<p> <img src="http://www.biodiversiteit.nl/PhotoArchive/fotoarchief-beleidsprogramma-biodiversiteit/wildviaduct.jpg/view?display=Medium" alt="Wildlife overpass" title="Wildlife overpass" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200" height="160" align="left" /><img src="http://www.biodiversiteit.nl/PhotoArchive/fotoarchief-beleidsprogramma-biodiversiteit/waterval.jpg/view?display=Medium" alt="Waterfall" title="Waterfall" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200" height="163" align="right" />Among the most serious threats to biodiversity are the loss and fragmentation of habitats of species.We want to counter this threat by creating worldwide ecological networks. Global agreements have been reached on this topic, for example in the working programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It has also been agreed that a network known as Natura 2000 will be created in Europe. The principal network in the Netherlands is the National Ecological Network (Ecologische Hoofdstructuur/EHS). The EHS comprises not only most of the Natura 2000 areas in the Netherlands, but also the majority of the country's land-based biodiversity (species). Ecological networks in the Netherlands and elsewhere are designed to ensure that the current and future generations can continue to enjoy nature areas and that we can continue to benefit from the goods and services that biodiversity provides. </p> <p> <img src="http://www.biodiversiteit.nl/PhotoArchive/fotoarchief-beleidsprogramma-biodiversiteit/beek.jpg/view?display=Medium" alt="Creek" title="Creek" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200" height="150" align="left" />Ecological networks must not be enclosed enclaves within a larger area. That will neither help achieving the objectives for biodiversity nor other social goals. That is particularly true in the developing countries, where sustainable protected networks help alleviate poverty; after all in such countries, a region's natural resources form the basis of local and regional economies. Sustainable eco-regional development is a spatial concept designed to integrate economic development and the preservation of biodiversity in areas that are part of the same ecosystem while also guaranteeing the sustainable supply of ecosystem services to other areas. The key challenge is to combine the protection of important and vulnerable global biodiversity with sustainable economic development. Climate change reinforces the need for this, since robust ecological networks ensure the lives of many plants and animals and guarantee the permanent availability of natural resources. The corridors within and between protected areas in ecological networks must be capable of accommodating future shifts. </p> 2012-02-16T18:47:23Z tag:en.biodiversiteit.nl,2012-02-16:/nederlandse-overheid-biodiversiteit/prioriteiten-beleidsprogramma-2008-2011/ecologische-netwerken http://en.biodiversiteit.nl/misc_/CHM2/Site.gif Government of the Netherlands Biodiversity-CHM.NL tag:en.biodiversiteit.nl,2012-02-07:/nederlandse-overheid-biodiversiteit/prioriteiten-beleidsprogramma-2008-2011/ecologische-netwerken/ecologische-netwerken-uitvoeringsprogramma 2012-02-07T14:20:04Z Daniëlle van der Wee Rob Hendriks

<p> Significant steps have been taken to protect the Netherlands' ecological network. The Dutch policy primarily involves specific management measures aimed at achieving the formulated objectives (Natura 2000 management plans) and improving the quality of the environment. This is supplemented by the policy to protect species. Outside the Netherlands, particularly in poor countries, the policy still focuses mainly on the first step: selecting ecological networks and regulating their protection. </p> <p> <img src="http://www.biodiversiteit.nl/PhotoArchive/fotoarchief-beleidsprogramma-biodiversiteit/edelhert.jpg/view?display=Medium" alt="Red deer" title="Red deer" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200" height="133" align="left" />The government of the Netherlands will ensure that the Netherlands continues to play an active role in creating ecological networks. The main priority at national level is to manage the EHS and the Natura 2000 areas sustainably. Good environmental conditions and water quality are essential for this. Under the terms of the Water Framework Directive,water managers implement measures that can make an important contribution. The habitats approach for species will also be implemented. At international level, the government will continue to support efforts to promote sustainable regional development that combine economic development, sustainable management of natural resources and protection. The synergy between economic, social and ecological development should lead to a sustainable protected ecological network encompassing at least 10% of every ecological region in the world, with safe migration routes, biologically diverse regions<br /> and large interconnected ecosystems. International cooperation will concentrate more heavily on creating national or regional ecological networks, for example by sharing experiences, implementing training programmes and providing tools such as communication techniques. Since it is vital for as many countries as possible to commit to and cooperate in creating ecological networks, the Netherlands will continue to urge countries that have not yet signed international treaties and agreements aimed at creating ecological networks to do so. </p> <p> <img src="http://www.biodiversiteit.nl/PhotoArchive/fotoarchief-beleidsprogramma-biodiversiteit/plankenpaddoorveen.jpg/view?display=Medium" alt="Boardwalk bij peat" title="Boardwalk bij peat" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="200" height="132" align="right" />The Dutch government will pay particular attention in the years ahead to the relationship between preserving biodiversity by creating and protecting ecological networks and climate change. One important aspect will be the capacity of ecological networks to adapt to possible climate change. </p>

tag:en.biodiversiteit.nl,2011-11-22:/nederlandse-overheid-biodiversiteit/prioriteiten-beleidsprogramma-2008-2011/ecologische-netwerken/ecologische-netwerken-prioriteiten-themas 2011-11-22T17:18:07Z Daniëlle van der Wee Rob Hendriks

<p>page 36 from the biodiversity policy programme 2008-2011</p>

tag:en.biodiversiteit.nl,2012-02-16:/nederlandse-overheid-biodiversiteit/prioriteiten-beleidsprogramma-2008-2011/ecologische-netwerken/film-ecologische-netwerken-voor-biodiversiteit 2012-02-16T18:56:18Z Rob Hendriks Rob Hendriks

<p>Short film introducing the Dutch Policy Priority on ecological networks</p>