Life Natura Role Tender

Duration 01-JAN-2021 to 31-DEC -2030Total budget 16622242.00 EU contribution 9973345.00 Project descriptionBackgroundThe Natura 2000 network in Slovakia covers approximately 30 of the countrys area. It includes 41 special protection areas SPAs which is considered to be sufficient by the European Commission. However Slovakias national list of sites of community importance SCIs contains 642 sites 93-97 of what is required and therefore subject to an infringement procedure by the Commission. Moreover the legal designation of sites and their management plans are not complete. Up to September 2019 site management plans had only been developed for 34 SPAs 83 approved for 18 SPAs 44 and for 133 special areas of conservation SACs 21 approved for 100 SACs 16. Although conservation targets have been established for each species and habitat type there is no methodology to assess the conservation status of habitats and species at site level. In addition 32 of habitat and 37 of species target features of SCIsSACs have no data entries to set conservation targets for each site.The management planning cycle lacks records on the management measures implemented and evaluation of their effectiveness as well as a robust monitoring methodology for all aspects. Some specific habitat types such as peatland and inland salt meadows lack management measures while some traditional landscape features and their biodiversity are disappearing due to land-use changes and detrimental subsidies. Forest and water management plans and their implementation do not properly take nature conservation requirements into account while nature-based solutions are mistrusted and examples are not well known.Knowledge on ecological connectivity requirements is missing for some species and habitat types meaning the coherence of the Natura 2000 network is not properly ensured through existing ecological networks. The possible impacts of climate change on Natura 2000 habitats and species and the vulnerability of particular Natura 2000 sites to climate change are unknown. The ecosystem services provided by Natura 2000 sites are also poorly known and therefore not considered in planning policy and decision-making.ObjectivesThe LIFE- IP NATURA 2000 SK projects main objective is to implement the 2021-2027 prioritised action framework PAF for the Natura 2000 network in Slovakia and improve the conservation status of specific species and habitat types along with the coherence of the Natura 2000 network. This will help achieve the targets of the EUs Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the general objectives of the EU Habitats and Birds directives. PAFs are a strategic planning tool for providing a comprehensive overview of the measures needed to implement the Natura 2000 network.The specific objectives include Setting of conservation targets and management of Natura 2000 sites in Slovakia based on sound data and method