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Prioritization is crucial in nature conservation, as land and financial resources are limited. Selection procedures must follow objective criteria, and not primarily subjective aspects, such as charisma. In this study, we assessed the level of charisma for all European butterflies. Based on these data, we analysed the charisma values of the species listed on the annexes of the EU Habitats Directive and of the species being of conservation priority according to criteria derived by three objective criteria: Species ecological specialisation, distribution, and threat. The mean level of charisma was higher for species of the EU Habitats Directive than for species of conservation priority and for not-listed species. Five of the twenty most charismatic species were also listed on the EU Habitats Directive, but none occurred on the list of species being of conservation priority. A trait space analysis revealed remarkable differences between the different species assortments: The species listed on the EU Habitats Directive covered a large trait space and included many species with high charismatic value, but low ecological and biogeographical relevance, while species of high conservation priority covered a restricted trait space and did not overlap with charismatic species. According to our findings, the selection of species for nature conservation still follows a mix of being aesthetic combined with some ecological criteria.

Prioritization is crucial in nature conservation, as land and financial resources are limited. Selection procedures must follow objective criteria, and not primarily subjective aspects, such as charisma. In this study, we assessed the level of charisma for all European butterflies. Based on these data, we analysed the charisma values of the species listed on the annexes of the EU Habitats Directive and of the species being of conservation priority according to criteria derived by three objective criteria: Species ecological specialisation, distribution, and threat. The mean level of charisma was higher for species of the EU Habitats Directive than for species of conservation priority and for not-listed species. Five of the twenty most charismatic species were also listed on the EU Habitats Directive, but none occurred on the list of species being of conservation priority. A trait space analysis revealed remarkable differences between the different species assortments: The species listed on the EU Habitats Directive covered a large trait space and included many species with high charismatic value, but low ecological and biogeographical relevance, while species of high conservation priority covered a restricted trait space and did not overlap with charismatic species. According to our findings, the selection of species for nature conservation still follows a mix of being aesthetic combined with some ecological criteria., Biodiversity and Conservation, 30 (8-9), ISSN:1572-9710, ISSN:0960-3115

Illegal wolf kills happens around in Europe despite the European wolf is protected under the EU Habitats Directive. The reason for this is conflicts with farmers and local hunters and in some instances also direct fear. In April 2018, a wolf was killed in Denmark after 1st recolonization since the 18th century. This caused a heated debate and calls for better communication and management of the Danish and entire European wolf population. Here we discuss the challenges of illegal wolf kills and call for European governments to take action. We specifically encourage European governments to create facilitated spaces for public deliberation on wildlife management by integrating facts and values, not separating them.

The choice of method for aggregation of ecological indicators is important for the outcome of the aggregation. We demonstrate and discuss how additive versus risk of system failure (i.e. use of one-out-all-out logic) aggregation methods can result in opposing outcomes when assessing the conservation status of habitat types under the EU-habitat directive. In additive aggregation systems, failure to meet a given ecological indicator that is required for favorable conservation status can be compensated by other indicators. The consequence is that ecosystem changes that are detrimental in the long term may be ignored when an additive aggregation method is applied. Despite this, additive aggregation systems appear to be dominant among conservationists and are frequently used to assess habitat status. We recommend the risk of system failure method when developing habitat quality assessment systems instead of only relying on additive aggregation systems.

Springs are biodiversity hotspots and unique habitats that are threatened, especially by water overdraft. Here we review knowledge on ambient-temperature (non-geothermal) freshwater springs that achieve sufficient oversaturation for CaCO3 -by physical CO2 degassing and activity of photoautotrophs- to deposit limestone, locally resulting in scenic carbonate structures: Limestone-Precipitating Springs (LPS). The most characteristic organisms in these springs are those that contribute to carbonate precipitation, e.g.: the mosses Palustriella and Eucladium, the crenophilous desmid Oocardium stratum, and cyanobacteria (e.g., Rivularia). These organisms appear to be sensitive to phosphorus pollution. Invertebrate diversity is modest, and highest in pools with an aquatic-terrestrial interface. Internationally, comprehensive legislation for spring protection is still relatively scarce. Where available, it covers all spring types. The situation in Europe is peculiar: the only widespread spring type included in the EU Habitat Directive is LPS, mainly because of landscape aesthetics. To support LPS inventorying and management to meet conservation-legislation requirements we developed a general conceptual model to predict where LPS are more likely to occur. The model is based on the pre-requisites for LPS: an aquifer lithology that enables build-up of high bicarbonate and Ca2 + to sustain CaCO3 oversaturation after spring emergence, combined with intense groundwater percolation especially along structural discontinuities (e.g., fault zones, joints, schistosity), and a proper hydrogeological structure of the discharging area. We validated this model by means of the LPS information system for the Emilia-Romagna Region (northern Italy). The main threats to LPS are water diversion, nutrient enrichment, and lack of awareness by non-specialized persons and administrators. We discuss an emblematic case study to provide management suggestions. The present review is devoted to LPS but the output of intense ecological research in Central Europe during the past decades has clearly shown that effective conservation legislation should be urgently extended to comprise all types of spring habitats.

The development of policies for preserving biodiversity assign to rural and urban areas the function of conserving natural resources. This leads to redesigning local territorial units. But does this redesigning of space as a function of its natural qualities foster the emergence of "new territories" in the sense of another way of "living together" based on an interdependence between persons and natural objects? The examination of two public actions – the EU habitat directive and the Trame verte et bleue in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France – brings to light unequal degrees of involvement by various parties. Given this sustainable management of natural resources based on local participation, the question of the "territory" gains ground while steering clear of the conceptions advocated by rural sociologists analyzing peasant societies or rural organizations., Le développement des politiques de conservation de la biodiversité assigne aux espaces ruraux et urbains une fonction de préservation des ressources naturelles qui conduit à un redécoupage du territoire. Pour autant, cette requalification de l’espace en fonction de ses qualités naturelles contribue-t-elle à faire émerger de « nouveaux territoires », au sens où s’élabore un autre mode du « vivre ensemble » qui met en jeu l’interdépendance des acteurs et des objets naturels ? L’examen de deux actions publiques, la directive européenne Habitats et la Trame verte et bleue en région Nord-Pas-de-Calais, révèle des formes d’engagement très inégales parmi les différents acteurs. Toutefois, cette gestion durable des ressources naturelles, fondée sur des dispositifs participatifs locaux, redonne une certaine consistance à la question du « territoire », tout en se démarquant des conceptions mises en avant par les sociologues ruraux dans l’analyse des sociétés paysannes ou des collectivités rurales.

2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Conservation of Coralligenous and other Calcareous Bio-Concretions, 29-30 October 2014, Portorož, Slovenia.-- 2 pages

Development of the national coralligenous monitoring protocol has been recently initiated in Croatia in the framework of the MedMPAnet project, with intention to primarily fulfill reporting and monitoring requirements of the EU Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC). However, basic information on coralligenous habitat along the Croatian coast is still lacking, which hinders a fixed definition of the monitoring methods and metrics to be used. Instead, we propose the basic methodological approach that will enable gathering the information needed and that will serve as a basis for reformulation of the adopted methods. The proposed monitoring protocol is based on the most recent (although scarce) knowledge on the monitoring approaches for this habitat, the compilation of available information for the coralligenous thriving along the Croatian coast as well as on the results of the fieldwork devoted to testing of the monitoring methods within the project. At each site, photosampling of minimum of three areas of 2.5 m2 (comprised of 10 contiguous photos of 50 x 50 cm quadrats to ensure species identification) will be combined with visual census along 10 m long horizontal transects, to gather information on habitat structure and function (species composition, habitat complexity, bioconcretion and bioerosion), as well as on the degree of impact of the main disturbances (mass mortalities, invasive species, sedimentation, mucilaginous aggregates, fishing gear). Down to 40 m depth this work will be carried out by SCUBA divers whereas the use of the Remote Operate Vehicles (ROVs) is envisaged at greater depths. The obtained information will both enhance knowledge on the coralligenous habitat along the Croatian coast and will provide an original data set to validate future indices of coralligenous health status, currently under development within other Mediterranean initiatives.