Introduction and the EU 2013-2018 guidelines for assessing Favourable Con-servation Status of species

Abstract

Introduction and the EU 2013-2018 guidelines for assessing Favourable Conservation Status of species

The conservation status of the habitats and species listed in the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) is to be assessed and reported by the European Union's Member States every six years according to the Directive's Article 17. The previous time was in year 2013, and for the reporting period 2013-2018 updated guidelines were published in May 2017 (1). The assessment of conservation status for species requires the setting of "favourable reference values" for range (FRR) and population size (FRP); the updated guidelines introduce a stepwise approach for estimating these reference values and were made clearer. Also it is clearer that, e.g. for the large carnivore species, the Favourable Reference Population (FRP) is larger than the Minimum Viable Population sizes for both genetic and demographic long-term viability. The latter was more unclear in the 2011 reporting guidelines. For example, Nilsson (2) demonstrated that MVPs fulfilling the <10% extinction risk /100 years criterion did not by far meet recognized criteria for genetic viability. Since large carnivore populations often occur in multiple adjacent biogeographic zones or countries, i.e. are transboundary, the delimitation of the biologically functional population, and to what extent gene flow occurs between subpopulations in different zones or countries, are key issues in the assessment of reference values for their long-term genetic viability. This workshop aims at synthesizing knowledge and views from science and government agencies to help in such conservation status assessments and to help increase successful co-management and conservation of transboundary large carnivore populations.

References:

(1) Reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive - Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the period 2013-2018. Final version - May 2017. https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/d0eb5cef-a216-4cad-8e77-6e4839a5471d/Reporting%20guidelines%20Article%2017%20final%20May%202017.pdf

(2) Population viability analyses of the Scandinavian populations of bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx) and wolverine (Gulo gulo). http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Documents/publikationer6400/978-91-620-6549-2.pdf?pid=7417