MedWetCoast REGIONAL TECHNICAL SEMINAR National Strategies and Policies for Wetlands Beirut, Lebanon, 16‐18 February 2004

Implementation of the Spanish Strategic Plan  for the Conservation and Wise Use of  Wetlands José Ramón Picatoste Ruggeroni

http://www.mma.es [email protected]

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

PRINCIPAL BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATION National Wetlands Committee (from National Commission for the Protection of Nature) Members: -General Direction of Nature Conservation (chair) -17 regions -General Direction of Coast -General Direction of Hydraulic Works -National Parks -Experts invited (research community, NGOs…) Main activity: - Coordinate the implementation of the Spanish Wetland Strategy - One or two annual meetings

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

Weaknesses • Lack of political willingness due to: – Low priority of wetlands conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity objectives – Lack of knowledge of the benefits associated with the values and functions of biodiversity and wetlands – Unawareness of international environmental agreement commitments – Lack of strong legal support of the Strategy

• Lack of resources to develop/implement the commitments • Overlapping with the Spanish Strategy of Sustainable Development

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

Strengths and Opportunities

-The strategy: document of consensus -Dynamics of work consolidated, with a rich and strong relationship among multiple parties involved on wetlands conservation -Strong background in planning and management of wetlands -Host country for Ramsar COP8 (Valencia 2002)

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 1 Increase knowledge about wetlands at all levels

→ NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY (ROYAL DECREE) AND REGIONAL INVENTORIES IN PROGRESS

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 2 Make all society aware of wetlands values and functions

→

ELABORATION OF THE NATIONAL PLAN ON COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS (CEPA), FOCUS IN WETLANDS, IN PROGRESS

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 3 Give legal protection to all wetlands and reinforce the relevant legal frameworks

→ WEAK DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANALYSIS OF  LEGAL GAPS AT NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT: → COMPLETE FRAMEWORK FOR EIA (2001) AND  EVALUATION OF AFFECTIONS OVER NATURE 2000 → PUNCTUAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE BAN  OF USING LEAD MUNITION IN RAMSAR SITES (2001)

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 4 Reinforce the capacity of institutions, organizations and bodies in order to achieve conservation and wise use of wetlands

→ WEAK DEVELOPMENT OF THE  ANALYSIS OF  ADMINISTRATION STRUCTURES AND EFFICIENCY,  BUT: → NATIONAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTAL  CENTRE WITH  TRAINING PROGRAMME IN  PROGRESS

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 5 Guarantee that all wetlands are managed effectively and in an integrated way, particularly those that are legally protected

→ MANAGEMENT PLANS IN PROTECTED AREAS → STRONG APPLIED SCIENTIFIC WORK ON WETLAND  MANAGEMENT

→ RESTORATION PROGRAMME IN PROGRESS → ACTION PLAN AGAINST ALIEN SPECIES IN  ELABORATION

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 6 Reinforce co-operation between public and private bodies, including local bodies and the private sector

→ SOCIAL PARTICIPATION STRUCTURES IN  PROTECTED AREAS

→ ANNUAL GENERAL DIRECTION OF NATURE  CONSERVATION’S FUNDS FOR PRIVATE ACTIONS 

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 7 Mobilise financial assistance for the conservation and wise use of wetlands by implementing the Strategic Plan

→ FAILED DEVELOPMENT OF THE SO‐CALLED  “WETLANDS FUND”

→ REORIENTED BUDGET LINE FOR RESTORATION  PROJECTS

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN : STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 8 Guarantee effective compliance with international commitments in relation to European and international agreements, directives and policies related to wetlands, and promote international cooperation

→ SPAIN CONTRIBUTES TO NATURE 2000 WITH 24% OF 

ITS TERRITORY

→ RAMSAR COP8 HOST COUNTRY → SYSTEMATIC APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT 

OF THE SPANISH RAMSAR LIST PROPOSED

→ INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME ON  BIODIVERSITY IN PROGRESS

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 9 Disseminate the Strategic Plan and achieve the support of the greatest possible number of institutions and bodies

→ WEAK RESULTS OUT OF THE CONSERVATION AND  RESEARCH COMMUNITIES

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

STRATEGIC PLAN: STATE-OF-THE ART General Objective 10 Ensure the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategic Plan

→ WEAK RESULTS DUE TO THE LACK OF STRONG  LEGAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES 

→ IN PROGRESS THE ANALYSIS OF THE SPANISH  STRATEGY vs. RAMSAR STRATEGY 2003‐2008

Spanish Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands

‐‐‐‐‐Conclusions‐‐‐‐‐ •The use of resources from the DGCN core budget  for the implementation of the strategy has resulted  into serious limitations •Weak results in those actions that require strong  political support •Good implementation in those actions related to  inventoring, planning, management, research,  sinergies and cooperation  •The consolidated dynamics of work with a rich  and strong relationship among the multiple parties  involved in wetland conservation was reinforced  with the organization of the Ramsar COP8 in Spain, and is contributing to the implementation of the  strategy

MedWetCoast REGIONAL TECHNICAL SEMINAR National Strategies and Policies for Wetlands Beirut, Lebanon, 16‐18 February 2004

Implementation of the Spanish Strategic Plan  for the Conservation and Wise Use of  Wetlands José Ramón Picatoste Ruggeroni

http://www.mma.es [email protected]