ECOlogical NETwork for the promotion of convergent conservation strategies in COastal HAbitatS of CommuniTy significance
The aim of the project ECONET COHAST is to promote convergent conservation strategies at landscape scale for coastal habitats of Community significance. An ecological network of stakeholders and a knowledge base on impact assessment for coastal habitats will be established, which will support capacity building and policy actions throughout the region. The dissemination of best practices for coastal habitats management will promote harmonious territorial integration throughout ARCHIMED. Coastal zones in the Mediterranean region display a high diversity of habitats, such as sandy beaches, salt marshes, coastal plains. Despite the designation of many of these habitats in the Natura 2000 network their long-term conservation effectiveness is questioned. This is because coastal zones are influenced by inland processes, often at the scale of the river catchment and thus subject to an increased degree of threat. Therefore biodiversity conservation success in those habitats depends on understanding landscape processes of both natural and socio-economic origin. Recent policy developments, such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), account for changes at a broader spatial scale. However, in practice there is no real integration of ideas between ICZM and biodiversity conservation. Therefore there is a need to establish and adopt common tools and methodologies in ARCHIMED region to assess landscape scale processes and deliver guidelines for conservation management of coastal habitats in the long term. Objectives: • Establish a network of research institutes and local authorities involved in coastal habitats management • Establish a common knowledge base on Environmental Impact Assessment and Decision Support for coastal habitats • Training of researchers and professionals on best practices for coastal habitats management • Support the planning process for Natura 2000 management • Establish a portal service for the post-project period that will provide information to stakeholders and the public Main activities: Identify and contact main stakeholders Identify landscape processes that influence coastal habitats Quantify and evaluate the effects of these processes Development of planning tools Dissemination of the results Expected results: Collaborative network for coastal habitat conservation, Coastal habitat monitoring system, Portal Service, Increased expertise, Improved public awareness Deliverables: Training package, Workshops with stakeholders, Dissemination material, Project website, Technical and scientific publications, Monitoring indicators of change, “best practice” handbooks, Cartographic outputs, policy guidelines Direct beneficiaries: Local authorities, management agencies of Natura 2000 sites, educational and research institutes, SMEs