EVALUACIÓN DE LA CAPACIDAD DE REMOCIÓN DE C. VULGARIS

A number of factors affect the implementation of the integrated spatial planning across Europe (CEC, 2004; Stead and Meijers, 2009; Simeonova & van der Valk, 2016). One of these factors is the fact that currently there is no unified approach across the Member States for integration of Natura 2000 into spatial planning and into different sectoral developments.

Presently, integrated spatial-planning practices have been developed and applied in some countries, which has led to successful conservation practices for nature and biodiversity. Some spatial-planning systems in the Member States have been recast as mechanisms to improve coordination and integration between sectors and the use of integrated spatial planning has become one of the main objectives of spatial-planning policy. For example, such an approach to spatial planning can be found in the planning systems in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and the Nordic countries (CEC, 1997).

Other Member States have already succeeded in developing comprehensive plans for establishing National Ecological Networks (NENs), including Natura 2000, which have subsequently been embedded in the spatial planning process at all levels of government (e.g. France, the Netherlands, Germany, Estonia and more recently Spain and Portugal) (see Case Green infrastructure in Estonia; EPIC WebGIS Portugal). The NENs serve as basis for developing a coherent spatial structure of protected areas of nature at national level, including Natura 2000. In some of the Member States (e.g. Netherlands, Germany) the NENs plans have played a crucial role in reshaping spatial developments embedded in sectoral plans such as in the transport, agriculture and energy sectors. NENs do not always have a legal status. For this reason planners may not be obliged to modify the spatial plans or projects due to presence of the NENs, but in some cases may at least be obliged to take the NENs measures into account in the assessment and planning process.

In contrast to the Western European countries, in the Eastern European countries progress in reshaping the spatial planning systems to better integrate nature conservation is even more challenging due to the rapid socio-economic and legal reforms that have taken place in these countries during the last two decades, these being the transition to a market economy and accession to the EU (see example of Slovenia, Box 2.8).

Box 2.8 Spatial planning and Natura 2000 in Slovenia

Slovenia’s complex two-tier spatial-planning system imposes a substantial administrative burden on municipalities. Preparing a municipal spatial plan is a long and demanding process, which requires time, professional experience, substantial financial resources and consultations with various groups of stakeholders. This is further complicated by the fact that 37% of Slovenia’s territory is designated as Natura 2000: the highest share of the EU. Unspoiled nature and biodiversity offer unique assets for Slovenia’s long-term development, but this potential often goes unrealised, owing to a lack of strategic management capacity as municipalities struggle individually to comply with time-consuming, technical and administrative procedures. The lack of collaboration among municipalities leaves many of them unable to fulfil the regional growth objectives and to achieve an integrated and balanced development that meets broader interests than only the economic ones. Spatial planning procedures could be streamlined both at national and local levels. They could also be stabilised: frequent changes in spatial-planning policy and procedures are impeding an integrated planning approach. Municipalities need more technical assistance and training, not only to abide by spatial planning procedures but also to develop a broader vision of spatial planning at a relevant scale. A cross-checking mechanism should be introduced to link spatial plans with strategic plans and regional development plans.

The key challenge for all Member States is to implement and maintain this integration process in a way that resources, competences and responsibilities are shared across various spatial scales and governmental levels (Stead & Meijer, 2009; Simeonova & van der Valk, 2009; Vigar, 2009). While in most of the countries the integration of environmental objectives such as nature conservation have been addressed in the strategic spatial plans (e.g. national territorial development plans or regional territorial development strategies), the actual integration process often lags behind at the local level of planning. This is despite the fact that in many cases the local level of spatial planning is the operational level where Natura 2000 objectives play a crucial role (see Box 2.9). This is the level at which municipal spatial plans are developed, including zoning plans, as well as the level at which management plans for Natura 2000 are developed.

Box 2.9 Integration of Natura 2000 in zoning plans

The preparation of the zoning plans may be a standalone process for the redevelopment or urbanisation of new territories or be based on the developments addressed in higher-level plans such as master plans or regional plans. Zoning plans may have a direct impact on the Natura 2000 areas as they determine the designation of land uses for different functions. In an ideal case they implement the conservation measures and enhance the connectivity between the Natura 2000 sites. The spatial-planning process usually takes place in three key phases: initiation of the plan, design of the plan and implementation of the plan. There are a number of opportunities within each phase of the land-use plan preparation and implementation to consider different aspects of Natura 2000 management and conservation.

Management plans can regulate the activities within the specific Natura 2000. They can also set conservation objectives for the site and thus facilitate appropriate assessments of future developments. As such, the management plans for Natura 2000 can be effective tools for spatial planning by ensuring integration of Natura 2000 conservation measures into different sectoral developments (as far as they are regulated by the management plans).

Although the European Union has no specific competency in spatial planning, its policy and legislation have influenced the planning systems of the Member States. Apart from Nature Directives, the SEA and EIA Directives, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive have

exerted the biggest impact on planning policies and practices (see chapter 4). The European Commission together with the Member States have also undertaken several initiatives which can serve as the basis for developing a more unified spatial-planning approach to nature conservation across Europe. One of these is the European Commission's recently adopted Strategy on Green Infrastructure (GI) (CEC, 2013), which serves as an example of a more comprehensive and integrated spatial-planning approach towards biodiversity conservation. Another important initiative is the ‘No less loss’ initiative (see chapter 4).