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CEEWEB is one of the members of the European Habitats Forum
(EHF). The Forum is a loose network of international non-governmental
organizations involved in the conservation, rehabilitation
and sustainable use of species, habitats and landscapes throughout
Europe.
EHF is a focal point between nature conservation NGOs and
the European Commission and therefore it was asked to co-ordinate
technical input into the Biogeographic Seminars from relevant
NGOs within the new EU Member States. CEEWEB is doing that
on behalf of the group, in liaison with the EHF Secretariat.
Please refer to the documents bellow for more information.
The European Habitats Forum, founded in 1991, exists to promote
the conservation of species, habitats and landscapes in Europe,
both for their own sakes and as fundamental assets for sustainable
development in Europe. The forum seeks to influence policy
and action through discussion and joint initiatives with the
various interests involved. The Forum brings together non-governmental
organizations, which have a primary interest on an international
level in the conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable
use of European habitats.
The European Habitats Forum aims to advice and influence:
- the development and implementation of nature conservation
legislation,
- the practical management and sustainable use of natural
resources,
- biodiversity monitoring, including the development of
indicators,
- promotion of information, education and public awareness
of biodiversity in Europe.
- Habitats and Birds Directives and Natura 2000,
- EU Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans,
- promoting nature conservation and the sustainable use
of natural resources in Europe through the Convention on
Biological Diversity and the Bern Convention,
- promoting communication between European nature conservation
NGOs in order to enhance the effectiveness of their programs.
Each member organization of the Forum has its own strategy
and work program. Some of these activities overlap with those
of the other members and some activities differ. The Forum
seeks to enhance the effectiveness of its member's programs
by coordinating the common features. To this end a "portfolio"
of activities is chosen by discussion between the members
of the Forum at its regular meetings. Such discussion may
also lead to the identification of additional, quite new activities
on which the Forum's members can work jointly.
The Forum has developed constructive communication between
the EU and nature conservation NGOs working internationally
in Europe. The members of the EHF are regularly meeting at
least twice a year. On these bi-annual meetings – which
are lasting usually for two days each – the EHF members
are meeting for a day in order to discuss their internal matters
according to the previously agreed agenda and to prepare for
the second day’s meeting. On the second day the EHF
members are meeting with representatives of the Brussels administration,
usually DG Environment.
The European Habitats Forum exists to promote the shared
views of its members. It elects a Chair and Secretariat, and
these roles rotate among the members.
The EHF works by:
- Networking of information via the EHF Secretariat;
- Joint work on priority activities each activity is coordinated
by a lead member organization, or where appropriate a task
force;
- Exchange of information on potential funding sources;
- Regular exchange of publications and newsletters;
- Meeting of the members every six months;
- Representing its membership at key European fora, for
example, the Habitats Scientific Expert Group, the European
Commission Biodiversity Expert Group, the Bern Convention
Standing Committee and advising on the implementation of
the EC Habitats Directive and the establishment of the Natura 2000
network;
- A common calendar of events.
The Forum is working on the following tasks:
- To coordinate the common interests of the members activities
in order to enhance the effectiveness of their programs
- To choose a "portfolio" of activities by discussion
between the members of the forum at its regular meetings
- To identify new activities on which the EHF member NGO
networks can work jointly
The Forum has agreed to concentrate activities within three
broad areas: legal protection, practical management and sustainable
use, and information and education. It will promote the development
and implementation of international conventions and European
legislation on the conservation of nature.
The Forums also promotes policy changes at all levels of
government as well as within development assistance agencies
in favour of nature conservation and the sustainable use of
European species, habitats and landscapes.
Zoltán Waliczky – Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds (RSPB)
IUCN - The World Conservation Union
Regional Office for Europe - ROfE
15, Rue Vergote, 1030 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 732 82 99
Fax: + 32 2 732 94 99
Web: www.iucn.org
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