Species protection rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives: how effectively are they integrated into sectoral policies

The Nature Directives, Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive) and Directive 92/43/EC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive), are the two main pieces of EU nature legislation. Together they aim to protect and restore biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in the EU.

The aim of this contract is to assess the established species protection rules under the Birds and Habitats Directives, in light of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU, and assess how effectively they are integrated into sectoral policies. The specific focus of the contract will be on agriculture and forestry.

• Analyse the level of availability of data of occurrence of Annex IV species and of wild birds in each Member State.
• Analyse the rules established at national/regional level to implement Articles 12 and 13 of the Habitats Directive and Article 5 of the Birds Directive, which are applicable to the agricultural sector. A specific analysis will be undertaken for each species group (e.g. mammals, reptiles, birds, etc.). The following eight Member States will be covered by this task: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain.
• Analyse the rules established at national/regional level to implement Articles 12 and 13 of the Habitats Directive and Article 5 of the Birds Directive, which are applicable to the forest sector. A specific analysis will be undertaken for each species group (e.g. mammals, reptiles, birds, etc.). The following eight Member States will be covered by this task: Finland, France, Germany, Slovenia, Poland, Romania, Austria, Sweden.

• At least 3 years in project management in the field of nature conservation.
• Experience in managing international project with a budget >250.000 € and covering at least 10 European countries).
• Proven experience in the field of the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives.
• Asset: Experience in data collection and analysis in the field of species protection.

• At least five years' professional experience in the field of nature conservation.
• Good knowledge of the implementation of Birds and Habitats Directives.
• Field experience in conservation programmes in at least one of the following countries: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
• Asset: Experience in data collection and analysis in relation with nature conservation.

• Legal education degree.

• At least 5 years experience in consulting on environmental laws (EU, National) and their implementation.
• Specific experience in issues related to the implementation of European Directives on nature conservation and on the Common Agricultural Policy.