Improving guidance and knowledge sharing between land managers, conservationists and local communities to preserve cultural heritage landscapes under and outside Natura 2000

Farmers manage about 40 % of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, thereby providing an important contribution to the achievement of the EU Habitats and Birds directives’ goals. Implementing farming practices that benefit species and habitats, both inside and outside Natura 2000 sites, helps maintaining cultural and landscape values, improving the attractiveness of rural areas and generating also indirect economic returns.

Despite progress made over the last years, the scale of the implementation of nature friendly farming practices is currently too limited. According to the latest information from the State of Nature 2020 report, agriculture-dependent habitats and species have the highest proportion of bad status assessment and further declining trends, and grassland habitats that require active management are in a particularly bad state and further deteriorating.

Landcare initiatives are characterised by close cooperation between conservationists, farmers and local communities. Their aim is to preserve the diversity of European landscapes which are linked to High Nature Value Farmland and their biodiversity, hence very closely linked to the Habitats and Birds directives, and to provide support for the further sustainable development of rural economies.

The overall aim of this project is to trigger the establishment of an EU network between conservationists, farmers and local communities/authorities, based on the existing landcare initiatives.

The project will contribute to implement the targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which are relevant for both the agriculture sector and the Habitats and Birds Directives, as well as the CAP specific objective on biodiversity, habitats and landscape.

The network will promote biodiversity friendly land management and will actively engage farmers to that end. The network will play an active role in promoting and implementing EU financial support with a focus on CAP measures and especially agri-environmental management. It will support CAP managing authority and environmental authorities in the design and implementation of agri-environmental schemes, in coordination or within the national farm advisory services.

It should seek to enhance the implementation of Natura 2000 site-level conservation objectives as well as species protection provisions of the Habitats and Birds directives, with a particular focus on habitats types and species that are linked to agriculture. Greater collaboration across Europe would therefore help improve implementation of EU directives and the impact of the CAP biodiversity across EU Member States while contributing to the sustainable development of rural areas.

The partners involved in the project should share their best practices and promote information exchange. The farm advisory services, which correspond to the landcare definition, should also be associated to the network.

The main task are:

• Task 1: Creation of the EU landcare network
• Task 2: Elaboration of the work programme of the network
• Task 3: Organization of mutual visits and workshops
• Task 4: EU-level conference
• Task 5: Communication

• Master degree in a relevant field (e.g. biology, agriculture, ecology).
• Language requirements: English, at least C1 level (in the Common European Framework). C1 level in other EU languages is an asset.

• At least a 5-year experience in project management, including overseeing project delivery, quality control of delivered services, client orientation in projects of a similar size (at least € 300,000) and coverage (at least 3 countries covered), with experience in management of teams of at least 5 persons.
• A 5-year proven experience in at least one of the following the fields: (1) the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives; (2) the implementation of Nature related schemes of the Common Agricultural Policy; (3) practical aspect of farm advice of nature and biodiversity.
• Proven experience in workshop and conference organization.
• Experience in networking support in an international environment.

• Master degree in a relevant field (e.g. biology, agriculture, ecology).
• Language requirements: English, at least C1 level (in the Common European Framework). C1 level in other EU languages is an asset.

• At least 5 years of professional experience.
• Minimum 3-year experience in nature conservation and in the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives.
• Proven experience in workshop and conference organization.
• Experience in networking support in an international environment.
• An experience in species protection in relation with agri-environmental measures is an asset.
• An experience in conservation programmes in several EU countries is an asset.

• Master degree in a relevant field (e.g. biology, agriculture, ecology).
• Language requirements: English, at least C1 level (in the Common European Framework). C1 level in other EU languages is an asset.

• At least 5 years of professional experience.
• Minimum 3-year experience in the Practical aspects of farm advice of nature and biodiversity on farmland.
• Proven experience in workshop and conference organization.
• Experience in networking support in an international environment.
• An experience in species protection in relation with agri-environmental measures is an asset.
• Having worked in several EU countries is an asset.

• Master degree in a relevant field (e.g. biology, agriculture, ecology, economy, law).
• Language requirements: English, at least C1 level (in the Common European Framework). C1 level in other EU languages is an asset.

• At least 5 years of professional experience.
• Minimum 1-year experience in the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directive, in particular Natura 2000, and/or in the implementation of nature related schemes of the Common Agricultural Policy.
• Good knowledge of agri-environmental measures.
• Proven experience in workshop and conference organization.
• Experience in networking support in an international environment.
• Having worked in several EU countries is an asset.