The impact report on the Natura 2000 Network

In recent years, we have prepared several reports on impact assessment on the Natura 2000 Network. But what is its content? and most importantly, when should these types of evaluations be submitted?

The mandatory evaluation of the impact of the project on the Natura 2000 Network

It is mandatory for all projects that may significantly affect species or habitats object of conservation in the Natura 2000 Network (whether or not they are included in Annexes I and II of Law 21/2013).

Projects that are directly related to the management of the Natura 2000 Network site are excluded.

How is the impact assessment on the Natura 2000 network?

Complex. Evaluations of the impact of projects on the Natura 2000 Network are highly complex. The many habitats and species under protection, and their great variability and heterogeneity do not make it any easier.

Office work in evaluating the impact on the Natura 2000 network

To prepare a Evaluation of the impact of the project on the Natura 2000 network we use basic guidelines. These provide us with the general contents that evaluation documents should have. They are useful for us to know the format that should be given to the results. This facilitates the environmental assessment procedure.

After describing the project to be executed, we proceed to identify the Natura 2000 Network spaces that may be affected by it. We collect basic information and its conservation objectives. We identify the role of the area in the Natura 2000 Network, as well as the regulation of its uses, pressures and threats.

Next, we identify the foreseeable impacts on conservation objectives. These impacts are differentiated according to whether they affect habitats or species.

Fieldwork in the evaluation of impacts on the Natura 2000 network

Since published information on Red Natura 2000 sites lacks (sometimes) adequate detail or may be out of date. We carry out fieldwork on the location and state of habitats and species subject to conservation. It is essential to carry out an adequate impact assessment on the Natura 2000 Network.

After collecting field information on the habitat and the species subject to protection, a systematic cross-analysis is carried out between the elements of the project and the objectives of space conservation. This allows us to confirm that they go (or not) from being potential/potential impacts to predicted/evaluated impacts.

The impact assessment on the Natura 2000 Network should focus on impacts that directly or indirectly affect space conservation objectives and the coherence of the Network. The other impacts detected are not considered relevant in this type of evaluation.

Determination qualitative and quantitative of the impacts

After detailed fieldwork, the previous steps are confirmed and completed with the objective of obtaining expected and evaluated impacts, which are no longer possible or potential. Impacts are now evaluated using homogeneous and coherent indicators that then allow us to show in a homogeneous way the effectiveness of preventive and corrective measures, assess residual impacts, and establish compensatory measures.

Ideas MedioAmbiental offers the preparation of impact reports on the Natura 2000 Network so that your project (whether or not it requires an environmental impact study or an environmental document) does not present significant deficiencies in the information provided to the Administration and implies delays in your project.

Cover photo: Miguel A. Garcia