important plant areas in central and eastern europe - hirc.botanic.hr ...

Section 7ReferencesEU Habitats Directive(www.europa.eu.int/comm/nature/nature_conservation/eu_nature_legislation)LIFE Nature database(www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/project)Natura 2000 network website(www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm)IPAs, the EU Habitats Directive and the Natura 2000 Network(cont.)Management of SACs and fundingMaintaining sites in ‘favourable conservation status’ requires adequate, sustainable fundingand the member states must produce a co-financing plan with the Commission.The lackof direct nature conservation funds, such as the LIFE programme, or a dedicatedportion of other funds, such as the Rural Development Programme, would undoubtedlydiminish the effectiveness of the Habitats Directive and the Natura 2000 network.IPAs and the Habitats DirectiveThe criteria lists for selecting IPAs include all of the threatened habitats on Annex I, andall of the threatened species on Annex IIb and IVb.The IPA project uses the sixbiogeographic zones of the EU but also the additional five of the Council of Europe.In the five partner countries in the EU, 399 IPAs (78% of IPAs in those countries) arealso currently proposed as SACs by the national governments.711 IPAs (89%) contain Habitats Directive species or habitats.LIFE Nature Projects are currently improving plant conservation on many IPAs, includingthe Danube Flood Plain in Slovakia, the Baltic coastal meadows of Estonia, and importantforest habitats in Piatra Craiului and Domogled National Parks in Romania.DANA TOURONOVASwamp habitat in Slovakia.94