PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Areas managed by Poland’s Ministry of National Defence include (at least partially) 116 Natura 2000 sites as well as 30 landscape parks, 14 nature reserves, 11 national parks, 37 nature monuments, 20 sites of ecological use and 4 nature and landscape complexes. The data on natural habitats and species – of plants and animals for whose conservation the Natura 2000 sites have been designated – in military areas needs to be completed and updated. Moreover, the system of data acquisition and management, and nature conservation management procedures, in military areas needs to be improved.
OBJECTIVES
The INF-ARMY project’s main objective is to create a permanent management network for 116 Natura 2000 sites in Polish military areas. This will involve cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, regional boards of infrastructure and other military and civil institutions that have an impact on the management of Natura 2000 sites. The project will update the data on natural habitats and species – of plants and animals for whose conservation the Natura 2000 sites have been designated – in military areas. It will also improve the system of data acquisition and management, conservation measures for natural habitats and species, and nature conservation management procedures in military areas.
The specific objectives include:
• Setting up a training and information centre for Natura 2000 management in military areas;
• Improving the capacity of regional military administration staff by implementing a training programme, ‘Natura 2000 advisers’;
• Reduction of threats to natural habitats, e.g. due to the invasion of alien and expansive plant species;
• Strengthening the cooperation of military and civil institutions in the joint management of Natura 2000 sites;
• Supporting the management system of Natura 2000 sites (including a module on Natura 2000 in military IT systems);
• Natural inventory of military polygons – update of standard data forms for Natura 2000 sites, mapping of natural habitats;
• Integrated monitoring of the conservation status of natural habitats and species in military areas;
• Cross-border exchange of experiences on nature conservation between military units, Natura 2000 site managers, stakeholders and practitioners in military areas (international working group ‘Nature Conservation in Military Areas’, facilitated by Eurosite – the European Land Conservation Network); and
• An information campaign on nature conservation in military areas.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Improved management of 116 Natura 2000 sites in Poland;
- Creation of a pool of 250 Natura 2000 advisors trained in military site administration;
- Innovative IT system for the management of information about Natura 2000 areas in Poland implemented and well managed;
- Permanent regional partnerships established between managers of military areas and institutions dealing with nature conservation; and
- Awareness raised on nature conservation in military areas (training of 500 people and production of a guidebook, TV documentary series and articles).
