UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project
Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for Nutrient
Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation in the Danube
River Basin
Inventory of Protected Areas (Natural
Habitats) in the Danube River Basin
Project Component 1.4: Integrated Land Use
Assessment and Inventory of Protected Areas
November 16, 2003
Prepared by:
WWF International Danube-Carpathian Programme and WWF-Aueninstitut
Detlef Guenther-Diringer, Ulrich Schwarz, David Tickner, Philip Weller, Susanna
Wiener, Isabel Wolte
UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project
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Table of Contents
Preface .................................................................................................................................. 2
Table of contents.................................................................................................................. 3
Abbreviations....................................................................................................................... 5
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 7
Chapter 1: Aims and Activities .......................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2: GIS Data and Cartography............................................................................. 11
Chapter 3: Thematic Data and Database.......................................................................... 13
Chapter 4: Further steps .................................................................................................... 16
WWF International Danube-Carpathian Programme
Inventory of Protected Areas (Natural Habitats) in the Danube River Basin
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Abbreviations
CORINE
Coordination of information on the environment
DIN
Deutsche
Industrie
Norm
DRB
Danube
River
Basin
DRP
UNDP/GEF
Danube
Regional
Project
ECO EG
Ecological Expert Group of the ICDPR
EGM
EuroGlobalMap
EU
European
Union
GEF
Global
Environment
Facility
GIS
Geographical
Information
Systems
ICPDR
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
IUCN
World Conservation Union (International Union for the Conservation of
Nature)
IRS 1C
Indian Remote Sensing Satellite
pSCIs
proposed Sites of Community Interests
SPAs
Special
Protected
Areas
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
WCMC
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
WFD
EU Water Framework Directive
WiFS
Wide
Field
Sensor
WWF
Worldwide Fund for Nature
Country abbreviations:
Austria
AT
Bosnia-Herzegovina BA
Bulgaria BG
Croatia
HR
Czech Republic
CR
Germany DE
Hungary HU
Moldova MD
Romania RO
Serbia & Montenegro S-M
Slovakia SK
Slovenia SI
Ukraine
UA
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Executive Summary
The Ecological Expert Group of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
(ICPDR) has been charged with preparing a river basin-wide Inventory of Protected Areas designated
for the protection of water-related habitats and species. This Inventory of Protected Areas is required
under Article 6, Annex IV and Annex VI of the EU Water Framework Directive.
This report, together with a GIS output, maps and a database, has been prepared as part of this task.
The Inventory of Protected Areas at present comprises a total of 237 protected areas from 11 countries
in the Danube River Basin. However, the data is unavailable or incomplete for several DRB countries.
Consequently, the Inventory will need to be updated on a stepwise basis in the coming years as and
when more data is available.
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Inventory of Protected Areas (Natural Habitats) in the Danube River Basin
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Chapter 1:
Aims and activities
The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires, as part of its river basin management approach,
that an inventory of nature protection areas (in the form of a map) be carried out on a river basin level.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Ecological Expert Group (ECO EG) of the International
Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is to prepare such an inventory and to
ensure that it is prepared according to the provisions of WFD Article 6 and Annex IV, 1(v) related to
habitats and species protection areas in line with the WFD time frame.
This report summarises work undertaken to prepare the Inventory of Protected Areas within the frame
of the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project (DRP), Output 1.4: Integrated Land Use Assessment and
Inventory of Protected Areas. The aim of this element of Output 1.4 was to ensure the completion of
the Inventory and its presentation in a map for use by ECO EG and for use in meeting the other DRP
objectives.
A Danube River Basin (DRB) protected area inventory database was also to be compiled based on
national inventories and taking into account the existing land use data. A detailed methodology for the
inventory of protected areas was to be finalised following the input received during the ECO EG
meeting on September 9 and 10, 2002. Detailed discussions and decisions about the methodology and
approach for conducting the inventory were held during previous ECO EG meetings. The September
2002 meeting provided input on questions related to what kind of protected areas to include in the
inventory, how to homogenise country specific information on protected areas etc.
Commitments were made by national representatives to the ECO EG to provide data which was
analysed at the ECO EG meeting. As of September 2, 2002, ten of the thirteen DRB countries had
provided the initial data and efforts to ensure the full set of data needed were undertaken. The core
data set that was provided by the national representatives of the ECO EG was to be analysed to
determine whether it was compliant with the agreed methodology and standardised reporting format
(see data requirements and steps as per the 4th ECO EG meeting Report, Feb. 25-26th, 2002 as well as
the steps as laid out in the ECO EG Work plan). The project team was to identify gaps and
weaknesses and coordinate with ECO EG members to fill them and then to harmonise the data set to
the attainable degree. An assessment was then to be made whether updated EU Natura 2000 software
expected to be available in October 2002 would be utilised.
The inventory of protected areas was then to be produced in the form of a layer within the ICPDR GIS
system according to the existing guidelines provided by the ICPDR GIS Expert Sub-Group. In this
context, a process for integrating/transferring the map layer into the ICPDR GIS framework was to be
clarified. In addition discussions were to be held with the DRP team to ensure the linkage of the data
base and information from the project with the overall information management of the project.
According to the 4th ECO EG meeting Report:
"These maps for the inventory of protected areas should be based on the sub-units defined by the
countries and follow the definitions for mapping and GIS of the GIS ESG. Sites of international
importance, as for example, Ramsar sites, National Parks, IBAs, World Heritage Sites etc. could
be included as a very first step into the inventory since their data is available immediately. EU
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Member States, Austria and Germany, will select suitable areas out of their nominated Natura
2000 lists. All other countries - the non-EU Countries - are asked to select their sites on the basis
of their national nature conservation legislation. The IUCN-WCMC List of Protected Areas 1993
can form an important basis for this task. Wetlands International is currently updating the world
wide wetland inventory. The wetland inventory conducted in the frame of the UNDP/GEF
Danube Pollution Reduction Programme by WWF, Evaluation of Wetlands and Floodplain Areas
in the DRB (May 1999) is a good basis for building the inventory."
The draft maps have been discussed and reviewed with the DRP project team as well as the relevant
ICPDR Expert Groups before finalisation.
As the nature protection areas inventory is a primary objective of the ECO EG and is also required for
developing the DRB Management Plan (the primary task of the ICPDR River Basin Management
Expert Group), close cooperation with both Expert Groups is required. Supporting appropriate land
use (particularly related to wetland protection and rehabilitation) is also related to the activities of the
ECO EG.
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Chapter 2:
GIS-Data and Cartography
For editing the GIS data and map of the Inventory of Protected Areas the following basic points were
relevant:
-
Geometrical structure and content of base data;
-
Quality of the different country data; and
- Output
data.
2.1 Geometrical
structure
and content of Base data
The geometrical structure of the data corresponds to the CORINE-LandCover data (Lambert Azimutal
Projection). The planned use of the EuroGlobalMap (EGM) dataset could not be realised, because it
was not yet available. On the basis of the given geo-referencing information the processed inventory
data can still be converted into the EGM data in a future step.
The following information is integrated in the base data set:
-
Satellite images (IRS 1C, WiFS) ;
- River
network;
- State
boundaries;
- Capital
cities;
-
Border of Danube River Basin; and
- Annotations.
2.2
Quality of the different country data
The quality of spatial data provided also varied from country to country. The following types of data
were received from national authorities:
-
Detailed GIS data (e.g. from DE, SK);
-
Digital data, but only raster data (scanned maps) of single protected areas (e.g. from CR);
-
Digital data, but only raster data (scanned maps) with national overview maps of protected
areas (e.g. from RO); and
-
Analog maps of very different scales with very different information.
Detailed information about the different country data is listed in Chapter 3.
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2.3 Output
data
In general if digital spatial data are prepared, there are theoretically no scale limitations. But due to
the very different and partly poor quality of the data of protected areas, the result can best be displayed
at a scale of a DIN A0 map, i.e. a scale of up to 1:1.5 million. For more detailed scales the inaccuracy
will be too large.
A reduction of the DIN A0 map to a DIN A3 overview map can be carried out by reducing the base
data and display limitations for protected areas. Small areas would then be displayed only with point
symbols and only very large areas would be displayed in the same way as in the DIN A0 map.
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Chapter 3:
Thematic data and database
The preliminary Inventory of Protected Areas serves as an overview document for the ICPDR,
describing and visualising a core list of protected areas within the DRB. The database and map
should, in the future, be further developed to meet the requirements of the Register and Map of
protected areas within the framework of the WFD.
3.1 Limitations to the data
The DRB can be divided into four groups of countries:
-
EU Member States (DE and AT);
-
First-wave Accession Countries (CR, SK, HU and SI);
-
Second-wave Accession Countries (BG, RO and, potentially, HR); and
-
Other countries (BA, S-M, UA and MD).
Article 6, Annex IV and Annex VI of the WFD requires EU Member States to ensure the
establishment of a Register (or registers) of water-related Natura 2000 areas by the end of 2004. Since
the establishment of the European Natura 2000 network has been delayed, and is likely to be further
delayed because of the accession to the EU of ten more countries by the year 2004, it is obvious that
this inventory can only be fully elaborated after further work. The Inventory of Protected Areas and
associated map will therefore have to be recompiled for the ICPDR reporting needs for 2004 to show
designated or at least preliminarily nominated water-related Natura 2000 sites in all EU Countries and,
for other countries in the DRB, those areas which have been designated under national legislation.
According to the decisions of the ECO EG, DRB countries were asked to select proposed protected
areas for the Inventory of Protected Areas in such a way as complements the future Natura 2000
network. To this end, a core data set (related to the Natura2000/Emerald and Ramsar inventories) was
compiled by the ECO EG during 2003. Data collection focused on the following protected area types:
-
(Preliminary) Natura 2000 Sites (pSCIs and SPAs)
-
National Parks (IUCN Category II sites)
-
Biosphere Reserves (UNESCO Man and Biosphere)
-
Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of international importance)
-
Other important "water-related" national protected areas.
The next important point is to review the data according to whether the protected areas included are of
"basin-wide" importance. It will be necessary to develop an appropriate method for this step for the
DRB. Subsequently the title of the map may have to change from "Inventory of Protected Areas" to
something more specific such as "Relevant Protected Areas for the Future Inventory of Areas
Designated for the Protection of Habitats or Species for WFD Purposes within the DRB".
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3.2 Status of national data
The following list describes in more detail the provided data country by country. It was possible for
all country co-ordinators to submit the needed data in three formats (Word, Excel, Access). Most of
the countries used the Excel format, only a few entered the data directly in the easy-to-use Access data
form. Other countries sent only copied information from Ramsar Information Sheets without any sub-
selection of the required core data set for the inventory. A total of 237 sites were submitted to the
consultant from 11 countries. According to international evidence, for SI and UA some 7 areas could
still be added. Concerning land cover description information for only some 10 per cent of all
protected areas was provided. Even though gaps were evident about 70% of the all data fields in the
inventory could be filled in. The inventory will be available as an Access2000 database and will be
re-arranged for DANUBIS as an internal working document of the ECO EG.
Germany (84 sites): The only country providing the full list of water-related EU Natura2000 areas;
a robust method was developed in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to sub-select water-related areas.
Quality of geometric data: Very detailed GIS-data (Shape-File-format, may be used in large-scale
maps up to 1:100.000)
Austria (18 sites): The list includes protected areas of national and international importance, all of
them nominated as Natura 2000: National Parks, Biosphere Reserves and Ramsar sites. A special
methodology to define the water-related Natura 2000 areas is under preparation and will be ready in
February 2004. Quality of geometric data: No official data of Austrian authorities were used, only
internet-available data. Can be used only in overview maps up to scale of 1:1mio.
Czech Republic (8 sites): The list includes the most important protected areas and Ramsar sites.
The final coverage for Natura 2000 areas will be available in May 2004. Quality of geometric data:
The data were sent as .jpg-file, i.e. Raster-data with a limited resolution. Accuracy up to 1:1mio.
During quality proofing of the data it was realized that in some cases there were large differences
between the reported area size in the database and the size of the area in the map (areas CR2, CR3,
CR4). Due to missing information this problem could not be clarified in this phase of the project.
Slovakia (23 sites): The list includes a preliminary water-related SPA coverage plus Ramsar sites.
The final coverage for Natura 2000 areas will be available in May 2004. Quality of geometric data:
Detailed GIS-data (Shape-File-format, may be used in large-scale maps up to 1:100.000).
Hungary (26 sites): The database includes only Ramsar Sites with most being part of National
Parks. The final coverage for Natura 2000 areas will be available in May 2004. Quality of geometric
data: Basic information was a scanned map, accuracy up to 1:1mio)
Slovenia (0 sites): So far no data from Slovenia were provided. Unofficially there is one National
Park and one Ramsar site within the Danube basin. The final coverage for Natura 2000 areas will be
available in May 2004.
Croatia (12 sites): The inventory includes the most important areas protected under national law.
The first stage of Natura 2000 coverage is under preparation. The final coverage for Natura2000/Bird
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Protection Areas will be ready in 2007. Up to this time this inventory should be used. Quality of
geometric data: Basic information was a scanned map, accuracy up to 1:1mio.
Romania (14 sites): The inventory is still incomplete for the Lower Danube section. The first stage
of Natura 2000 coverage is under preparation. The final coverage for Natura 2000 areas will be ready
in 2007. Up to this time the existing inventory should be used. Quality of geometric data: Basic
information was jpg-overview map of the whole country. Accuracy not better than to 1:2.5mio.
Bulgaria (27 sites): This is a comprehensive inventory including all NPs, BRs and Ramsar Sites.
The first stage of Natura 2000 coverage is under preparation. The final coverage for Natura 2000
areas will be ready in 2007. Up to this time the existing inventory should be used. Quality of
geometric data: No geometrical data were received. The areas along the Danube river are very
detailed, based on WWF-data (better than 1:100.000) the other data are very raw or unknown, not
better than 1:2.5 mio.
Bosnia-Hercegovina (3 sites): Only three major protected areas were sub-selected by the
consultant from an initial list with over 30 areas that includes very small Karst springs or Karst
canyons. It is still necessary to review this list. Quality of geometric data: Scale up to 1:1mio.
Serbia and Montenegro (19 sites): A comprehensive list with all important protection areas and
Ramsar sites was provided. Serbia hosts some of the most important lowland wetlands along the
Danube, Sava and Tisa rivers. Quality of geometric data: Basic information was jpg-overview map
of the whole country. Accuracy not better than to 1:2.5mio. In the area value of the database the
buffer zones of the national parks were integrated. Due to this reason the buffer zones were displayed
in the map too (only for Serbia-Montenegro data). As with the Czech data, there were problems with
some areas where large differences between the reported area size in the database and the size of the
area in the map occurred (areas SM10, SM16, SM19). Due to missing information this problem could
not be clarified in this phase of the project.
Ukraine (0 sites): No information was officially provided. The data on Ramsar Sites was derived
from WWF information (up to 1:1mio).
Moldova (3 sites): The three nominated sites are all closely related to the Prut river. Quality of
geometric data: Different digital maps of the sites were received. Scale up to 1:1mio.
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Chapter 4:
Further Steps
In general the data quality of the inventory can only be upgraded step by step over the next years.
After the accession to the EU of CR, SK, HU and SI, a preliminary European list of Natura 2000 areas
can be expected for the end of 2004. Based on that list, "water-related" Natura 2000 sites could be
added to the inventory in Phase 2 of the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project.
Each Danube River Basin country should develop a strategy concerning the term "water-related".
Presently Austria is elaborating a methodology reviewing other European approaches but also
Hungary prepares such a method. The ECO EG has a co-ordination function for the DRB-wide
inventory and at its next meeting the different approaches should be discussed.
For roof level ICPDR activities, including the preparation of the DRB Management Plan and Part B
reports to the EU on WFD implementation, protected areas should be reviewed according to whether
they meet the criterion of "basin wide importance". Agreement on this method should be a task for
ECO EG. Such a method could be developed in the year 2004 for application in the six EU Member
States. The criteria for "basin wide importance" should be applicable for all DRB countries.
WWF International Danube-Carpathian Programme