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Doc Nadeg 16-04-03 Art.12 guidance

DRAFT Article 12 reporting field-by-field guidance 1

Reporting under Article 12 of the Birds Directive

DRAFT Explanatory Notes & Guidelines

for the period 2013–2018

EXTRACT FIELD-BY-FIELD GUIDANCE

19 April 2016



This document is a draft of a central section of the planned

Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the period 2013-2018 which will

be published end 2016. It only includes the field-by-field guidance to

completing the revised Art 17 reporting format.

Sections which remain to be agreed or which make reference to other

sections of the guidelines not yet prepared are highlighted in grey.

Guidelines compiled and edited by the

N2K Group, the

European Environment Agency and its

European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity

With the contributions from the Expert Group on Reporting under the

Nature Directives and its expert ad hoc groups.



Table of Contents

1. THE REPORTING FORMAT FOR 2013–2018 FIELD-BY-FIELD GUIDANCE 5

1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO AND STRUCTURE OF THE REPORTING

FORMAT 5

1.2. GENERAL REPORT FORMAT (ANNEX A) 6

1.3. THE BIRD SPECIES' STATUS AND TRENDS REPORT FORMAT (ANNEX B) 11



1. THE REPORTING FORMAT FOR 2013–2018 FIELD-BY-FIELD GUIDANCE

1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO AND STRUCTURE OF THE REPORTING FORMAT

Reporting under Article 12 of the EU Habitats Directive uses a format initially agreed by the Ornis

Committee in 2011 and first used for the period 2008-12. Experience gained during that report led to

some changes.

The Article 12 reporting format consists of two distinct Annexes (A, B), as set out in the following sections of this guidance document: Annex A (General report) – The general report gives overview information for the public, but also the

Commission, on measures taken under the Birds Directive. This should be completed by each Member

State. Section 1.2 provides field-by-field guidance for completing the general report for the period

2013–2018.

Annex B (Bird species status and trends report) – Bird species reporting. Section 1.3 provides field-by-

field guidance for completing the information for the relevant species from the Birds Directive.



1.2. GENERAL REPORT FORMAT (ANNEX A)

Field-by-field guidance for completing the general report

The general report is a brief structured format aimed at summarising the most important facts and

figures on the general implementation of the Directive, including links to more detailed information

sources. It is mainly targeted at the interested public, but also at informing the Commission.

Each Member State is expected to prepare one general report. It includes obligatory information about

several provisions of the Birds Directive. In addition, the main achievements under the implementation

of the Directive and the main measures taken to ensure coherence of the SPA network should be briefly

described. The report should include information of relevance for the period 2013–2018.

Please note that information provided (e.g. number of management plans) should be the figures on 31

December 2018, i.e. at the end of the reporting cycle, unless otherwise stated.

Language – any EU official language can be used. The reporting format tries to minimise the difficulties

of using different languages by requesting numerical information wherever possible. However, the use

of English is recommended as this gives the widest readership.

All Internet addresses in the reporting fields should be given in full including the initial http://...., if

applicable.

NB: The titles in bold below correspond to the numbering and naming of the fields in the report format.

0 Member State

Select the two-digit code for your country from ISO 3166. For the United Kingdom, ‘UK’ should be used

instead of ‘GB’, in accordance with the list to be found on the Reference Portal. Do not submit separate

general reports for subnational units1.

1 Main achievements under the Birds Directive

This section aims to inform the interested public about the main achievements under the Birds Directive

and the SPA network in the Member State during the reporting period. The information should primarily

be given in the national language (field 1.1), plus a translation into English if possible (optional field 1.2),

as this information is likely to be of interest to readers in other Member States.

Describe briefly the main achievements under the Birds Directive during the reporting period, with a

special emphasis on the SPA network. This can include, for example:

demonstrated benefits for different species;

experiences with new or improved management techniques;

positive changes in public acceptance of biodiversity protection;

improved cooperation between authorities, nature conservationists and other interest groups;

initiatives to combine establishment of Natura 2000 sites and the local economy;

measures taken to minimise the impact of invasive species on native bird species, in line with EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species 2;

1 http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reference_portal 2 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm

http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reference_portal

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm



information complementary to that given in Section 6 on research and work required as a basis for the protection, management and sustainable use of bird populations. This might include suggestions for urgent research that requires EU coordination (e.g. via LIFE funding).

The text should be kept to a maximum of two pages. If a Member State wishes to add further

documentation to that requested, it should note these Annexes and their file names at the end of this

free text field, and upload the relevant files to the EEA's Central Data Repository together with the rest

of the report.

2 General information sources on the implementation of the Birds Directive – links to information sources of the Member State

This section aims to inform the interested public where they can find information relating to the Birds

Directive and the SPA network in the respective Member State. In general, only links to Internet

addresses are required. However, free text can also be used where there is a need to explain how to

access the information source, e.g. in the case of multiple sources of information.

All fields should be completed, as follows:

General information on the Birds Directive (field 2.1)

Information on the Natura 2000 (SPA) network (field 2.2)

Monitoring schemes (Art. 4(1) and Art. 10) (field 2.3)

Protection of species (Art. 5–8) (field 2.4)

Transposition of the Directive (legal texts) (field 2.5)

3 Natura 2000 (SPAs) – site classification (Art. 4)

Member States should provide this information at the national level:

Number and total surface area (km2) of all SPAs (field 3.1)

Terrestrial surface area (km2) of all sites (excluding marine area) (field 3.1.1)

Number and total marine surface area (km2) of marine sites (field 3.1.2).

Marine sites are any sites which include any area of sea (seaward side of the coastline).

Marine area of sites is the area on the seaward side of the coastline. The definition of the coastline used

to define the marine boundary should follow international3 or national4 legislation. This approach is the

same as that adopted for the Standard Data Forms (SDFs) for individual Natura 2000 sites. Thus, a site

located at the coastline and stretching out into the sea should be counted as a ‘marine site’, although it

might include a terrestrial component (to be included in the figure to be reported in field 3.1.1) as well

as a marine component (to be included in the figure to be reported in field 3.1.2; see map Figure 1).

3 UN Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). 4 See Natura 2000 Reference Portal, http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Natura_2000/reference_portal.



Terrestrial area of sites is any area of a site which is not marine (as defined above). In the reporting

format the terrestrial area of sites in km2 (field 3.1.1) plus the area of marine sites in km2 (field 3.1.2)

together should give the total area of all sites (field 3.1).

Member States are also asked to give the date when the Natura 2000 database used to provide the

information in section 3 was submitted to the Commission (field 3.2).

Figure 1. Examples of terrestrial and marine Natura 2000 sites.

Note: A is a terrestrial site (the site is located in the terrestrial domain only). B is located in a coastal

area, and should be counted as a marine site, consisting of both terrestrial (green) and marine areas

(blue), to be reported under fields 3.1.1 and 3.1.2, respectively. C is a marine site and is located in the

marine domain only.

4 Set of conservation measures and management plans for Natura 2000 sites (SPAs)

’Conservation measures and management plans’ are considered as operational instruments that outline

practical measures to achieve the conservation objectives for the sites in the network. For this purpose,

only conservation measures and management plans covering an entire Natura 2000 site (or sites) and

fulfilling the following minimum requirements should be reported. They should:

indicate the habitat types and/or species and their localities for which conservation measures are planned;

identify the actual status of the habitat types and species and the desired status which should be reached through the conservation measures;

define clear and achievable conservation objectives;



identify the necessary measures together with the means and a time schedule which can contribute to meeting those objectives.

Give the number of sites and the proportion of the network for which necessary conservation measures have

been established (field 4.1) and for which conservation measures have been set out in a comprehensive

management plan or a similar instrument (field 4.2). Although the Standard Data Form (SDF) for individual

sites includes information on management plans (i.e. ‘yes/no/in preparation’), it is also useful to have

information about the overall number of comprehensive management plans. To put this number in

context, the proportion of the network area that is covered by such plans is also requested.

5 Measures taken in relation to approval of plans and projects (Art. 6(4) and Art. 7 of the Habitats Directive)

This section relates to projects and plans for which compensatory measures were necessary during the

reporting period. Any sites affected in this way should be listed, and the following information is

requested for each of them5:

site code (field 5.1.1)

site name (field 5.1.2)

title of project/plan (field 5.1.3)

year in which the Commission was informed of compensatory measures (field 5.1.4)

year project/plan was started (field 5.1.5).

In addition, an optional field is available for Member States to describe the impact of such

projects/plans on the status of relevant bird species (field 5.1.6; free text, maximum 250 characters).

Repeat fields 5.1.1 to 5.1.6 as necessary for each project/plan.6

6 Research and work required as a basis for the protection, management and sustainable use of bird populations (Art. 10)

This section relates to the obligation under Article 10(2) of the Birds Directive that Member States shall

send the Commission any information required to enable it to take appropriate measures for the

coordination of research and any work required as a basis for the protection, management and use of

bird populations. The information requested is limited to:

5 For birds, there are no ‘priority species’ in the meaning of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. Thus, the

obligation to ask for the Commission's opinion before the approval of a plan or project does not apply to SPAs, and there is no need for a field corresponding to ‘Commission opinion requested’ in the general reporting format for Article 17 of the Habitats Directive.

6 Further guidance on Article 6 of the Habitats Directive may be found at DG Environment's website (e.g. the document ‘Managing Natura 2000 sites: The provisions of Article 6 of the ‘Habitats’ Directive 92/43/EEC’ published by DG Environment in 12 EU languages) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm#art6

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm#art6



National bird atlas published during the reporting period (field 6.1), with information about the year

of publication (field 6.1.2) and web link or bibliographic reference (field 6.1.3).

National bird monitoring overviews published during the reporting period (field 6.2), with

information about the year of publication (field 6.2.2) and web link or bibliographic reference (field

6.2.3). Fields should be repeated if more than one overview has been published. A brief description

(maximum 500 characters) can also be provided of species covered, main results, etc.

National bird red lists published during the reporting period (field 6.3), with information about the

year of publication (field 6.3.2) and web link or bibliographic reference (field 6.3.3).

Other publications of EU-wide interest (e.g. national overview of action for threatened species)

published during the reporting period (field 6.4), with information about the year of publication (field

6.4.2) and web link or bibliographic reference (field 6.4.3). Fields should be repeated if more than

one overview has been published, and a maximum of 10 publications should be reported. A brief

description (maximum 500 characters) can also be provided of species covered, main results, etc.

In cases where, e.g., a national bird atlas or national Red List does exist, but was not published during

the reporting period, Member States are encouraged to provide details of the most recent publication

anyway (for the benefit of the interested reader).

More general information about the implementation of Article 10 can be provided in a free text field

under ‘Main achievements under the Birds Directive’ in Section 1.

7 Non-native bird species (Art. 11)

This section relates to the obligation following from Article 11 that ‘Member States shall see that any

introduction of species of bird which do not occur naturally in the wild state in the European territory of

the Member States does not prejudice the local flora and fauna. In this connection they shall consult the

Commission’.

Each species should be reported, as follows:

Species scientific name (field 7.1.1; not to be filled in if no introductions pursuant to Article 11

have been consulted upon, decided upon or carried out during the reporting period).

Subspecific unit, where relevant (field 7.1.2).

Main contents of the legal decision for introduction; free text (maximum 250 characters), to

include information about justification, number of individuals and duration (field 7.2).

Date of consultation with the Commission (field 7.3).



1.3. THE BIRD SPECIES' STATUS AND TRENDS REPORT FORMAT (ANNEX B)

This species-focused report format comprises nine sections, as follows:

1. Species information 2. Population size 3. Population trend 4. Breeding distribution map and size 5. Breeding distribution trend 6. Progress in work related to Species Action Plans (SAPs), Management Plans (MPs) and Brief

Management Statements (BMSs) 7. Main pressures and threats 8. Conservation measures 9. Natura 2000 (SPAs) coverage 10. Information related to Annex II species (Art. 7).

Section 1 should be completed for all species or subspecific units (hereafter simply ‘species’) in all relevant seasons, as listed in the Art. 12 species checklist7.

Sections 2 and 3 should be completed for all regularly breeding or wintering species.

Sections 4 and 5 should be completed only for regularly breeding species.

Section 6 should be completed only for the subset of species with SAPs, MPs or BMSs (as specified in the Art. 12 species code list)8.

Section 7 should be completed only for Annex I species and other species with a non-Secure status at the EU level.

Section 8 should be completed only for the subset of Annex I and other key migratory species triggering SPA designations nationally (as indicated in the Art. 12 species checklist9).

Section 9 should be completed only for species listed in Annex II of the Directive.

All Internet addresses in the reporting fields should be given in full, including the initial http://...., if

applicable.

Field-by-field guidance to fill in the format

1 Species information

1.1 Member State

Select the two-digit code for your Member State from ISO 3166. For the United Kingdom, ‘UK’ should be

used instead of ‘GB’. The relevant three- or four-digit code should be selected for subnational units, as

specified on the Reference Portal.

7 The updated version of the checklist will be available on the Art. 12 Reference Portal (Appendix 1):

http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Article_12_Birds_Directive/reference_portal. 8 The updated version of the code list will be made available on the Art. 12 Reference Portal (Appendix 1;

URL as above). 9 i.e. species–season combinations listed with ‘Y’ in the ‘spa_trigger’ column.

http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/activities/Article_12_Birds_Directive/reference_portal



For a few Member States, separate reporting for subnational units is applied, with reference to the

status of particular species or populations in distinct geographical areas. This applies to the Azores

(Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), the Canary Islands (Spain) and Gibraltar (UK).

1.2.1 & 1.2.2 Species codes

Use the Natura 2000 (field 1.2.1) and EURING (field 1.2.2) codes given in the species checklist on the

Reference Portal (Appendix 1). Unique EURING codes have been allocated to every native bird species in

Europe for the purposes of coordinating European bird ringing, and are widely used10. The Natura 2000

codes are also used in the Standard Data Form (SDF) for Natura 2000 sites so that a consistent and

unique identifier is used across the different reporting periods; new codes will be allocated as necessary

to ensure that all species and subspecific units are covered.

1.2.3 Species scientific name

Use the scientific names given in the species checklist on the Reference Portal, which has been updated

to reflect the nomenclature and taxonomy adopted in latest version of the ‘List of birds of the European

Union’11.

1.2.4 Subspecific population

Where relevant, use the subspecific populations given in the species checklist on the Reference PortalXX.

For details of the rationale explaining which subspecific populations should be reported, see Chapter IV.

1.3 Alternative species scientific name (optional)

If the name given under field 1.2.3 differs from that in common national usage, Member States may

enter an alternative here.

1.4 Common name (optional)

If a Member State wishes to enter the common name of the species (or subspecies) used in its country,

it may do so here. This could be useful if the Member State wishes to circulate the draft report for

comments to people who may not be familiar with the scientific name, or when communicating the

report with the public.

1.5 Season

Select the season in which the data being reported were collected, with the options ‘Breeding’, ‘Winter’

and ‘Passage’. Member States should report on all regularly occurring breeding species, in order to allow

an EU-wide picture of their population size and trend to be compiled. Member States should also report

on all regularly occurring wintering waterbirds, especially migratory wildfowl (ducks, geese and swans)

and waders (shorebirds), whose population size and trend are often best monitored in the winter, when

they congregate in large numbers. Details of which species/populations should be reported in which

season by each Member State are set out in the species checklist on the Reference Portal. When

10 Source file: http://blx1.bto.org/euringcodes/species.jsp 11 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/eu_species/index_en.htm

http://blx1.bto.org/euringcodes/species.jsp

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/eu_species/index_en.htm



reporting for more than one season is requested for a single species, separate forms should be used for

each season.

In general, Member States are not required to report on species or populations on passage, because

country-level data cannot be combined or used to draw conclusions about their overall population sizes

or trends (due to the risk of duplicative counting). In some cases, however, ‘Passage’ season reports are

required for the subset of species whose occurrence on passage triggers SPA classifications in Member

States (as indicated in the species checklist on the Reference Portal), and for these species reporting is

requested only under Sections 1 and 8 (plus Sections 6 and 7, where relevant)12.

2 Population size

2.1 Year or period

Enter the year (e.g. 2017) or period (e.g. 2013–2016) during which the population size was last

determined. (N.B. many reports will involve periods, because the population size of many species is

commonly estimated during national atlas projects, which usually involve several years of fieldwork.

Where such reference material does not exist, Member States should try to report the most up-to-date

figure, e.g. by recalculating the national population estimate using the results of annual monitoring

schemes.)

2.2. Population size

Use the units specified for each species/population in the species checklist on the Reference Portal. To

allow the total EU population size of a species to be calculated, all Member States should report their

national data using the same population unit. For the vast majority of breeding birds, numbers should

be reported in units of breeding pairs, noting that the estimates for many species, including many

common and widespread ones, are in practice often based on counts of the number of occupied

territories during the breeding season. When the breeding population size is reported as ‘breeding

pairs’, but the figures are derived from primary field data collected using another population unit (e.g.

apparently occupied nests for some seabirds), this information should be provided in field 2.8

(‘Additional information’).

In a small minority of cases involving species with an unusual or complex breeding biology or cryptic

behaviour, other units (such as ‘breeding females’ or ‘calling males’13) are more appropriate than pairs

for reporting population size. Such species might include various harriers, crakes, bustards and grouse.

The units for reporting the populations of such species are indicated in the species checklist, to be found

on the Reference Portal.

For the winter season, numbers should be reported using the unit ‘individuals’. For species to be

reported on ‘passage’, information has to be provided only for Sections 1, 7 and 8.

12 This includes cases where a Member State has classified SPAs for species on passage, although the Member

State does not hold any breeding or wintering populations. 13 Note that the proposed unit ‘lekking males’ was subsumed within ‘calling males’ (under code ‘cmales’) in order to keep the Art. 12 population units consistent with those used in the Natura 2000 Standard Data Form (SDF).



For most bird species in most Member States, exact estimates of the population size rarely exist, with

estimates only available as a range (minimum–maximum) or within a class (see proposed classes in

Table 1 below). Where raw data exist they should be reported without rounding at Member State level;

any such rounding will be done later at EU level, as necessary. For species for which a precise estimate is

available, Member States should report this under ‘Best estimate’ (field 2.2.d). In cases where only very

approximate population estimates are available, classes can be used (see Table 1); these should be

entered in the ‘Minimum’ and ‘Maximum’ fields (2.2.b and 2.2.c). The quality of such estimates (field

2.5) should be reported as ‘1 = poor’.

Table 1 Classes for reporting population size

Class Population

1 0–50

2 50–100

3 100–500

4 500–1 000

5 1 000–5 000

6 5 000–10 000

7 10 000–50 000

8 50 000–100 000

9 100 000–500 000

10 500 000–1 000 000

11 1 000 000–5 000 000

12 5 000 000–10 000 000

13 10 000 000–50 000 000

14 50 000 000–100 000 000

2.3 Type of estimate

Enter one of the following options, which are derived from Baker et al. (2006)14:

Best estimate – the best available single figure or range (minimum–maximum), as derived from e.g. a national atlas project, a national census, compilation of regional figures, or expert opinion, but for which 95% confidence limits could not be calculated.

Five-year mean – average minimum–maximum of published figures for rare breeding species; or five-year peak mean for non-breeding species, e.g. waterbirds.

95 % CI range – estimates derived from sample surveys in which 95% confidence intervals could be calculated (cf. ‘Best estimate’ above).

Minimum – for estimates where insufficient data exist to provide an accurate estimate (but where the figure reported is believed to be a considerable underestimate).

2.4 Method used

Use one of the following categories:

3 = complete survey or a statistically robust estimate

2 = based mainly on extrapolation from a limited amount of data

14 Baker, H., Stroud, D., Aebischer, N.J., Cranswick, P.A., Gregory, R.D., McSorley, C.A., Noble, D.G. & Rehfisch,

M.M. (2006). Population estimates of birds in Great Britain and the United Kingdom. - British Birds 99: 24-44; http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/APEP21.pdf

http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/APEP21.pdf



1 = based mainly on expert opinion with very limited data

0 = insufficient or no data available

Where data have been compiled from a variety of sources, indicate the category for the most important

source of data.

2.5 Quality

Enter one of the following options, by making a judgement that takes into consideration: the reliability

of the estimate at the time it was made; how recently it was made; and, the method used to derive it.

3 = good – reliable quantitative data available (e.g. atlas, survey or monitoring data) for the whole period and country.

2 = moderate – generally well known, but only poor, outdated or incomplete quantitative data available.

1 = poor – poorly known, with no quantitative data available.

It may also be helpful to think about this in the way defined by Heath and Evans (2000)15:

3 = reliable – probably accurate to within 10% of the real population size.

2 = incomplete – probably accurate to within 50% of the real population size.

1 = poor – probably not accurate to within 50% of the real population size. 2.6 Sources

To create the necessary audit trail for the data reported in fields 2.1 to 2.5 above, enter the details of

the key references or other sources of information used to complete these fields. Such sources may

include, for example, published papers, unpublished data held in databases, websites and expert

working groups. The idea is not to create a long bibliography, but to provide enough information so that

anyone reviewing the report (or updating it in six or 12 years' time) will be able to understand the origin

of the data reported.

2.7 Change and reason for change (since previous report)

This is a new field for the 2013–2018 reporting round (and beyond).

To avoid potential misinterpretation and to clarify potential differences in population between reporting

rounds, indicate whether:

a) The value reported at 2.2 has changed since the previous report (YES/NO).

If there are differences, indicate whether the change is due to (select one of the options):

b) genuine change c) improved knowledge or more accurate data d) use of a different method (including taxonomical change or use of different thresholds) e) if there is no information on nature of change

15 Heath and Evans (2000, eds) Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority sites for conservation. 2 volumes. BirdLife

International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8), Cambridge, UK.



Only the main reason for change should be reported.

It is a common phenomenon for a rare species to attract increased attention. As a result more people

search for it and find it, causing the population size estimate to be revised and often substantially

increased. At the same time, though, it may be clear that the species is actually declining, based on

analyses of data from sites with reliable historical trends. The optional field 2.8 (below) allows a

Member State to provide additional information about why population size estimate has increased,

even though it is reporting a population decline in Section 3 below.

2.8 Additional information (optional)

This optional section can be used to provide supplementary free-text information (maximum 500

characters) relevant to the data provided for the assessment of population size under fields 2.1–2.7, e.g.

details of any conversion factors used to convert field estimates of population size to ‘breeding pairs’

(see field 2.2.a).

For example, if, because of a change in methods, a Member State reports the same population figures in

sequential reports even though there has been a genuine change, this can also be noted here.

3 Population trend

3.1.1 Short-term trend period

The period for short-term trend is 12 years (two reporting cycles). For the 2013–2018 reports, this

means the period is 2007–2018, or a period as close as possible to this. Thus, some flexibility is

permitted, so that although trends would ideally be reported for 2007–2018, data from e.g. 2004–2015

will be accepted if the best available data relate to surveys in those years, or if using an earlier end point

means that the national Article 12 report can be delivered without delay (and no later than December

201916). Indicate the period in this field.

3.1.2 Short-term trend direction

Indicate whether the population trend over the period reported in field 3.1.1 was:

0 = stable

F = fluctuating

+ = increasing

- = decreasing

u = uncertain

x = unknown.

‘Fluctuating’ defines species whose average population level does not change (i.e. in the long term), but

which are characterised by large interannual variations in abundance, sometimes of one or two orders

of magnitude. Species that typically show such dynamics include many boreal and arctic breeding

16 Date to be possibly changed following decision at the NADEG meeting.



species, such as some owls and crossbills, whose abundance is closely linked to the availability of food

that shows cyclical peaks and troughs. As such, ‘fluctuating’ is a very different trend category to ‘stable’.

Indeed, species with small populations and ranges and whose numbers fluctuate are considered to be at

a much higher risk of extinction than those with stable populations (IUCN, 2012)17.

3.1.3 Short-term trend magnitude

If ‘increasing’ or ‘decreasing’ is reported in field 3.1.2, enter the overall percentage change in population

size over the relevant period. This might be a precise figure (e.g. 27 %), in which case the value should

be provided under ‘Best estimate’ (3.1.3.c), or a banded range (e.g. 20–30 %), in which case the lower

and upper limits should be entered in fields 3.1.3.a and 3.1.3.b, respectively.

If the data are sourced from a complete survey or statistically robust sample scheme (i.e. category 3

under field 3.1.4 ‘Method used’), the confidence intervals (CI, often 95 %) should also be reported,

entering the lower limit in field 3.1.3.a and the upper limit in field 3.1.3.b.

3.1.4 Method used





0 = insufficient or no data available. Where data have been compiled from a variety of sources, use the category for the most important

source of data.

3.1.5 Quality

Indicate whether the quality of the estimate is:

3 = good – reliable quantitative data available for the whole period.

2 = moderate – generally well known, but only poor or incomplete quantitative data available.

1 = poor – poorly known, with no quantitative data available.

3.1.6 Sources

To create the necessary audit trail for the data reported in fields 3.1.1 to 3.1.5 above, enter the details

of the key references or other sources of information used to complete these fields. Such sources may





17 IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 3.1. http://www.iucnredlist.org

http://www.iucnredlist.org/



3.2.1 Long-term trend period18

The ideal period for reporting long-term trends is from c.1980 (when the Birds Directive was

adopted/entered into force) until c.2018. However, there is some flexibility here, and hence if a

Member State has conducted national censuses in (for example) 1980, 1995 and 2015, the trend

between 1980 and 2015 should be reported. Indicate the period in this field.

Member States lacking data from before 2000 could consult the two editions of Birds in Europe19, which

present banded national trends for species for 1970–1990 and 1990–2000.

3.2.2 Long-term trend direction

See field 3.1.2 above.

3.2.3 Long-term trend magnitude


3.2.4 Method used


3.2.5 Quality


3.2.6 Sources



This section can be used to provide supplementary free text information (maximum 500 characters)

relevant to the data provided for the assessment of population trends under sections 3.1 and 3.2.

18The period for assessing long-term trend is still to be confirmed. 19 Tucker, G.M. & Heath, M.F. (1994) Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife International (BirdLife

Conservation Series No. 3), Cambridge, UK. BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife




4 Breeding distribution map and size

Sections 4 and 5 apply only to those species for which ‘Breeding’ season reports are requested, as listed

in the species checklist on the Reference Portal (Appendix 1). National breeding bird atlases already

exist for most EU Member States, and additional fieldwork for a new European Breeding Bird Atlas

(‘EBBA2’) is being undertaken during 2013–201720. In contrast, very few countries have published

national wintering bird atlases, and many birds are much more mobile in winter anyway. Hence, no

winter distribution data are requested.

4.1 Year or period

Enter the year (e.g. 2015) or period (e.g. 2013–2017) when the breeding distribution was last

determined. Many reports will involve periods, because the distribution of most species is commonly

mapped during national atlas projects, which usually involve several years of fieldwork. Where no recent

atlas information exists, Member States should try to report a more up-to-date figure, by remapping the

national distribution using other data, such as the results of annual monitoring schemes, data gathered

from the Internet, and national or regional surveys.

4.2 Sensitive species

Sensitive species are defined as those that are particularly vulnerable to persecution, illegal hunting or

collecting, and hence might face genuinely increased risks to their conservation or management if

detailed information about their distribution were to be made publicly available. In a minority of cases,

Member States may consider a species to be at risk if its distribution is made publicly available at the

standard 10 × 10 km grid scale requested (see Section 4.3). Ticking ‘Yes’ here means that the map

resolution is reduced before publication, so that the information is presented at a coarser scale (50 × 50

km).

4.3 Distribution map

Submit a distribution map in GIS format. The standard is 10 × 10 km ETRS89 grid, projection ETRS LAEA

521021. Submit the map together with relevant metadata.

The map should show the breeding occurrence (i.e. presence or absence) of the species in each grid cell.

As a general rule, only grid cells where breeding is ‘confirmed’ or ‘probable’ should be included; for

definitions of breeding categories and codes, refer to Table 2 in the ‘Methodology’ for the new

European Breeding Bird Atlas22. However, in cases where survey coverage and data availability are

believed to be poor, cells considered likely to hold breeding populations (especially common species)

may be included as well, using expert knowledge (see also Section IV.c).

4.4 Method used




20 http://www.ebba2.info/what-is-ebba2-and-why-ebba2/ 21 For small Member States such as Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus, maps of 5 × 5 km or 1 × 1 km grids are allowed.

These will then be aggregated by ETC/BD to 10 × 10 km for visualisation at the European level. 22 http://www.ebba2.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/EBBA2_methodology_final.pdf

http://www.ebba2.info/what-is-ebba2-and-why-ebba2/

http://www.ebba2.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/EBBA2_methodology_final.pdf




0 = insufficient or no data available Where data have been compiled from a variety of sources, use the category for the most important

source of data.

4.5 Additional maps (optional)

This is for cases where a Member State wishes to submit an additional map different from the standard

submission map under field 4.3. Note that this is an optional field and does not replace the need to

provide a map under 4.3.

Maps at a resolution other than 10 × 10 km or with grids other than the ETRS89 LAEA 5210 grid, close to

the 10 × 10 km may be reported here.

4.6 Quality

Enter one of the following options, by making a judgement, combining the reliability of the distribution

at the time it was mapped, how recently it was mapped, and the method used to map it (see section 2.5

for further guidance):

3 = good

2 = moderate

1 = poor

It may also be helpful to think about this in the way defined by Heath and Evans (2000)23:

3 = reliable – probably accurate to within 10 % of the true area

2 = incomplete – probably accurate to within 50 % of the true area

1 = poor – probably not accurate to within 50 % of the true area 4.7 Distribution surface area

Enter the total surface area of the current distribution in the Member State, in km². In most cases this

will be the number of occupied 10 × 10 km squares multiplied by 100.

4.8 Sources

To create the necessary audit trail for the data reported in fields 4.1 to 4.7 above, enter the details of

the key references or other sources of information used to complete these fields. Such sources may





23 Heath and Evans (2000, eds) Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority sites for conservation. 2 volumes. BirdLife





This section can be used to provide supplementary free-text information (maximum 500 characters)

relevant to the data provided for the assessment of breeding distribution under fields 4.1–4.8.

5 Breeding distribution trend

5.1.1 Short-term trend period

The period for short-term trend is 12 years (two reporting cycles). For the 2013–2018 reports, this

means the period is 2007–2018, or a period as close as possible to this. Thus, some flexibility is

permitted, so that although trends would ideally be reported for 2007–2018, other data spanning a

different but similar time period (e.g. 2004–2015) will be accepted if these are the best available data

relating to surveys between those years. Indicate the period used in this field.

5.1.2 Short-term trend direction

Indicate whether the distribution trend over the period reported in field 5.1.1 was:

0 = stable

F = fluctuating

+ = increasing

- = decreasing

x = unknown 5.1.3 Short-term trend magnitude

If ‘increasing’ or ‘decreasing’ is reported in field 5.1.2, enter the overall percentage change in

distribution surface area over the relevant period. This might be a precise figure (e.g. 27 %), in which

case the value should be provided under ‘Best estimate’ (5.1.3.c), or a banded range (e.g. 20–30 %), in

which case the lower and upper limits should be entered in fields 5.1.3.a and 5.1.3.b, respectively.

If the data are sourced from a complete survey or statistically robust sample scheme (i.e. category 3

under field 5.1.4 ‘Method used’), the confidence intervals (CI, often 95 %) should also be reported,

entering the lower limit in field 5.1.3.a and the upper limit in field 5.1.3.b.

5.1.4 Method used



2 = Based mainly on extrapolation from a limited amount of data

1 = Based mainly on expert opinion with very limited data

0 = Insufficient or no data available Where data have been compiled from a variety of sources, use the category for the most important

source of data.



5.1.5 Quality

Indicate whether the quality of the estimate is:

3 = good – reliable quantitative data available for the whole period

2 = moderate – generally well known, but only poor or incomplete quantitative data available

1 = poor – poorly known, with no quantitative data available. 5.1.6 Sources

To create the necessary audit trail for the data reported in fields 3.1.1 to 3.1.5 above, enter the details

of the key references or other sources of information used to complete these fields. Such sources may





5.2.1 Long-term trend period24

The ideal period for reporting long-term trends is from c.1980 (when the Birds Directive was

adopted/entered into force) until c.2018. However, there is some flexibility here, and hence if a

Member State has conducted national atlas surveys in (for example) 1980, 1995 and 2015, the trend

between 1980 and 2015 should be reported. Indicate the period in this field.

Member States lacking data from before 2000 could consult the EBCC Atlas25 or Birds in Europe26, which

present banded national range trends for species between 1970 and 1990.

5.2.2 Long-term trend direction


5.2.3 Long-term trend magnitude


5.2.4 Method used


5.2.5 Quality


24 The period for assessing long-term trend is still to be confirmed. 25 Hagemeijer, E.J.M. & Blair, M. (1997, eds) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: their distribution and

abundance. Poyser. 26 Tucker, G.M. & Heath, M.F. (1994) Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife International (BirdLife

Conservation Series No. 3), Cambridge, UK.



5.2.6 Sources



This section can be used to provide supplementary free-text information (maximum 500 characters)

relevant to the data provided for the assessment of breeding distribution trend under sections 5.1 and

5.2. For example, a Member State may wish to report information about geographical shifts in

distribution (short-term or long-term), or fragmentation of the distribution, even though no changes in

overall distribution size are reported.

6 Progress in work related to Species Action Plans (SAPS), Management Plans (MPS) and Brief Management Statements (BMSS)

This section is designed to capture information about Member States' work on some of the EU's most

threatened bird species, for which Species Action Plans (SAPs) or Brief Management Statements (BMSs)

have been developed, as well as a suite of huntable species considered to be in a poor condition in the

EU and for which Management Plans (MPs) have been prepared27. The reporting also includes work

done within the framework of plans adopted by other international organisations to which the EU is a

signatory, such as the Bern Convention28 and AEWA29.

Since the 1990s, significant EU resources have been spent on the conservation of many of these species

(e.g. through LIFE projects), so Member States are requested to summarise what they have done at

national level to implement these plans and to improve the status of the relevant species (as specified in

the Article 12 species code list; Appendix 1).

6.1 Type of plan

Select the type of plan (SAP, MP or BMS), as specified in the Article 12 species code list.

6.2. Has a national plan linked to the SAP / MP / BMS been adopted?

Enter ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If ‘Yes’, please provide a web link to the national plan in field 6.4 below.

6.3. If ‘No’, please describe any measures and initiatives taken related to the SAP / MP / BMS

Briefly outline what actions have been implemented for the species in your Member State, preferably

using the code numbers30 in the plans for recommended actions per Member State, where relevant

(maximum of 250 characters).

27 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/action_plans/index_en.htm for Species Action

Plans and Brief Management Statements, and http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/hunting/managt_plans_en.htm for the Management Plan

28 https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=Rec(2006)121&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=DG4-Nature&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864 29 http://www.unep-aewa.org/publications/ssap/index.htm 30 For most of the SAPs and BMSs, proposed actions have a numerical code.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/action_plans/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/hunting/managt_plans_en.htm

https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=Rec(2006)121&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=DG4-Nature&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864

https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=Rec(2006)121&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=DG4-Nature&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864

http://www.unep-aewa.org/publications/ssap/index.htm



6.4. Sources of further information

In this field, Member States are requested to provide links to appropriate websites, web links and/or

bibliographic references for relevant publications (e.g. a national plan), contact details of responsible

organisations, etc.

7 Main pressures and threats

This section is designed to capture information about the principal factors responsible for causing

individual species to decline, suppressing their numbers or restricting their ranges. It should only be

completed for Annex I species and other species with a non-Secure status (including ‘Unknown’) at the

EU level.

Pressures are past and present impacts that threaten the long-term viability of the bird species or its

habitat(s); threats are future/foreseeable impacts that affect the long-term viability of the species

and/or its habitat(s). The threats should not cover theoretical threats, but rather those issues judged to

be reasonably likely. This may include continuation of pressures (see Table 2).

Table 2 - Definition of a pressure and threat (in the context of Article 12 reporting)

Period of action/definition Time-frame

Pressure Acting now and/or during (any part of or all of) the current reporting period

Current 6-year reporting period

Threat Factors expected to act in the future after the current reporting period

Future two reporting periods, i.e. within 12 years following the end of the current reporting period

7.1 Characterisation of pressures/threats

The list of pressures and threats will be available from the Reference Portal.

(http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/article12/reference_portal).

Only pressures/threats of high (‘H’) and of medium importance (‘M’), as defined in table 3, should be

reported.

Table 3 - Definition of ranked pressures/threats

For each bird species:

Code Meaning Comment

H High importance/impact

Important direct or immediate influence and/or acting over large areas

M Medium importance/impact

Medium direct or immediate influence, mainly indirect influence and/or acting over moderate part of the area/acting only regionally

http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu/article12/reference_portal



a) select from the list of pressures/threats, a maximum of XX entries using the code at the XX level 31

b) for each factor, indicate its ranking, i.e. ‘H’ for High, ‘M’ for Medium under both ‘Pressure’ and ‘Threat’. For example if a factor selected from the list represents both a pressure and a threat, ‘H’ or ‘M’ should be reported under both headings as appropriate. If it represents a pressure but not a threat, ‘H’ or ‘M’ should be reported under the ‘pressure’ heading’ and ‘threat’ left blank.

A maximum of XX High level pressures should be noted. This will make it possible to identify the most

important factors at a European scale.

For example (using the third level for pressure/threat and a maximum of 5 pressures of High importance):

Characterisation of pressures/threats

a) Pressure/threat

List XX pressures/threats, using codes from the list of pressures and threats at level 3

b) Ranking of pressure/threat

H = high importance

M = medium importance

Pressure Threat

B.01.01 Conversion from agricultural land to forest

B.01.02 Drainage and conversion of wetlands, marshes, bogs to forest

B05.01 Use of biocides in forestry

C03.01 Geothermal power production

D01.02 Roads and highways

E01.02 Discontinuous settlement development

E01.03 Dispersed habitation/rural housing development

E04.02 Development of ski resorts and other mountain structures

H

M

H

H

H

M

H

-

H

-

M

H

M

H

H

M

Where a Member State wishes to give more precise information on the nature of a certain pressure, this

can be written in field 7.2 ‘Other relevant information’.

7.2 Sources of information (optional)

To provide the necessary audit trail for the data reported in fields 7.1.a and 7.1.b above, Member States can

enter the details of the key references or other sources supporting evidence of pressures reported as ‘High’.

Such sources may include, for example, published papers, unpublished data held in databases, websites and

expert working groups. The idea is not to create a long bibliography, but to provide enough information so

that anyone reviewing the report (or updating it in six or 12 years' time) will be able to understand the origin

of the information reported.

31 The number of threats /pressures and the level for reporting are still to be agreed



8 Conservation measures

Member States are asked to describe the most important conservation measures taken for all Annex I

species and for other species with a non-secure (or unknown) population status, and to provide a simple

assessment of the effectiveness of these measures.

8.1 Status of measures

Select one of the following options or both options b) and c) if applicable:

a) Measures not needed? (YES/NO)

b) Measures identified, but none yet taken? (YES/NO)

c) Measures identified and taken? (YES/NO)

8.2 Main purpose of the measures taken

Even if several purposes may be identified, please indicate only the main one in terms of extension of

the measure and priority.

a) Maintain the current range, population and/or habitat for the species

b) Expand the current range of the species (related to ‘Range’)

c) Increase the population size and/or improve population dynamics (improve reproduction success, reduce mortality, improve age/sex structure) (related to ‘Population’)

d) Restore the habitat of the species (related to ‘Habitat for the species’)

8.3 Location of the measures

Indicate where the measures are being implemented.

a) Only inside Natura 2000 b) Both inside and outside Natura 2000 c) Only outside Natura 2000

8.4 Response to the measures

Estimate when the measures start, or are expected to start, to neutralize the pressure or to produce

positive effects

a) Short-term results (within this reporting period, 6 years or less) b) Medium-term results (within the next reporting period, between 6 and 12 years) c) Long-term results (after two reporting periods, more than 12 years)


Additional information to help understand the information given on conservation measures can be

reported here.



9 NAtura 2000 (SPA) coverage and conservation measures

This section is designed to capture information about the conservation measures taken for individual

species by Member States, given the pressures and threats they face. It should only be completed for

species triggering SPA classifications, i.e. species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, plus a selection

of key migratory species for which SPAs have been classified, as indicated in the Art. 12 species checklist

on the Reference Portal (Appendix 1).

9.1 Population inside the Natura 2000 (SPA) network

Under Article 4 of the Birds Directive, Member States are obliged to classify the most suitable territories

as SPAs. In order to assess the extent of coverage of the SPA network for each relevant species at EU

level, Member States are requested to report the size of the population that occurs within their national

SPA network.

9.1.1 Population size

Estimate the total size of the population included in the national SPA network during the same period as

reported in field 2.1 (including SPAs where the species is known to occur but is not classified as a

qualifying interest or trigger species).

a) Unit – use the same unit as reported in field 2.2.a. This will allow calculation of the percentage (%)

of the national population within SPAs, by comparing the following fields with the national

population figures.

b) Minimum – follow the guidance given for field 2.2.b.

c) Maximum – follow the guidance given for field 2.2.c.

d) Best estimate – follow the guidance given for field 2.2.d.

In order to avoid over-inflated figures, Member States may need to adjust the totals for some mobile

wintering species downwards, to allow for significant movements of individuals between SPAs.32

9.1.2 Method used

Enter one of the following options (analogous with field 2.4):


2 = based mainly on extrapolation from a limited amount of data (e.g. from sample surveys of parts of the population, using methods based on abundance and distribution data, or from an existing estimate using the most representative trend data available from relevant monitoring schemes)

1 = based mainly on expert opinion with very limited data, i.e. consensus of those studying the species concerned

0 = insufficient or no data available

9.1.3 Short-term trend of population size within the network - direction

32 Might apply e.g. for various geese species wintering in North-western Europe.



As in field 3.1.2, indicate if the population trend in the SPA network over the short-term trend period (as

reported in field 3.1.1) was:

0 = stable

F = fluctuating

+ = increasing

- = decreasing

u – uncertain

x = unknown.

10 Information related to Annex II species (Art. 7)

The main purpose of this section is to understand which species from Annex II are being hunted in

practice and, for those that are hunted, to obtain an estimation of their hunting bag.

10.1 Is the species hunted?

Not all species listed in Annex II are hunted in all (relevant) Member States. Indicate here whether the

species in question is hunted in your country33. If ‘Yes’, complete fields 10.2 to 10.4 below.

10.2 Hunting bag

Provide national hunting bag statistics (in individuals) over the six years of the reporting period (i.e.

2013–2019): the annual average over the 6-year period (field 10.2.b), the lowest value for any year

within the 6-year period (field 10.2.c) and the highest value for any year within the 6-year period.

10.3 Method used

Enter one of the following options (analogous with field 2.4):



1 = based mainly on expert opinion with very limited data, i.e. consensus of those studying the species concerned

0 = insufficient or no data available. 10.4 Sources

Provide web links or bibliographic references for the key sources of information used to complete the

fields above, including details of any national reports or online databases.

33 Or subnational unit, as appropriate.

reporting under article 12 of the birds directive - … · title of project/plan (field 5.1.3) year...

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