1.4 Effective management of all protected areas

Management planning, implementation, evaluation of the actions taken and monitoring of biodiversity is being done on an important scale but is not covering all the PA effectively due to insufficient financial and personnel capacity and insufficient public and political support.

• format and criteria for development of management plans for nature reserves, forest reserves, parks and urban green areas, river basins have been compiled and include information on:

=> planning process

=> guidelines for management measures

=> surface/nr PA with management plan

=> monitoring plan for monitoring management measures, specific habitats and species

A computer based tool has been developed for management planning and monitoring of management measures to be used by the administration.

• guidelines for private use of PA

=> guidelines exist for agri-environment management practices

=> guidelines for recreational use

* Protocol with youth groups for recreational activities in nature and forest areas: established in Flemish Region, under development in Brussels Region,

* Federal marine area: user agreements have been adopted for the marine Natura 2000  areas.  These user agreements focus on arrangements with yachting and sea-angling societies.  User groups who signed these agreements committed themselves to support the conservation goals of the protected areas, to actively inform their membership and clients, to minimise disturbance during sensitive periods (foraging areas and periods), and promise not to pollute the marine protected areas. The competent authority contributes by means of public awareness raising campaigns.  The user agreements, which are valid for 3 years, will be assessed in view of the management plans that are presently being prepared. 

(see also ‘codes of conduct’)