International Conference Antwerp, 12-13 December 2012

woensdag, 12. december 2012 - 9:00

20 years of Habitats Directive: European Wildlife’s Best Hope?

The Habitats Directive forms the cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy. It is built around two pillars: the Natura 2000 network of protected sites and the strict system of species protection. More than 18% of the surface of the EU is a part of the Natura 2000 network whereas over hundreds of animal and plant species are protected by the provisions of article 12 and 16 of the Habitats Directive. Yet, at its 20th Birthday, there seems little to no reason to cheer. At present only 17% of the protected habitats and species are in a favourable conservation status. According to IUCN Red List, 10 to 60 % of animal species, depending on the monitored groups, are threatened in Europe. This conference aims at assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Habitats Directive in the light of the European ‘no net loss’ approach. In this respect focus will not only rest on the existing threats to biodiversity (e.g. nitrogen deposit) but also on new challenges, such as climate change and invasive alien species. Is the Habitats Directive robust enough to tackle these new and existing threats or do we need other or better legal instruments ?

Although the conference will mainly be dedicated to legal issues, it will not lose sight of the broader, more multidiscplinary ecological context. On day one of the conference there will be a particular emphasis on the legal regime attached to the Natura 2000 network, the strict prescriptions for species protection and the relationship between the Habitats Directive and some transversal issues, such as ecological damage and transboundary nature conservation. Day two will kick off with two parallel sessions. The first parallel session will be dedicated to science-policy issues whereas the second will tackle nature conservation in the marine environment. During the afternoon session, the lack of integration of nature conservation in other European policy areas will be looked into in more detail. The conference will conclude with some reflections on new possible legal instruments for halting the loss of biodiversity.

Congress day 1

Congress day 2

(*) to be confirmed

Organisation

This conference is co-organised by the Université Catholique de Louvain (Séminaire de droit de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement (SERES) and Biodiversity Research Centre (BDIV)), Ghent University (Centrum voor Milieu- en Energierecht (CMR) of the Department of Public Law and the Department of Public International Law), Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis (Centre d’Etude du Droit de l’Environnement (CEDRE)), The Flemish Environmental Law Association (VVOR) and ARGUS-het milieupunt van KBC en CERA.

Scientific Comittee
Charles-Hubert Born, Professor at Université Catholique de Louvain
An Cliquet, Professor at Ghent University
Isabelle Larmuseau, President of VVOR
Delphine Misonne, Guest Professor at Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis
Hendrik Schoukens, Research assistant at Ghent University
Helga Van der Veken, Director of ARGUS-het milieupunt van KBC en CERA
Geert Van Hoorick, Professor at Ghent University

Supporting Organisations
VVOR, ARGUS-het milieupunt van KBC en CERA
UCL, UGent, FUSL, Observatoire Juridique Natura 2000
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Milieurecht (VMR)
United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
Environmental Law Network International (ELNI)

Download the folder