

use issues of Natura 2000 sites: Conflict management strategies and participatory

approaches. Alterra, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

This publication focuses on the management of conflicts that can occur in context of Natura 2000-

areas. Climate change and adaptive management as well as the management process all in all in no

topic of this report. The report was an outcome of an EU-project entitled “Dealing with Conflicts in

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the Implementation and Management of the Natura 2000 Network - Best Practice at the Local / Site

Level”. The project reviews the experiences of the member states in multiple-use, participatory

management planning and conflict management relative to Natura 2000 areas. As part of this study,

a European-wide review and five country studies (Slovenia, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, France

and Sweden) were carried out to assess and analyse sources of conflict and the strategies that have

been developed to resolve them. This report presents the findings of this study. Furthermore, the

results of the European workshop held in Brussels on the 18th of June 2009 are included in the

report. Underlying the discussion on management of the Natura 2000 sites are also more

fundamental questions - for instance, regarding property rights, the lack of (mutual) trust between

stakeholders, fear of restrictions and lack of knowledge and skills of all stakeholders to deal with and

resolve conflicts. The first chapter deals with the theory on participatory approaches and types of

conflict management. The second very short chapter presents results of an overview on multiple use

issues and conflicts. The third chapters is about management planning of Natura 2000 areas and

similarities and differences in topics and types of conflicts. The last two chapters present experiences

on how to prevent and manage conflicts of Natura 2000 areas.

6. Grogna, V., Mahy, M., Meuris, S., Taymans, J., Vincke, J., Weyns, S., Born, Ch.-H., Mahy, G.,

Hermy, M., Tyteca, D., Ameloot, E., Endels, P., Nulens, G. (2009): “How to make Natura 2000

work properly? Socio-economic, legal and ecological management - SELNAT”. Final Report.

Brussels: Belgian Science Policy (Research Programme Science for a Sustainable

Development).

The final report of the SELNAT projects presents results of a multidisciplinary analysis of the

management of Natura 2000 sites in Belgium. The analysis aimed at the development of efficient

strategies for nature areas that contribute to sustainable development in both ecological and socio-

economic terms. The main aim of the SELNAT project was to perform a multifunctional effectiveness

analysis of the management of Natura 2000. Existing instruments for Natura 2000 management were

evaluated regarding their effectiveness and feasibility. The insights gained from a literature review,

focus group meeting and three in-depth surveys led to recommendations and conclusions on how to

improve Natura 2000 management in Belgium. As major problems are lacking scientific knowledge

about some species, habitats and the effects of several management measures on conservation

identified. Basic requirements and possible solutions to improve effectiveness and feasibility of

Natura 2000 management are discussed and the necessary content of management plans is

described, based on the concept of the Ecosystem Approach. Suitable instruments for planning and

implementation are identified but adaptation to climate change is not yet a subject of the report.

Although basic requirements for planning and managing Natura 2000 sites are defined, the results of

the analysis can’t be a guideline.

7. Natura 2000 targets document - Summary (2006): Setting conservation objectives for the

Natura 2000 network in the Netherlands. Published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature

and Food Quality, The Hague.

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The Natura 2000 targets document is a policy document of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature

and Food Quality that sets out the framework for the designation decisions for Natura 2000 sites and

also lays down guidelines for the Natura 2000 management plans to be drawn up subsequently. The

document sets out a system to formulate Natura 2000 targets at national and site level. It specifies

the criteria to delineate Natura 2000 sites. For the habitat types, species of fauna and bird species for

which the Netherlands has European responsibility, conservation status, relative importance in

Europe and main objectives for the Netherlands are determined for the purpose of formulating the

Natura 2000 conservation objectives. (Cited from Introduction, 2) “The basic philosophy of the

Natura 2000 targets document is threefold: clarity, guidance and room to manoeuvre. One of the

underlying ideas in this respect is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has opted

to have the details of the conservation objectives, in terms of extent, location and time-schedules,

worked out in the Natura 2000 management plans.” (ibid)

Although the document is a very practical guidance document for the process of developing Natura

2000 conservation objectives that addresses protected area managers and planners, it is limited to

the working step of objective definition. Climate change and adaptation to it are mentioned only

marginally. „Targets should anticipate natural dynamics and climate change, by being able to

withstand the test of time.” (p. 3) Terms like adaptation, adaptive management, stakeholder or

protected area are not used in the document.

8. Schreiber, M. (2008): Leitfaden zum Management von Natura 2000-Gebieten - Kurzfassung.

(BUND und Nabu) (Guideline for Natura 2000 site management - abridged version. Edited by

BUND and Nabu, NGO’s)

This German guideline for Natura 2000 management was contracted by NGOs (German branch of

Friends of the Earth, Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union: German partner of Birdlife

International). The guideline defines the basic work steps and content of management plans for

Natura 2000 sites. Important features of successful and effective management plans are described

and the checklist is provided for evaluation of quality of the planning and the planning process.

Requirements for the quality of management measures and their implementation and for the

stakeholder involvement are described in detail. Climate change is mentioned in this guideline but

not specific advice how to adapt to is given. Natura 2000 management must be based on extensive

inventory taking, planning and implementation of management measures, and participation of

stakeholders and land users. Monitoring and assessments of management effectiveness are also

considered for successful management. The intention of this guideline is to enable NGOs and

interested citizens to participate in the Natura 2000 management planning and to evaluate existing

management plans regarding their quality, content, and possible deficits. Target groups are NGOs

and conservationist who intent to improve Natura 2000 management and support the obtainment of

favourable conservation status and ensuring acceptance and support of local population.

9. Ssymank et al. (2010): Eine Checkliste für die Erstellung von Managementplänen. Bundesamt

für Naturschutz, Hrsg. (Checklist for the Preparation of Management plans. Federal Agency

for Nature Conservation (Editor).

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This checklist is edited by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in Germany and aims to

support and improve the planning process and the content of management plans for Natura 2000

sites in Germany. The checklist can be considered as a standard for “good management planning”.

On seven pages minimum requirements for content, work steps and planning process are defined in

detailed. The structure of the checklist may serve as a table of content for the management plan that

has to be filled with site-specific information. All aspects of Natura 2000 management that have to

be considered during the planning and management process are defined in this checklist. Climate

change is mentioned as and pressure that should be considered in management plans, but for

specific information about exposure and sensitivity the checklist refers to Petermann et al. 2007 and

PIK Schutzgebiete im Klimawandel (Protected Areas and Climate Change: http://www.pik-

potsdam.de/services/infothek/klimawandel-und-schutzgebiete). Those publications provide helpful

information but are not sufficient to integrate climate change adaptation into management plans.

The checklist also refers to Schreiber (2008) (see above). Although the content of management plans

(e.g. objectives and management measures, participation etc.) is described in detail, little advice on

the planning and involvement process is given.

10. Landesamt für Umweltschutz Sachsen-Anhalt (2009a): Aktualisierung und inhaltliche

Präzisierung der Mustergliederung für NATURA-2000-Managementpläne in Sachsen-Anhalt.

(Update and specification of the specimen layout for Natura 2000 management plans in the

federal state Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)

This document contains a detailed and commented table of contents for Natura 2000 management

plans. It sets the standards for management plans and respective maps and gives advice on the

content and subjects that have to be part of a management plan. The document defines minimum

requirements but does not give methodical support nor does give detailed guidance for the planning

process. It is a good example for the structure and minimum content of management plans and

makes sure that plans are similar and comparable.

11. Landesamt für Umweltschutz Sachsen-Anhalt (2009b): Leistungsbeschreibung für die

Erstellung von Managementplänen für Natura-2000-Gebiete in Sachsen-Anhalt. (Description

of services to be provided for the development of management plans for Natura 2000 sites in

the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)

This document specifies the structural and content related requirements of Landesamt für

Umweltschutz Sachsen-Anhalt (2009a) (see above). It contains detailed descriptions of all services,

work packages and results that are necessary for the development of management plans for Natura

2000 sites. These standards serve as a contractual basis and regulatory framework between

conservation administrations and planners and contractors that elaborate the management plan.

Detailed description of required maps and its content and methods to apply are included. Climate

change and adaptation to it is not a subject of this document yet. The document allows assessing if

existing management plans contain all content necessary for the management of Natura 2000 sites in

Germany.

[101]


12. Suškevis M., Berghöfer A., Rauschmayer F., H. Wittmer (2010): Towards successful

participation in European biodiversity and water governance. Policy brief. Leipzig.

The policy brief focuses on participation and management. It gives recommendations on basis of case

studies. Climate change and adaptive management are no topics of this policy brief. It contains five

chapters: 1) Managing expectations, 2) Adapting to context, 3) Interacting with multiple actors, 4)

Involving bottom-up initiatives, 5) Recognizing and sharing benefits and costs. Chapter 2 “Adapting to

context” discusses that participation processes should be designed to the context of the participating

actors. The underlying study involved an analysis of several cases in the implementation of public and

stakeholder participation. Governance of biodiversity and water in the EU has to involve a wide

variety of actors from governmental and non-governmental sectors, industry, commerce, civil society

and private spheres. These concern the Water Framework Directive, the Natura 2000 network and

related biodiversity and water governance cases in different countries within the EU. A core

challenge is how to include and integrate all the relevant knowledge, interests and values into

decisions. The analysis has identified a range of aspects which affect the success or failure of

inclusive multi-level governance.

4.3. Guidance and Recommendations for Conservation and Protected Area

Management

1. Nolte C., Leverington F., Kettner A., Marr M., Nielsen G., Bomhard B., Stolton S., Stoll-

Kleemann S., M. Hockings (2010): Protected area management Effectiveness Assessments in

Europe. A review of application, methods and results. BfN-Skripten 271a. Bonn, Germany.

This report contains a survey of the management effectiveness of European protected areas. The

survey is based on a review of application, methods and results. Most parts of this report are about

upper level aspects and indicators which are not much detailed and only of limited use for specific

areas. Often the policy level is addressed and little information is practice oriented. The report

presents the results of a SWOT-analysis and shows possibilities for improvement of protected area

management. The three main aims of this survey, which determined the contents of the report, were

to 1) generate a comprehensive and systematic overview of existing studies, evaluation methods and

key indicators used in Europe, 2) synthesize results of European management effectiveness

evaluations with respect to overall management effectiveness, strengths and weaknesses, threats

and recommendations, 3) generate recommendations for best practice in European management

effectiveness evaluation.

2. Leverington F., Kettner A., Nolte C., Marr M., Stolton S., Pavese H., Stoll-Kleemann S., M.

Hockings (2010): Protected area management Effectiveness Assessments in Europe.

Supplementary report. BfN-Skripten 271b. Bonn, Germany.

This annex of the report presented above (Nolte et al. 2010) presents a lot of aspects of an effective

protected area management but it does not focus on climate change or adaptive management. In

[102]

this annex 16 international and 18 national methodologies for an assessment of European protected

areas are introduced and evaluated. This document is realized as a long list of methods. Each method

is introduced and assessed on a few pages. Thus there are nearly no concrete hints for an adaptive

management of a specific protected area.

3. CMP – The Conservation Measures Partnership (2007): Open Standards for the Practice of

Conservation, Version 2.0.

This document presents „open standards“ for an „adaptive management“. But it does not refer to

climate change of protected areas. Nevertheless the document is written practice oriented. On the

other hand some parts remain rather unspecific and it does not aim at protected area management

in Central Europe. The focus of this document is on the design, implementation and appraisal of

conservation projects. The Conservation Measures Partnership presents a set of project cycle or

adaptive management open standards that are recommended as fundamental to effective

conservation. These standards are communicated as a framework and guidance for conservation

action. The open standards consist of 5 steps which are described on about 20 pages. They include to

1) conceptualize what you will achieve in the context of where you are working, 2) plan both your

actions and monitoring, 3) implement both your actions and monitoring, 4) analyze your data to

evaluate the effectiveness of your activities and to use your results to adapt your project to maximize

impact, 5) capture and share your results with key external and internal audiences to promote

learning. General principles for implementing the open standards are to involve stakeholders,

develop and cultivate partnerships, document decisions and adjust as necessary.

4. IUCN/SSC (2008): Strategic Planning for Species Conservation: A Handbook. Version 1.0.

Gland, Switzerland: IUCN Species Survival Commission. 104pp.

In this document, guidance is provided on when and how to prepare and promote so called Species

Conservation Strategies (SCSs). This guidance includes advice on how to conduct a status review, on

how to develop, through consultation with stakeholders, a vision and goals for the conservation of a

species or species group, on how to set objectives to help achieve the vision and goals and how to

address those objectives through geographically and thematically specific actions. This handbook

describes recommended methods for creating successful SCSs, brief case studies and examples of

aspects of SCSs and references to sources of additional help and guidance. The focus of this

handbook is on species and plans for conservation of species. Climate change, protected areas and

adaptive management are mentioned now and then but are no main topic of this handbook.

4.4. Guidance and Recommendations for Monitoring and Resource

Inventories

1. National Park Service (2009): Strategic plan for natural resource inventories: FY 2008 - FY

2012. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/NRR—2009/094. National Park Service, Fort

Collins, Colorado.

[103]


The document is a strategic plan to implement and continue the Inventory and Monitoring Program

(I&M) from 1992 to complete basic natural resource inventories and to begin monitoring the status

and trend of park natural resources is the US. The need for inventories and monitoring programmes

is explained. The strategic plan outlines the direction to be taken and the funding commitments for

the inventory component of the Service-wide Inventory and Monitoring Program during the 5-year

period starting from 20082. The plan describes the programmatic implementation policies, priorities,

efficiency measures, and budgetary strategies the Program will comply with in order to address

major issues and challenges likely to confront the Program. (Cited from Executive Summary, VII)

The needs of park managers, planners, interpreters, and other key users for basic inventory data far

exceed the funding available. The document is of interest because it discusses National Park needs

for continued and recurred inventories, the adaption to new needs and priorities due to climate

change and other emerging issues, ways for effective delivery of data and information to key

audiences and methods and techniques for data integration, analysis, and synthesis (Decision

Support). (cited from Executive Summary, IX). Although a lot of useful information is given on

inventory taking and monitoring, the document addresses the policy level and cannot be used as a

guideline for protected area management.

2. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN, editor) (2010):

Bewertung des Erhaltungszustandes der Lebensraumtypen nach Anhang I der Fauna-Flora-

Habitat-Richtlinie in Deutschland Überarbeitete Bewertungsbögen der Bund-Länder-

Arbeitskreise als Grundlage für ein bundesweites FFH-Monitoring (Evaluation of conservation

status of habitat types in Annex 1 of the Habitata-Directive in Germany. Revised evaluation

scheme from the state and federal working group as basis for a nationwide Natura 2000

monitoring)

This German document standardises the evaluation of the conservation status of habitat types of the

Habitats-Directive in Germany. Very detailed tables with definitions for each habitat type with

evaluation criteria regarding habitat structures, species inventory and impairments and threats are

given. Threshold values for each criterion are defined to allow transparent and comprehensible

evaluation of the conservation status. The exact definition of evaluation criteria allows the deduction

of measurable and precise conservation objectives. The evaluation scheme is the basis for all

monitoring activities for monitoring and reporting obligations according to Article 16 and 17 of the

Habitats-Directive. This technical guidance is a good example for standardisation in monitoring

efforts and scientifically based evaluation of conservation status. Unfortunately the document is

available in German only.

3. Sachteleben, J., Behrens, M. (2010): Konzept zum Monitoring des Erhaltungszustandes von

Lebensraumtypen und Arten der FFH-Richtlinie in Deutschland. (Concept for monitoring the

conservation status of habitat types and species of the Habitats-Directive in Germany)

To fulfil the obligations from Article 11 of the Habitats Directive an extensive monitoring of protected

species and habitats is necessary. In Germany the federal States and national institutions agreed on a

concept for Natura 2000 monitoring as it is presented in this publication. The concepts contains

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detailed information how and when, and how often to monitor and report to fulfil the requirements

of the directive. The concept is optimised regarding cost-efficiency and practical implementation and

identifies possible synergies with monitoring requirements from other EU Directives. The concept is a

good example for monitoring the conservation status of Natura 2000 species and habitats and is very

practice oriented. Climate change and its impacts or suitable indicators are not yet considered in the

concept. Unfortunately, the concept is available only in German.

4.5. Guidance and Recommendations for Management of Specific

Ecosystems

1. Palmer, M.A., D.P. Lettenmaier, N.L. Poff, S.L. Postel, B. Richter, R. Warner (2009): Climate

Change and River Ecosystems: Protection and Adaptation Options. Environmental

Management. 44, 1053-1068.

This scientific article provides an overview of the predicted impacts based on published studies and

discusses reactive and proactive management responses and six categories of management actions

that can contribute to the protection of valuable river assets. The authors emphasise that

management must be place-based focusing on local watershed scales that are most relevant to

management scales. Priority should have the enhancement of environmental monitoring of changes

and river responses coupled with the development of local scenario-building exercises that take land

use and water use into account. Collaborations among multiple partners in river basins and wise land

use planning to minimize additional development in watersheds with valued rivers is required.

Implementing restoration projects proactively can be used to protect existing resources so that

expensive reactive restoration to repair damage associated with a changing climate is minimized.

Special attention should be given to diversifying and replicating habitats of special importance and to

monitoring populations at high risk or of special value so that management interventions can occur if

the risks to habitats or species increase significantly over time. (Cited from Abstract, p. 1053) The

article addresses policy and decision makers at national or regional level and gives strategic advice

that cannot be implemented at site level. Management and adaptation activities are recommended

only for river ecosystems.

2. Lasch P., Lindner M., Erhard M., Suckow F., A. Wenzel (2002): Regional impact assessment on

forest structure and functions under climate change – the Brandenburg case study. In: Forest

Ecology and Management 162, 73-86.

This scientific article discusses modelling and assessment, climate change and different scenarios.

Adaptive management is mentioned in several paragraphs. The focus of this article is not on

protected areas but on forests. Thus it contains not much information for practitioners of protected

area management. In this article a forest simulation model for a regional impact assessment to

investigate impacts of climate change on forest structure and function is introduced. The forest

model includes soil, groundwater table and land-use maps. Two climate scenarios were used to

assess the sensitivity of species composition to climate change. Impacts of climate change on

biodiversity and on groundwater recharge of natural and managed forests were assessed with GIS-

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models. The regional impact assessment shows a high sensitivity of natural forests in the region of

Brandenburg to the projected climatic change and it underlined the importance of adaptive

management strategies to help forestry to cope with climatic change.

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