Promoting coexistence with conflict species within the framework of the EU Nature Directives

The opinion:

– draws attention to the importance for biodiversity, the Natura 2000 network and species protection that Member States, regions and local authorities adopt coordinated measures in accordance with the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity;

– finds that new measures need to be put in place to encourage positive externalities – so often mentioned in relation to biodiversity and large predators – to fully develop in local communities: in many cases, these opportunities are still under-utilised in practice, or else the conditions for seizing such opportunities, especially the requisite expertise and assistance, are insufficient;

– in view of the definition of conflict species as those which, due to their biology and ethology, compete with a range of human activities for the use of common resources and space, calls for new measures, based on scientific evidence, that can be used when devising suitable methods for implementing the directives and various other types of measures;

– calls on the Commission to take the necessary steps to ensure that local and regional communities, their organisations and representatives are directly involved and can participate effectively and efficiently in setting up platforms and cooperation mechanisms on conflict species and in shaping policies in this area;

– hopes that when the next Multiannual Financial Framework is being planned, adequate resources will be granted to ensure funding of protection, prevention (including also awareness raising and environmental education), compensatory measures, research and other specific initiatives to promote development in the different areas for action, and under relevant EU Funds;

– is of the view that in some regions the approach adopted so far to large carnivores is unsatis-factory, so there is a need to improve the management of the conflicts associated to large carnivores, fully exploiting the relevant experiences from research and development projects as well as from other relevant projects, with a view to reducing the impact and risk for hu-mans and farm animals.

https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/Pages/OpinionTimeline.aspx?opId=CDR-3545-2017

Promoting coexistence with conflict species within the framework of the EU Nature Directives