European Commission- Continental Biogeographic seminar in Prague 25-27 June 2024

the Faculty of Environmental Sciences of the Czech University of Life Sciences (Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague).

Introduction
The fourth Natura 2000 Biogeographical Seminar for the Continental, Alpine, Pannonian, Steppic and
Black Sea Regions will take place from 25 – 27th of June 2024. The venue will be the Faculty of
Environmental Sciences of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. The seminar will be hosted
by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, together with the Faculty of
Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences and the European Commission. The
following three themes will be discussed during the seminar:
• Theme 1: Approaches to developing pledges
Biodiversity fares better in protected areas, as they are a vital tool to improve conservation
status of habitats and species. Several EU Member States are still developing their pledges
on protected areas in order to reach the 30 % coverage target by 2030 and for status
improvement of habitats and species, as foreseen by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
During the session dedicated to this themes, Member States will exchange the current state
of progress – what are the underlying approaches and principles with regards to specific
natural conditions and different legal backgrounds, as well as what are best practices and
possibilities with regards to identifying and designating new protected areas.
• Theme 2: Restoration actions for grasslands in protected areas
Ecological restoration of degraded habitats and ecosystems is needed to reverse the decline
of nature. Grasslands are amongst the habitat types with the highest number of
deteriorating trends in the European Union. Restoring grasslands might assist Member States
in meeting the targets for improving conservation status set out in the EU Biodiversity
Strategy for 2030. Restoration is also a crucial component of other key targets, such as
maintaining and improving the conservation status of habitats and species within the Natura
2000 network. Restored areas could also potentially contribute to the 30% protected area
target. In recent years, significant experience has been gained with restoration programs and
projects, including within the framework of LIFE projects. This session will present and
discuss these experiences.
• Theme 3: Using OECM’s to safeguard biodiversity
According to the definition adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity, “other
effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) means “a geographically defined area
other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive
and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with

associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-
economic, and other locally relevant values. The concept of the OECMs is still being fully

explored, and expert debate can assist EU Member States in applying OECMs for biodiversity
protection. Which OECMs are Member States in the Continental region utilizing and what are
the best practices? Which OECMs demonstrate real potential to contributing to achieving the
goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030? In this session, the concept of OECMs as well
as experiences in identifying and applying OECMs within various areas will be presented.
(for the provisional program of the meeting see the next page)

Provisional program
Tuesday 25th of June 2024
Time Session, topics and speakers
8:00 – 9:00 Registration of participants

Plenary session

9:00 – 10: 30 Official welcome & update on the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00 Session on conservation status pledges:

• Where are we – inventory, overview, distance to target
• Approaches from different Member States (presentations by Member
States)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:30 Theme 1: Session on protected areas pledges:

• Scientific basis for identification of new protected areas
• Approaches from different Member States to the pledge process
• Best practices with designating new protected areas

15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-17:30 Break-out sessions on pledges

Evening

18:00 – 20:00 Knowledge Market. Presentation of LIFE and other projects

Participants are invited to a buffet dinner and drinks during the knowledge
market

Wednesday 26th of June 2024:
Time EXCURSIONS
8:30 – 17:00 Gathering of the participants and boarding the buses

Lunch will be provided by the organizers

17:00 – 20.00 Joint Dinner

Thursday 27th of June 2023
Time Session, topics and speakers
9.00-
10.15

Theme 2: Restoration actions for grasslands in
protected areas
Examples of successful restoration activities for
specific habitats and species

10:15-
10:45

Coffee break

10.45-
12.00

Theme 3: Using OECMs to safeguard
biodiversity
Presentations of definitions and best practices
on OECMS

12:00-
13:00

Lunch break

Parallel discussion sessions on two themes

13:00-14:45 Discussion session on Theme 2:
Successful restoration of grasslands in
protected areas

Discussion session on Theme 3:
Using OECMs to safeguard biodiversity

14:45-15:00 Coffee break
15:00-17:00 Plenary Session
15:00– 16:00 Reporting by three topics
16:00- 16:15 Next steps for the pledge process & roadmap for the regions
16:15: 16:45 Interaction and discussion participants
16:45 Vote of thanks
17:00 Departure of participants